3 Best Solar Companies in Wausau, WI (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 3 in Wausau based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Wausau, WI
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Wausau homeowner saves $1,543/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Wausau
Do you want energy freedom in Wausau? Installing solar panels can be a rewarding project since you can take advantage of many benefits when you go solar. Though Wausau may not have a reputation for sunshine like Florida, it's a surprisingly hot place for solar growth, so a lot of the best solar companies in the country have expanded to there to help residents embrace renewable energy.
In this article, we’ll help you narrow down the best options in your area.We recommend shopping around for several quotes and comparing them to see which is the best installer for your home. To get started with free quotes from the top solar companies in Wausau, click the link below.
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Best Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
Best Technology
Tesla Energy
- Price-match guarantee
- Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
- Best solar battery on the market
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Customer service varies by local dealer
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Wausau
Northwind Solar
Clear Pricing Policy- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Consultation- Panel Installation
Independent Solar Systems
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Photovoltaic Systems LLC
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Wausau
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Wausau based on criteria such as its reputation in the industry, customer reviews, services, warranty coverage and financing. Using this solar methodology, we used the data we collected to rate and rank each company and narrow down our picks for the best solar companies in Wausau
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Wisconsin solar companies
- Brand reputation and certifications (20%): We take each company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) score into consideration, as well as how long the installer has been in business (at least 5 years is required, 10 preferred) and what type of solar certifications it holds.
- Customer reviews (20%): Trust is a top priority at EcoWatch, so we take customer experience under close consideration. We scour different review sites and customer testimonials when ranking our top solar companies, checking sites such as Trustpilot and Google Reviews. We also consider any potential complaints or lawsuits filed against these companies and award or remove points accordingly.
- Warranty (20%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers 25-year warranties that cover performance, product and workmanship. The industry standard that we measure companies against is 25-year product and performance warranties, along with a 10-year workmanship warranty. We also look closely into the track record of the post-installation support each company provides in terms of honoring its contracts
- Solar services (10%): All of the companies we review install solar panels, but we award companies higher points if they offer additional services for customers, like battery installation, energy-efficiency audits, and EV chargers.
- Pricing and financing (10%): It's hard to get exact quotes for solar projects, but we use marketplace research to determine how each company prices its equipment and installation services. Additionally, companies that offer more help for panel financing — like in-house loans, leases, or PPAs — score higher than those that don't.
- Availability (10%): The bigger the service area, the higher the company will score.
- Transparency and accessibility (5%): Solar installers that offer free consultations and easy contact methods score higher in this category.
- Environmental, social and corporate governance factors (5%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers public data disclosure, addresses end-of-life (EOL) products or processes, and demonstrates a commitment to uplifting the communities that it serves.
The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Wausau
We get that for most homeowners, the choice to invest in solar highly depends on installation costs.Some important factors that dictate how much it will cost to install solar panels on your home and how much it could save you over time include:
- Incentives: Tax-paying citizens who install a solar energy system this year can save 0 of their solar installation costs by taking advantage of the federal solar investment tax credit. You can also save about $18,000 on your utility bills over 20 years not including incentives.
- How much you spend on energy: The typical family in Wausau spends around $1,100 a year on home energy use alone, so you could end up with that much in savings.
- Your income and budget: This determines what type of solar panels you can afford.
- Energy consumption: Installing a solar system may be a high-cost option for families that don’t consume too much energy each month.
So are solar panels worth it? Whether you hope to decrease your electric bills, greenhouse gas emissions or both, solar panels are a worthwhile investment for many Wausau homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in Wausau
There are a lot of reasons why adopting solar power is beneficial. One of them consists of some government incentives that can save you money.There are quite a few federal, state and local rebates and tax credits that let you earn some money in return after buying a qualifying system. Our article on solar incentives goes over more detailed information on the incentives you can benefit from in Wausau.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Wausau
Swapping traditional energy for solar is a compelling way to do what you can for a more environmentally-friendly future.Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in Wausau, though. Switching to green energy for electricity in place of using nonrenewable energy is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint if you're conscious of Wausau's large level of greenhouse gas emissions.Since solar panels don’t release CO2 emissions into the atmosphere when creating electricity, they’re a good substitute for nonrenewable energy sources. In fact, you could be looking at reducing your carbon dioxide emissions by about 100 pounds each year. As you can see, trading traditional energy for solar has so many other rewards besides saving money. One of the major ones is that you can help save the Earth too.
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Best Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
Best Technology
Tesla Energy
- Price-match guarantee
- Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
- Best solar battery on the market
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Customer service varies by local dealer
EcoWatch's Wausau, WI Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar company is the best in Wausau?
The top local solar company in Wausau is Northwind Solar, with a rating of 4.80 stars.
What is the negative environmental impact of solar panels?
Solar panels can be harmful for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals in the manufacturing process. Chemicals can make solar panels difficult to recycle safely once they’ve reached the end of their lifespan. Solar panel manufacturing uses a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.
How long does it take for solar to pay for itself?
Solar panels generally pay for themselves in about 14.1 years, but your solar payback period will vary depending on your utility costs. The higher your typical power bill, the quicker your solar panel system will recoup your installation costs.
How long do solar panels last?
On average, the lifespan of solar panels is about 25 to 30 years. Some even last up to 50 years, but efficiency goes down by about 0.8% each year. You can choose to replace them sooner if you want to maintain a higher level of energy production.
Our goal is to reach as many people as we can with sensible solutions like solar energy. Our team of full-time local researchers collects solar price and installation data for every city in America then compiles it to create these digestible city guides. If you want to read our solar expert’s opinion on the top solar companies featured here, follow this link.
Company research was conducted by Melissa Smith and Karsten Neumeister. Local data analysis was conducted by James Savino. See something we missed or could do better? Email the editor.