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3 Best Solar Companies in Wisconsin (2024 Guide)

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Author Image Written by Tamara Jude Updated 11/07/2024

Wisconsin may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of sunny skies, but many homeowners in the state have found value investing in clean energy. Wisconsin offers competitively priced solar energy systems and several incentives to make the conversion process more affordable.

Our team has spent numerous hours researching the best solar panel providers available. We analyzed warranties and product specifications, secret-shopped at various providers, interviewed industry experts, and conducted homeowner surveys. These are the solar panel companies we most recommend for The Badger State.

Key Takeaways

  • The best solar company in Wisconsin is Blue Raven, for its excellent installation process. Our findings are based on a synthesis of expert interviews, user reviews, and a survey of 1,000 homeowners.
  • Wisconsin is one of the 34 states that offer net metering, which allows homeowners to sell excess energy back to their utility company in exchange for a credit on their power bill.
  • The average solar system in Wisconsin costs between $14,195–$19,205 before applying solar incentives, which is well below the national average. Homeowners can also take advantage of property and sales tax exemptions on solar equipment in Wisconsin.
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The Best Solar Companies in Wisconsin

Most Reputable: Blue Raven Solar
Best Northeast Regional Installer : Venture Solar
Best East Coast Installer : Solar Energy World
Best Solar Panel Leasing: Sunrun

Our Top Picks for Solar Panels in Wisconsin

Blue Raven Solar

4.4

Blue Raven Solar has one of the best reputations for reliability and trustworthiness. It has won awards for its team and CEO, and customer reviews report great customer service and prompt installations. The company also stands out for its in-house financing, which includes 18 months of free solar energy.

Out of all solar brands in the market, 6.5% of our survey respondents chose Blue Raven.

How We Scored Blue Raven Solar

Blue Raven received 4.4 out of 5 stars according to our rating system. The company scored the most points for its customer service reputation and warranty coverage. It also earned points for providing all standard solar panel services but lost some due to its limited financing options and lack of roof leak coverage.

  • Solar Equipment and Services (18 out of 25 points): Blue Raven offers solar panel and battery installation, active monitoring services, and energy audits. However, it doesn’t offer solar roofs, EV chargers, or additional roofing services. 
  • Warranty and Performance Guarantees (22 out of 25 points): The company offers top-of-the-line warranties, including a 25-year workmanship warranty. The company earned points fo providing a performance guarantee, but its guarantee is shorter than many other providers. However, it doesn’t provide any roof leak coverage. 
  • Brand Reputation and Professional Certifications (13 out of 15 points): Blue Raven has high customer review ratings on its BBB profile and other popular review sites. The company uses in-house installers but doesn’t ensure they’re NABCEP-certified, which made it lose some points in this category.
  • Financing Options (12 out of 15 points): Blue Raven offers some of the best in-house financing of the companies this list, but it limits this financing to solar loans. You may want to consider a different provider, such as Sunrun, if you’re looking for a lease or PPA.
  • Industry Experience (7 out of 10 points): Blue Raven has less experience than other providers, with only 10 years in the industry.
  • State Availability (7 out of 10 points): The company limits its service area to 19 states.

Warranty and Financing

Warranty

A Blue Raven system has a 25-year product warranty, a 10-year workmanship warranty, and a two-year production guarantee.

Financing Options

✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan

State Availability

Available in: Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington

Reputation and Reviews

Blue Raven has won numerous awards from Comparably, a site known for its company culture and reputation reviews. It also ranked No. 20 on Glassdoor’s Best Place to Work in the USA in 2021.

Blue Raven is accredited by the BBB and currently holds an A+ rating. We noted that customers praised the knowledgeable staff and prompt installation but cited poor communication after completing projects. We analyzed several consumer reviews and found that some of these issues stem from the company’s financing department and third-party installers.

Read our review of Blue Raven Solar for more information.

Venture Solar

4.2

Venture Solar specializes in installing systems that are perfectly symmetrical and have no visible wiring or mounting devices. This design provides a simple, stylish look tailored to your roof’s appearance. Additionally, Venture offers comprehensive financing options similar to Sunrun, making solar energy more accessible to homeowners.

How We Scored Venture Solar

Venture earned 4.2 out of 5 stars. It gained most of its points due to its flexible financing options paired with an in-house financing department. It also provides plenty of solar services to match most customers’ wants and needs, though it lost points for lacking roofing services, energy audits, and EV charger installations. 

  • Solar Equipment and Services (16 out of 25 points): Venture offers solar panel and battery installation with active monitoring. The company lost points in this category because it doesn’t provide EV chargers, solar roof installation services, energy audits, and roof repairs.
  • Warranty and Performance Guarantees (25 out of 25 points): The company features excellent warranty perks with 25 years on labor, products, and performance. It also includes roof leak protection. 
  • Brand Reputation and Professional Certifications (13 out of 15 points): Venture has a great reputation. It features high ratings on its BBB profile with an accreditation and no active issues like lawsuits.
  • Financing Options (14 out of 15 points): Venture provides financing options through an in-house financing team and works with every payment method except PPAs. 
  • Industry Experience (7 out of 10 points): The company holds only eight years of experience in the solar industry.
  • State Availability (7 out of 10 points): Venture has a limited service area of only three states.

Pros and Cons

Pros Provides transparent information about its financing options online Includes remote monitoring Includes a 25-year roof and system warranty with all panel systems Cons Requires your phone number to submit an online quote Reviews mention mixed experiences with customer support Doesn’t work with power purchase agreement

Warranty and Financing

Warranty

Venture offers a 25-year bumper-to-bumper warranty that covers workmanship, products, and power output. 

Financing Options

✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan
✔ Lease

State Availability

Available in: Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York.

Reputation and Reviews

Venture has an A+ rating and accreditation on its BBB profile. According to customer reviews, the company provides high-quality workmanship on its solar panel systems and good customer support. However, some customers have raised concerns about the pricing and quoting process. They found it confusing to determine the total cost of their system and experienced frequent back-and-forth over pricing.

Some customers also noted that Venture focuses on premium products, leading to higher pricing even when unnecessary. We found several Reddit threads discussing Venture where other solar customers and installers mentioned similar experiences.

Solar Energy World

4.4

Solar Energy World (SEW) is one of the most robust and well-regarded solar installation companies. It boasts several impressive features, such as its 30-year manufacturer’s warranty. Its service area is limited, and it doesn’t offer energy auditing services. We like that SEW discloses what solar panels it primarily works with and that the panels are from trusted, quality brands such as Qcells and Silfab.

Roughly 11% of our surveyed solar users purchased their system from Solar Energy World.

How We Scored Solar Energy World

SEW scored 4.4 out of 5 stars according to our methodology. The company received many points because of its warranty, which is longer than most other solar companies’ warranties. SEW offers a 30-year manufacturer’s warranty on all its solar panels and inverters, whereas many providers only offer 25-year warranties.

  • Solar Equipment and Services (18 out of 25 points): The company is an ideal option for many basic solar products and services, such as solar panels and battery installation. It lost points because it doesn’t install EV chargers or perform energy audits.
  • Warranty and Performance Guarantees (19 out of 25 points): SEW’s manufacturer and labor warranties are standout features, but the company doesn’t include any production guarantees with its work. 
  • Brand Reputation and Professional Certifications (15 out of 15 points): The company’s reputation is one of the best, with high BBB and Google Reviews ratings. We also found no active alerts or lawsuits.
  • Financing Options (13.5 out of 15 points): SEW offers all possible solar payment options but doesn’t provide an in-house financing department. 
  • Industry Experience (8 out of 10 points): The company has been in business since 2009, so it received most of the points in this category.
  • State Availability (6 out of 10 points): SEW limits its service area to eight East Coast states.

Pros and Cons

Pros Features an extensive solar product catalog with trusted brands Includes free active monitoring Hires NABCEP-certified installers and designers Cons Reviews mention communication issues with staff Warranty coverage varies by solar panel brand Doesn’t offer a power production guarantee

Warranty and Financing

Warranty

SEW offers a 30-year manufacturer’s warranty on all purchased solar panels and inverters. However, coverage varies by brand, and the company doesn’t guarantee them with every panel option. 

Financing Options

✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan
✔ Lease
✔ PPA

State Availability

Available in: Washington, D.C, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia

Reputation and Reviews

The company landed on Solar Power World’s 2023 Top Solar Contractors List in the No. 10 spot.

The BBB accredits SEW, and the company holds an A+ rating. Former customers praise the company for its professionalism, assistance with applying for financial incentives, and smooth installation process. However, some reported discrepancies in finances and scheduling.

Sunrun

4.5

We like Sunrun for its four financing options, including its unique leasing options if you don’t want to own your system. This stands out to us because the other companies on this list don’t offer as many options.

Prepaid and leased systems also include a 25-year warranty with system service and maintenance, ongoing monitoring, and theft insurance. The company even offers financing plans for quality monocrystalline solar panels and products from trusted brands such as LG.

How We Scored Sunrun

Sunrun earned 4.4 out of 5 stars based on our methodology. The company gained many points for its positive reputation, comprehensive leasing options, and well-rounded warranty coverage. It lost some points for is limited service selection.

  • Solar Equipment and Services (15 out of 25 points): Sunrun provides solar panel and battery installation but uses third-party installers. Though this is becoming an industry standard, in-house installers typically yield better communication and quality. The company also doesn’t provide roofing services or energy audits but does offer quality active monitoring assistance. 
  • Warranty and Performance Guarantees (19 out of 25 points): Sunrun offers quality warranties, such as its 25-year manufacturer and labor warranty, but doesn’t include a performance guarantee. 
  • Brand Reputation and Professional Certifications (13 out of 15 points): Sunrun has one of the higher customer BBB ratings we’ve encountered, and the company maintains an overall positive customer reputation online.
  • Financing Options (13.5 out of 15 points): The company doesn’t offer any in-house financing but provides more warranty coverage for customers interested in solar leasing than other providers, such as Palmetto.
  • Industry Experience (9 out of 10 points): Sunrun holds 17 years of experience in the solar industry, making it a veteran compared to a newer company such as Blue Raven Solar.
  • State Availability (8 out of 10 points): The company only serves 18 states.

Pros and Cons

Pros Provides system monitoring that signals issues with your system Offers diverse financing options to suit various budgets Provides EV and solar battery solutions Cons Limited online information on solar incentive disqualification with leases Requires added costs for the same coverage plans as leased and prepaid customers Varies solar battery availability by state

Warranty and Financing

Warranty

Sunrun backs its systems with a 10-year comprehensive warranty which includes product, roof penetration, and workmanship coverage.

Financing Options

✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan
✔ Lease
PPA

State Availability

Available in: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico.

Reputation and Reviews

The company earned DroneDeploy’s 2022 Guardian of Safety Award for incorporating drone technology in its site assessments. In 2021 and 2022, Sunrun was recognized by Comparably with 14 awards. Its accolades include Best CEOs for Diversity 2022, Best Company Culture 2021, and Best Company for Women two years in a row.

Sunrun currently holds an A+ rating from the BBB and is accredited. Former customers praised the comprehensive coverage for leased systems but complained about delayed installations, poor customer service, and poor communication with project managers. Additionally, some customers note being confused by Sunrun’s leasing and PPA options, though they also mention Sunrun is willing to discuss and clarify these plans.

Note: In July 2024, SunPower notified dealers it would be halting all new shipments and project installations. The company also noted it would “no longer be supporting new Leases and PPA sales nor new project installations of these financing options.


What Are the Available Solar Incentives in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin offers several tax incentives and rebates to make solar more affordable and further reduce your electricity bills. Our list details some of the state’s most significant incentives, but we recommend checking the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) for more localized, city-specific options. 

Federal Solar Tax Credit

All Wisconsin residents qualify for the federal tax credit. This program allows you to claim 30% of your solar panel costs on your federal taxes. This also applies to stand-alone solar battery installations. The federal tax credit is not a rebate or cash payment. Instead, it helps to reduce or eliminate any owed taxes at tax time.

Net Metering in Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s net-metering program is backed by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. This program allows you to send excess energy produced by your system back to the power grid in exchange for credits on your utility bills. Terms vary based on how much power your solar panels produce and your specific utility company’s rate. Xcel Energy provides one of the most extensive net metering programs in the state.

Other State Solar Rebates

Wisconsin legislation also offers the following incentives to reduce your up-front costs. 

  • Focus on Energy Home Solar Rebate: Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy Program provides residential solar customers with cash rebates for installing solar panels. It awards approximately $500 to Wisconsin homeowners in populated areas and up to $1,000 to rural residents.
  • Solar Energy System Property Tax Exemption: Installing solar panels increases your home value. This would typically raise your property taxes, but Wisconsin’s property tax exemption prevents this.
  • Renewable Energy State Sales Tax Exemption: Wisconsin imposes a 5% sales tax on all purchases. However, the state’s solar sales tax exemption exempts any qualifying solar equipment from this tax. It applies to photovoltaic (PV) cells, modules, arrays, and any tracking equipment that maintains the system’s orientation to the sun.

What Should You Look For in a Solar Company?

Finding a reliable and reputable solar installer is essential, but there’s a lot of information to sift through. Consider the following factors to help you narrow down your choices as you compare solar companies.

Solar Services

Some companies only offer solar panel installation, while others have more comprehensive services that give you more value for your money. For example, some providers also install solar batteries and electric vehicle (EV) chargers, while others offer system monitoring after installation. These extra services show the company is committed to treating your solar investment as a long-term project. 

Warranties

We recommend looking for solar companies with 25-year warranties on equipment and workmanship. Solar panels last 25 years on average, so this ensures coverage throughout their lifetime. Some companies also provide power performance guarantees that promise a certain level of output for a set time frame.

Payment Options

Most companies offer at least two solar financing options. Up-front cash payments and solar loans offer the best return on investment (ROI). These financing options grant you system ownership and qualify you for federal and state solar incentives.

Solar leases and power purchase agreements (PPAs) offer the least financial advantages because the solar company remains the system owner. Though you’ll reduce up-front costs and save on electric bills, you can’t qualify for solar rebates or tax incentives and won’t increase your property value. We recommend considering cash payments or loans to reap the most solar benefits. 

Customer Support

A solar company should offer easy ways to get in touch, whether for emergency repairs or routine cleaning. We recommend seeking out companies that provide customer support via phone, email, and an online service request form. A company that offers educational materials, such as an online blog, is a sign that it cares about keeping its customers knowledgeable and prepared for the ongoing support a solar panel system requires.


How To Get a Solar Quote in Wisconsin

It’s easy to get a solar quote in Wisconsin by following the steps below. This process typically only takes a few minutes.

  1. Contact the solar company: Visit the solar installation company’s website and fill out its online quote form or call the customer support team by phone. When we called solar companies for sample quotes, we spoke with representatives who verified we were eligible for solar and that the installer serviced our area. You’ll need to provide your address for this confirmation. After speaking with a representative, you’ll schedule an in-person or virtual consultation.
  2. Assess your energy needs: During your consultation, you’ll review your average energy usage and determine the right system for your home. You’ll need your most current energy bill for this step. During our shopping experiences, we found that some companies ask for multiple months of bills to check for seasonal fluctuations. We recommend having at least three months of statements handy for your consultation.  
  3. Review your home design and roof space: The representative will check your roof space to determine your system size. They’ll then assess your roof condition and recommend repairs and updates. Virtual consultations use satellite imaging to assess your home design. 
  4. Build your project: You’ll receive a final, itemized quote with a detailed inventory of all the required equipment. If available, you can add solar batteries or electric vehicle chargers to your system. Review your quote for all pricing and warranty information. You’ll also talk through available financing options and local solar incentives during this step.

Our Conclusion

We recommend All Energy Solar for Wisconsin homeowners. The company is NABCEP certified and offers a wide range of solar products.

We suggest getting quotes from at least three providers before choosing. This will help you compare each provider’s products, warranties, and additional services.


Other Wisconsin Home Service Resources


FAQ About Solar Companies in WI

Is solar in Wisconsin worth it?

Yes, going solar in Wisconsin is worth it. The state has clear access to sunlight, numerous reputable solar installers, and several incentives to reduce installation costs.

Does hail damage solar panels?

Hail does not typically cause severe damage to solar panels. Most solar panel manufacturers design their products to withstand the elements in all weather conditions. However, more powerful storms may cause chipping or cracking, so we recommend working with a solar installer that offers maintenance services. 

Does solar increase home value in Wisconsin?

Yes, solar panels increase home value in Wisconsin by an average of $15,000, according to a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). 

What happens when solar panels are covered in snow?

Light snow has little effect on solar panels, given that wind can blow it off and light can still reach the panel. However, heavy snow that accumulates on panels can prevent them from generating power. 


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.