The 3 Best Solar Companies in Illinois (2024 Guide)
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Going solar is a big investment, so it’s important to find a company that balances quality and price. We have extensively researched the top-recommended solar companies in the United States, comparing solar panel costs, services, and customer service reviews. We narrowed down our choices and compiled this guide to the best Illinois solar providers, from Chicago to Springfield.
Compare Solar Companies Across Illinois
Illinois’s Top Solar Energy Companies:
Our Top Solar Company Picks for Illinois
Learn more: Blue Raven Solar review
Learn more: Sunrun review
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 Illinois?
All solar owners are eligible for the federal tax credit (also known as the investment tax credit or ITC). This credit provides a tax reduction equal to 30% of your solar energy costs. The rate will drop to 26% in 2033 and 22% in 2034 before ending.
You may also qualify for state solar incentives and rebates in Illinois. Here are some of the key programs the state offers:
- Adjustable Block Program: The Adjustable Block Program, also known as Illinois Shines, provides one solar renewable energy certificate (SREC) for each megawatt-hour (MWh) your system produces over 15 years. These certificates can amount to thousands in savings.
- Illinois Net Metering: Utility companies will give you a one-to-one credit against your electric usage for the excess energy your system produces under the statewide net metering program.
- Property tax breaks: Thanks to the special assessment for solar energy systems, Illinois homeowners’ property taxes won’t go up even though installing a solar system increases home value.
What Should You Look For in a Solar Company?
One of the most important decisions in your solar project is choosing the right provider. Start by looking at these factors.
Solar Services
Make sure the company you’re considering doesn’t just sell solar panels but also installs them. We recommend in-house installation rather than a third party because you’ll likely experience better communication and quality assurance. You’ll also get a more comprehensive labor warranty on workmanship.
Check if the provider only installs solar panels or if it installs solar batteries, inverters, chargers, and other equipment as well.
Warranties
Most solar providers offer one or more of the following coverage types:
- Manufacturer’s warranty (or product warranty): This protects the individual solar panel system components in case of defects.
- Workmanship warranty: This covers installation in case of poor workmanship or faulty installation materials.
- Performance (or power production) guarantee: This guarantees the solar system’s output performs as outlined in your contract.
The best companies offer 25-year warranties in each of these cases, though some limit their workmanship warranty to 10 years. We recommend finding a company that provides at least 20 years of coverage for each warranty type.
Payment Options
Most solar companies offer at least two of these solar financing options:
- Full purchase: Purchasing your system in full gives you immediate ownership and qualifies you for solar incentives. This is the most cost-effective option, as you won’t have to pay extra for interest fees. However, it involves a large amount of cash up-front.
- Solar loan: A solar loan allows you to pay for your system in monthly installments rather than all at once. You’ll pay more over time due to interest rates, but you’ll still own your system and be able to use solar incentives to save money.
- Solar lease: Similar to a loan, a solar lease allows you to make set monthly payments to use solar energy. However, you won’t own your system, which disqualifies you from most solar incentives.
- Power purchase agreement (PPA): A PPA allows you to pay for only the energy you use with no money down, similar to an electricity bill. As with a lease, you won’t own the system or qualify for solar incentives.
We recommend buying your system outright or financing it through a loan if it’s in your budget. Be wary of companies that push solar leases or PPAs without being transparent about the fact that these options disqualify you from incentives.
Customer Support
So much of whether you have a positive experience going solar comes down to customer support. Look on providers’ websites to see how many contact options they provide. Is it just a single phone number, or are there email, chat, and online portals as well? We suggest reaching out to customer support through all these channels to see how responsive, knowledgeable, and friendly the staff is.
One of the most important things you can do is read customer reviews. This can tell you a lot about a company’s reputation and the common pain points customers experience.
How To Get a Solar Quote in Illinois
You can get a solar quote online by following these steps:
- Locate the Get a Quote button or page on the provider’s website.
- Fill out the required information. When we went through the quote process with top providers, most asked for basic contact information, location, property type, and roof size and slope.
- Get your free quote by email or on the website within minutes.
You can also call the company for this information and to get a quick estimate. When we went through the process online, it took less than 15 minutes to get a quote. By phone, it took an average of 20 minutes.
Our Conclusion
We recommend Blue Raven as our top provider pick for Illinois residents. The company is well-rounded, offering some of the industry’s best financing options and solar panels.
Behind Blue Raven, we also suggest looking into Palmetto. Palmetto is a great choice for homeowners that prioritize great customer service.
We suggest looking at customer reviews before deciding on a provider, as well as getting a quote from at least three companies to compare pricing.
Other Illinois Home Service Resources
FAQs About Solar Companies in Illinois
What is the average cost of solar in Illinois?
The average cost of installing a solar system in Illinois is $13,600–$18,400 for an average-sized 5 kW system. This is before solar tax incentives, such as the federal solar tax credit, which can reduce the price by thousands.
Does Illinois pay for solar panels?
Illinois does not pay for solar panels. However, it offers a range of incentives to reduce solar installation costs.
How many solar panel companies are in Illinois?
According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, Illinois has nearly 100 solar installers across the state. We’ve extensively researched the available options and provided our top recommendations on this list.
Does Illinois exempt solar tax?
Yes, Illinois offers a property tax exemption for residential solar systems. This allows homeowners to exclude their solar system from their property valuation.
Is solar worth it in Illinois?
Yes, solar is worth it in Illinois. EnergySage estimates that the average Illinois system cost is $16,000. After factoring the state’s typical electricity usage and rates, the average utility savings over 20 years is $33,834. According to those numbers, Illinois system owners stand to see double the return on their investment.
Our 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.
