Best 3 Solar Companies in West Fargo, ND

With West Fargo's clear skies and below-average rainfall, it's an ideal area for families and businesses hoping to harness the added sunlight by buying panels from one of the best solar companies. While going solar comes with upfront costs, local homeowners could ultimately save $810 per kilowatt on their electric bills. A professional technician can help you choose the best panels to maximize your savings. In this guide, we'll highlight West Fargo's best solar providers and offer tips for your company choice, so you can find the perfect one for your residence.

Ranking Methodology

Our team used the following criteria to determine the best West Fargo solar companies.

• Educational programs and business model: Solar technicians must be excellent teachers. They should utilize their years of experience address your questions on how to look after your system and improve its performance.
• Warranty and service offerings: Solar providers should stand behind their equipment and services with warranties. We evaluated how each provider responds to issues and warranty claims, focusing on timeliness and customer happiness.
• Panel brands and quality: The best solar companies keep up with new technology, offering equipment from cutting-edge and trustworthy manufacturers.
• Experience and professional licensure: Each installer on our list complies with state and city licensing requirements and stays up to date with industry best practices. Many of them have been a part of the West Fargo community for a decade or longer.
• Customer reviews and feedback: Most West Fargo solar companies have both positive and critical reviews. However, a good review ratio shows a company's reliability and responsiveness to issues.

Benefits of Solar Energy

Solar energy offers several advantages that will enhance your home for years to come.

• Lowered energy bills: With solar panels, you create power without paying the tacked-on costs of grid-tied power. Going off-grid can eliminate your bills completely. Plus, a significant amount of states offer net metering, which permit you to earn money by selling your unused energy back to the grid.
• Better energy independence: Solar energy can keep your home powered through blackouts and emergencies. You can use your solar energy anytime with optional battery backup.
• Reduced carbon footprint: Using clean solar power means you're less dependent on fossil fuels, which emit harmful greenhouse gasses.

What Solar Incentives Are Available to West Fargo Homeowners?

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

How To Choose the Best Solar Company in West Fargo

Choosing a company is the first step toward an effective and valuable solar system. Here are some essential aspects to bear in mind while searching for a solar company.

Licensing and Training

In North Dakota, a solar energy installer must be a licensed journeyman/plumber for thermal system work and a licensed journeyman/master electrician for photovoltaic work. A job that costs under $2,000 is exempt from licensing requirements. You should also visit a company's website to learn about its private accreditations. Two of the most prestigious are the PV Installation Professional and Solar Heating Installer certificates, granted by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). Some companies don't publish this information online, so you should also ask your estimator about them.

Cost of Solar Panels in West Fargo

The style of solar panels you select dictates how much electricity you can generate. Monocrystalline panels and high-quality and cost more but give you the best performance. Polycrystalline panels work with a tried-and-true mechanism and cost less, but produce less power. Thin-film panels aren't recommended for large residential installations, but they are ideal for small projects like converting RVs and sheds.

If you need to charge an electric vehicle (EV) or use your solar power in cloudy weather, you can pay extra for add-ons. By selecting the right components, you can make your system more productive and convenient to use. Not every solar contractor includes these add-ons, so look for a contractor that installs them if it's essential for you.

You can plan to spend about $17,900 on average for a five-kilowatt solar energy system in West Fargo. Use the table in this section to get an idea of what amount West Fargo solar companies might quote for your specific solar system's price.

Financing Solar Energy in West Fargo

Choosing the correct financing solution will influence your overall solar system cost and potential savings. Common payment options include power purchase agreements, loans, leases, and cash payments. Though it requires a large up-front payment, cash is the most economical choice because it qualifies you for solar incentives and doesn't accrue interest. Solar loans are the runner-up option. As with a home or auto loan, you'll pay a monthly rate towards system ownership, including interest. You can still apply for valuable solar incentives, and depending on your lender, you could put as little as $0 down. Solar leases allow you to pay a monthly fee to rent your panels, while a PPA lets you pay a variable rate based on only the energy you use. We generally advise against these options since you will not have ownership of your system and are disqualified from solar incentives, but they might be appropriate in certain circumstances. We suggest working with a contractor that offers multiple financing options. Speak with each agent about what's available, and get more than one estimate for the best odds of staying within your spending limits.

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

You can claim a 26% federal solar tax credit from the IRS for new residential solar systems purchased before 2032. Additionally, local governments and utilities may have their own rebates and financing plans that could reduce your total cost even more.

Sources

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