- Why We Picked It: ADT Solar (formerly Sunpro Solar) is a great choice for customers who want to ensure their solar investment is protected. It offers a 25-year power production guarantee, plus extended warranty coverage on parts and panels.
Going solar is a big investment, so it’s important to find a company that balances quality and price. We at the This Old House Reviews Team have extensively researched the best solar power installers in the United States, comparing solar panel installation 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 IL
Star Rating | Superlative | Location Presence | BBB Rating | Link | ||
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SunPower |
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4.8/5
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Best High-Efficiency System | 50 States | A+ | Get Quote |
Blue Raven |
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4.4/5
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Most Reputable | 22 States | A+ | Get Quote |
Sunrun |
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4.4/5
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Best Solar Panel Leasing | 20 States | A+ | Get Quote |
ADT Solar |
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4.6/5
|
Best Solar Warranty | 23 States | A+ | Get Quote |
Palmetto |
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4.4/5
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Best Customer Support | 24 States | A+ | Get Quote |
Tesla Solar |
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4/5
|
Best Solar Tech | 50 States | NR | Get Quote |
SunPower | |
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Logo |
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Star Rating |
4.8/5
|
Superlative | Best High-Efficiency System |
Location Presence | 50 States |
BBB Rating | A+ |
Blue Raven | |
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Logo |
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Star Rating |
4.4/5
|
Superlative | Most Reputable |
Location Presence | 22 States |
BBB Rating | A+ |
Sunrun | |
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Logo |
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Star Rating |
4.4/5
|
Superlative | Best Solar Panel Leasing |
Location Presence | 20 States |
BBB Rating | A+ |
ADT Solar | |
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Logo |
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Star Rating |
4.6/5
|
Superlative | Best Solar Warranty |
Location Presence | 23 States |
BBB Rating | A+ |
Palmetto | |
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Logo |
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Star Rating |
4.4/5
|
Superlative | Best Customer Support |
Location Presence | 24 States |
BBB Rating | A+ |
Tesla Solar | |
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Logo |
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Star Rating |
4/5
|
Superlative | Best Solar Tech |
Location Presence | 50 States |
BBB Rating | NR |
Illinois’s Top Solar Energy Companies:
- ADT Solar: Best Solar Warranty
- Blue Raven Solar: Most Reputable
- Palmetto: Best Customer Support
- Sunrun: Best Solar Panel Leasing
Our Top Solar Company Picks for Illinois
ADT Solar provides extensive coverage to protect your solar investment long-term. The company only sells high-quality, high-efficiency panels from big-name brands. It also offers a Power Production Guarantee and warranty coverage on workmanship, installation, inverters, and panels.
ADT Solar provides microinverter and solar battery installation. Microinverters convert sunlight into energy right at the panel, increasing efficiency and decreasing costs. Backup batteries store excess energy for use during low sunlight hours or blackouts.
ADT Solar will pay you $0.10 for each kilowatt-hour (kWh) your system falls short if it fails to perform at its projected production level. Finally, customers can monitor their system remotely with the Enphase Enlighten app, which allows you to measure your system’s production from anywhere in the world.
- Why We Picked It: Blue Raven Solar is an excellent choice for customers looking for added benefits. The company boasts comprehensive warranties, no up-front costs, and custom solar system configurations for maximum energy efficiency.
Blue Raven Solar offers added benefits to ensure savings and reliability for its customers. Its systems include a 25-year warranty and a two-year productivity warranty. The company will upgrade your system for free if it doesn’t meet energy production estimates.
Though Blue Raven doesn’t offer leasing or PPA options, customers can pay for their system in full or opt for the BluePower+ loan. Those who choose the BluePower+ loan will receive 18 months of free solar power. Your monthly bill and interest rate will remain fixed once payments begin.
- Why We Picked It: Palmetto Solar is our top choice for customer service, including email, phone, and online support. It also offers an additional coverage plan with system monitoring for all solar owners, whether or not they have a Palmetto system.
Palmetto Solar has accessible customer service and a convenient mobile app, so you’re able to see your projected energy savings and monitor your system.
The company offers up-front purchases or solar loans. It doesn’t offer solar leases or power purchase agreements (PPAs). Though this limits your payment options, it ensures you’ll own your system and have access to cost-saving tax incentives. Lease and PPA customers are disqualified from these incentives.
Palmetto has a monthly subscription protection plan that includes discounts on solar panel maintenance and cleaning, pest abatement, and solar system troubleshooting. The subscriptions are available in a tiered format, from basic to premium. The monthly subscription program is available regardless of whether you’ve purchased your system from Palmetto.
- Why We Picked It: Sunrun was founded in 2007 and has more than a decade of experience in the solar industry. It provides a range of financing options, making it ideal for customers who want payment flexibility.
Sunrun is a seasoned company with flexible financing options. It offers a full-amount lease, full-system purchase, monthly lease, and monthly loan. Sunrun offers full service to all of its customers regardless of the purchasing plan selected.
Leasing customers receive protection from damage, degradation, and theft. Sunrun will fix your system for free if its efficiency decreases. This is a huge benefit and can save you from costly repairs.
Non-leasing customers can purchase these services through an added Protection Plus subscription, which covers parts and labor for repairs.
- Arizona Solar Companies
- California Solar Companies
- Colorado Solar Companies
- Connecticut Solar Companies
- Florida Solar Companies
- Georgia Solar Companies
- Illinois Solar Companies
- Maryland Solar Companies
- Massachusetts Solar Companies
- New Jersey Solar Companies
- New Mexico Solar Companies
- New York Solar Companies
- North Carolina Solar Companies
- Pennsylvania Solar Companies
- South Carolina Solar Companies
- Texas Solar Companies
- Utah Solar Companies
Solar Incentives in Illinois
All solar owners are eligible for the federal solar 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 incentives and rebates. Here are some of the key programs Illinois 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 a 15-year period. These certificates can amount to thousands in savings.
- Illinois net-metering: Utility companies will buy back 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.
Our Conclusion
The best solar provider depends on your individual priorities and home’s energy needs. Palmetto Solar is our top pick due to its extensive customer support, comprehensive service plan, remote monitoring capabilities, and additional protection coverage.
Consider your monthly energy consumption, sunlight exposure, and roof’s shape and direction when researching companies. These will all factor into your solar panel costs. We recommend getting at least three quotes before making a final decision.
FAQs About Solar Companies in Illinois
The average cost of installing a solar system in Illinois is $13,005–$17,595 for an average-sized 5 kW system.
Illinois does not pay for solar panels. However, it offers a range of incentives to reduce solar installation costs.
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.
Yes, Illinois offers a property tax exemption for residential solar systems. This allows homeowners to exclude their solar system from their property valuation.
Our Methodology
The This Old House Reviews Team is 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.