Best 3 Solar Companies in Canton, OH

With Canton's clear skies and below-average rainfall, it's an excellent area for families and businesses hoping to harness the added sunlight by purchasing panels from one of the best solar companies. While going solar comes with upfront costs, local homeowners could ultimately save $720 per kilowatt on their electric bills. A professional installation team can help you select the best panels to maximize your savings. In this guide, we'll showcase Canton's best solar installers and offer suggestions for your company choice, so you can find the right one for your household.

Ranking Methodology

We evaluated dozens of Canton solar providers, using the following criteria to select the top-notch:

• Professional licensure and experience: Each installer on our list meets state and city licensing requirements and stays up to date with industry best practices. Many of them have served the Canton community for a decade or longer.
• Educational approach and support: Solar technicians must be knowledgeable. They should use their years of experience address your questions on how to care for your system and optimize its performance.
• Customer reviews and feedback: Most Canton solar installers have both positive and critical reviews. However, a good review ratio shows a company's trustworthiness and responsiveness to issues.
• Panel quality and brand offerings: The premier solar companies stay up-to-date with new technology, offering equipment from cutting-edge and trustworthy manufacturers.
• Warranty and service offerings: Solar installers should stand behind their products and services with warranties. We evaluated how each provider responds to issues and warranty claims, focusing on promptness and customer happiness.

Benefits of Solar Energy

Solar energy provides multiple advantages that will enhance your home for years to come.

• Reduced carbon footprint: Embracing solar is a surefire way to lower your carbon footprint and home fossil fuel dependency.
• Smaller power bills: Generating some or all of your own electricity will save you money on your electric bills long-term. Plus, some states provide net metering programs that enable you to sell your extra energy back to the grid, generating additional credits toward your energy bill.
• Better energy independence: Solar panel systems with battery storage systems operate through blackouts and emergencies, and you won't have to rely on your power company for your safety and well-being.

What Solar Incentives Are Available to Canton Homeowners?

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

How To Choose the Best Solar Company in Canton

Choosing a company is the first step toward an effective and valuable solar energy system. Consider all of these aspects in your contractor search.

Licensing and Training

Ohio may require a solar installer to hold a state contractors' license, but only for commercial work. For residential work, cities can establish their own licensing or regulatory requirements. Check a company's website for private accreditations from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), one of the solar sector's most trusted trade groups. Its program includes certifications for both solar photovoltaic and water heating installers.

Cost of Solar Panels in Canton

Different solar panel types look and perform differently. Monocrystalline panels offer the best energy production but cost more than other options and generally have the highest quality. Polycrystalline panels produce less power, but start at a more budget-friendly price point. Thin-film panels work well for small projects like RVs and sheds, but they're not ideal for larger installations due to their low performance.

You can also add battery backups and electric vehicle (EV) chargers. These will increase your total installation cost, but they can increase your solar system's efficiency. Not every solar provider includes these extras, so look for a provider that sells them if it's a priority for you.

If you're a resident of Canton and want a five-kilowatt solar energy system, you could expect to pay about $17,050 for parts and installation. See more information on specific component and solar panel costs in the table.

Financing Solar Energy in Canton

Solar providers offer multiple different financing options to lower your costs and increase your savings. Though some providers offer unique payment plans, the most common are solar leases, cash payments, power purchase agreements (PPAs) and solar loans. Most solar experts recommend paying cash or using a solar loan. Cash payments demand a large up-front sum, but they save you from paying interest, grant you system ownership, and qualify you for cost-saving solar incentives. Solar loans have the same benefits, though you'll pay more in total due to interest and fees. Much like a home or auto loan, you'll pay a set monthly rate with potentially $0 down. Solar leases involve paying a set monthly rate to use rooftop panels. A PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) enables you to pay a monthly rate based only on the energy you use, as with an electric bill. We usually don’t recommend these two options because you won't own the system and are disqualified from using solar incentives. We suggest working with a company that offers multiple financing options. Talk to each representative about what's available, and secure 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 Canton.

You are eligible for a 26% federal solar tax credit for new solar energy equipment until the year 2032. Local and state governments and utility companies might also offer discounts, rebates, and specialized financing options that could save you more.

Sources

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