5 Best Solar Companies in Nebraska (2024 Guide)
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Although wind power is the more popular clean energy choice in Nebraska, solar energy also offers benefits in the Cornhusker State. Nebraska receives around 223 sunny days yearly, exceeding the national average of 205 days and providing an ideal environment for solar panel systems. By adding energy storage, your system could generate backup power, keeping your home running during power outages.
To help you prepare for going solar, our team spent 50 hours researching the leading solar installers in the nation and throughout the Midwest. In this guide, we’ve rounded up the best solar companies in Nebraska, plus offered advice on what to look for in the right solar installer.
Compare Solar Energy Companies in NE
Nebraska’s Top Solar Energy Companies
Our Top Picks for Solar Companies in Nebraska
SunPower
Best High-Efficiency System
What Are the Available Solar Incentives in Nebraska?
Despite only a few solar incentives in Nebraska such as credits and rebates, homeowners still have ways to lower their solar panel costs.
The federal solar tax credit provides up to 30% off installation costs. This credit applies to federal tax liability and helps reduce your owed amount. The federal tax credit applies to solar energy systems with traditional panels or solar shingles or tiles. You can also apply the credit to a stand-alone solar battery. To qualify, you must legally own your solar power system.
The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) offers low-interest loans to residents to help keep their costs to a minimum. Nebraska Dollar and Energy Savings Loans offer interest rates of 5%, 3.5%, or lower from lenders throughout the state. Loans can last up to 10 years with a minimum payment of $50 per month. Homeowners must work with participating lenders to qualify for these rates. Visit the NDEE website to start your search for a lender.
Under the Nebraska Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Financing programs, participating municipalities offer their residents reduced loan payments and interest rates. This program includes your loan repayment in your property tax bills. Only some municipalities participate in the program, so contact your directly to verify availability.
Net-metering programs allow customers to return excess energy to the grid for future utility bill credits. Under Nebraska’s net-metering program, the payback electricity rate is very low. Your credits are returned at the “avoided cost” rate, equivalent to the price utility companies pay for electricity. However, Nebraska homeowners still benefit from adding these credits to their electricity bills to lower future costs. Availability varies between companies, so check with your local utility company for net-metering programs.
What Should You Look For in a Solar Company?
When comparing potential solar panel companies, consider the following key features to help make your decision.
Solar Services
We recommend working with solar installation companies that offer in-house installers. These teams work directly with the provider, offering better installation quality and communication. When working with third-party contractors, solar panel installation results may vary between areas. In addition, you’ll have a different point of contact outside of the solar provider, making communication between all parties more difficult.
You should also consider companies that offer additional solar and home services. These services may help with solar system maintenance and home efficiency or assist with other home improvement projects. Here are some examples of additional offered services:
- Dedicated mobile app or web portal
- Electrical or roofing services
- Energy efficiency audits
- Energy-efficient upgrades
- Home energy monitoring
- Smart home device installation
- Solar system monitoring
Warranties
Your warranty should provide 25 years of coverage, which is the average life span of solar panels. Most solar providers offer two or more warranty types that protect your system’s performance and longevity. We’ve provided an overview of typical warranty types below.
- Manufacturer’s (or product) warranty: The warranty covers any manufacturing defects or issues.
- Workmanship (or labor) warranty: You’re covered for any solar system problems that result from poor installation.
- Power performance guarantee: This coverage outlines the estimated linear performance of your panels and offers replacement or repair options if they fall below those performance levels.
Coverage length varies between solar providers. We found that companies offering higher-quality solar panels include better long-term coverage than cheaper panel options.
Payment Options
the best fit for their budget. Some options, including cash payments and solar loans, offer better financial benefits, including qualification for solar incentives, rebates, and credits. Here’s a closer look at the most common payment options:
- Up-front (or cash) payments: You pay the up-front cost for your panels without additional interest rates adding to the total.
- Solar loans: This payment option requires a down payment and includes smaller payments with interest over a set time frame.
- Solar leases: You pay little to no money down and make monthly payments to lease the solar electric system from the provider.
- Power purchase agreements (PPAs): Instead of leasing the system, you only pay for the solar energy you use.
Since solar leases and PPAs keep the system ownership with the solar provider, you are disqualified from additional solar incentive savings. We don’t recommend leasing a system unless you are adamant about not owning your solar system. Instead, we recommend choosing up-front payments or solar loans for the best return on your investment.
Customer Support
Look for solar installers with multiple contact options for their customer support team. Typical methods include phone, email, or online phone. Additional contact options include SMS and online chat. Some companies also contact technical support teams directly through their dedicated mobile app or web portal. In addition, check third-party customer review sites for mentions of any ongoing customer service issues, such as unanswered calls or unfriendly representatives.
How To Get a Solar Quote in Nebraska
Nebraska homeowners should compare several solar quotes to determine the best solar company for them. These quotes outline your potential solar power system, installation costs, and warranty coverage. We’ve outlined the typical process to obtain a solar quote process below.
- Contact each solar company: Visit the company website to initiate your quote. Most companies offer phone numbers, emails, or online forms to begin the process. When we tried calling for quotes, we spoke to two representatives during the quote process.
- Schedule a solar consultation: You’ll schedule a virtual or in-person consultation with a company salesperson. We recommend setting aside at least two hours for your appointment.
- Find your latest electricity bill: You’ll need your latest energy bill to help the representative determine your average energy needs. Some installers ask for multiple months of bills to get a better picture of your month-to-month usage.
- Determine your roof space: Each company will conduct a site assessment to review your roof design and available space. Depending on your panel type, you may need ample roof for your installation. The consultant will also find the best location without any shading to ensure your solar panels receive direct sunlight.
- Create your solar system: The consultant will design your system based on the previous assessments. You can choose your panel brand, system components, and add-on accessories, including solar batteries and electric vehicle (EV) chargers.
- Review each finalized quote: When we spoke with solar installers, they advised that your final quote should contain itemized details for all equipment costs, labor charges, and warranty coverage. You should also receive details on financing options and an estimated payback period for when your panels will pay for themselves.
Find Solar Companies in NE
Our Conclusion
We picked SunPower as the top solar company in Nebraska. The company offers the most efficient solar panel system on the residential market designed for maximum energy output. Although some customers mentioned that SunPower costs more than other providers, you’ll invest in higher-quality equipment that will last for the next 25 years.
We recommend requesting free quotes from at least three companies to compare offered equipment, services, and warranty coverage.
Other Nebraska Home Service Resources
FAQ About Solar Companies in Nebraska
Is Nebraska a good state for solar?
Yes, Nebraska is a good state for solar, thanks to its plentiful sunny days and potential for solar energy growth. The state receives 223 sunny days yearly, higher than the U.S. average of 205. Despite limited solar energy use, PV Magazine says Nebraska ranks thirteenth in the nation for solar energy potential. Residents also benefit from lower energy costs and a reduced carbon footprint.
Does Nebraska have a solar tax credit?
Yes, Nebraska does have a federal tax credit that provides up to 30% off installation costs. Unfortunately, Nebraska doesn’t offer a state tax credit or tax exemptions for sales tax or property tax.
Do solar panels add property value in Nebraska?
Yes, solar panels add property value in Nebraska. Zillow says solar-powered homes sell for 4.1% more than homes with traditional grid connections. However, Nebraska has no property tax exemption for solar systems, so your property taxes will increase with a new system installation.
How much solar energy does Nebraska use?
According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), about 0.3% of the state’s energy comes from solar electric electricity.
Our Rating Methodology
We are committed to providing comprehensive and unbiased reviews to our readers. After over a thousand hours of research on solar companies, interviews with experts, and common customer needs, we’ve created a detailed rating system for solar providers based on six factors:
- Solar equipment, installation, and services (25%)
- Warranty and performance guarantees (25%)
- Brand reputation and certifications (15%)
- Financing options (15%)
- Experience (10%)
- Availability (10%)
Total scores are divided by 20 for a final 5-point rating scale.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.
