Best 5 Solar Companies in Rochester Hills, MI

With Rochester Hills' clear skies and below-average rainfall, it's a great area for homeowners and businesses hoping to harness the additional sunlight by purchasing panels from one of the best solar companies. While embracing solar power comes with upfront costs, local homeowners could ultimately save $810 per kilowatt on their electric bills. A professional technician can help you select the best panels to maximize your savings. In this guide, we'll show you Rochester Hills' best solar providers and offer tips for your company choice, so you can find the perfect one for your home.

Ranking Methodology

Our team focuses on the following criteria to determine the best Rochester Hills solar companies.

• Panel quality and brand offerings: The leading solar companies keep up with new technology, offering equipment from cutting-edge and trustworthy manufacturers.
• Warranty and service offerings: Solar companies should stand behind their equipment and services with warranties. We evaluated how each contractor responds to issues and warranty claims, focusing on timeliness and customer happiness.
• Professional licenses and credentials: Each installer on our list meets state and city licensing requirements and keeps current with industry best practices. Many of them have served the Rochester Hills community for more than a decade.
• Educational programs and business model: Solar technicians must be excellent teachers. They should use their years of experience answer your questions on how to look after your system and optimize its performance.
• Customer reviews and feedback: Most Rochester Hills solar companies have both favorable and unfavorable reviews. However, a good review ratio shows a company's trustworthiness and responsiveness to issues.

Benefits of Solar Energy

Solar energy has numerous advantages that will enhance your home for years to come.

• Reduced carbon footprint: Solar is one of the universe's most abundant clean energy sources, meaning you can minimize or conquer your home's dependence on fossil fuels.
• Lowered energy bills: You can avoid the added cost of grid-tied power by creating some electricity right where you use it. Plus, many states offer net metering which can allow you to sell your unused energy back to help pay for your energy bill.
• Better energy independence: Solar energy can keep your home powered through emergencies and blackouts. You can use your solar energy anytime with an optional battery backup system.

What Solar Incentives Are Available to Rochester Hills Homeowners?

Governments and power companies often reward homeowners for going solar. Here are some of the rebates, tax credits or other programs you could qualify for.

How To Choose the Best Solar Company in Rochester Hills

The purchase price and efficiency of solar panels often depend on the provider that mounted them. Make your choice based on the following crucial aspects.

Licensing and Training

Michigan law has a de facto licensing requirement for solar photovoltaic installers. In other words, there's no explicit requirement for solar installers to have a license, but workers dealing with electrical wiring jobs do need a license. Solar thermal systems must be installed by a licensed mechanical contractor. Check for private accreditations from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), one of the solar sector's most credible trade groups. Its program includes certifications for both solar photovoltaic and water heating installers.

Cost of Solar Panels in Rochester Hills

Your solar modules' style will impact how much power you can produce. Monocrystalline panels are among the highest quality and cost the most but perform the best. Polycrystalline panels offer you a budget panel with a traditional design, but at the cost of less power generation. Thin-film panels are excellent for non-traditional roof shapes and cost the least, but don't work well for large residential installations.

If you'd like to charge an electric vehicle (EV) or use your solar power in inclement weather, you can pay extra for add-ons. By selecting the right components, you can make your system more productive and user-friendly. Not all solar providers include these optional components, so look for a company that sells them if it's important for you.

You can plan to spend about $20,300 on average for a five-kilowatt solar energy system in Rochester Hills. Use the table in this section to get an idea of how much Rochester Hills solar companies might quote for your specific solar system's price.

Financing Solar Energy in Rochester Hills

There are numerous ways to pay for a solar energy system, and the right one will help you decrease overhead. A few of the most common options include power purchase agreements (PPAs), leases, loans, and cash payments. Though it requires a large up-front payment, cash is the most affordable choice because it qualifies you for solar incentives and doesn't accrue interest. Solar loans are the second most effective option. As with a home or auto loan, you'll pay a monthly rate towards system ownership, including interest. You can still apply for cost-saving solar incentives, and depending on your lender, you could put as little as $0 down. Solar leases involve paying a set monthly rate to use rooftop panels. A PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) lets you pay a monthly rate determined by the energy you use, similar to an electric bill. We typically don’t recommend these two choices because you won't own the solar system and are disqualified from using solar incentives. Look for contractors that offer two or more payment plans to find the right fit for your budget.

The table below lists the average payback periods for different capacities of solar systems in Rochester Hills.

The IRS allows you to claim a 26% federal tax credit for solar panels on total system costs, so long as you purchase it before 2032. Local governments and utilities might also offer their own incentives, financing programs, and rebates that could save you more money.

Sources

• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
• U.S. Department of Energy