Top 5 Best Solar Companies in Wisconsin (2024 Reviews)

Watch Below: How Well Will Your Solar Panels Still Work When Covered In Snow?

How Can You Save Money When Hiring A Solar Company In Wisconsin

The average solar panel system costs $23,240 in Wisconsin, or $16,268 after the federal tax credit is taken into account. Those prices are for a solar project that produces about 7 kilowatts (kW) of energy (roughly 20 solar panels) because that’s how much energy is needed to offset the average household energy needs in Wisconsin.

The cost will fluctuate depending on your household energy consumption. Solar panel costs are typically priced per watt, coming in at around $3.32 per watt in Wisconsin (just below the national average cost of solar at $3.33 per watt).

While solar is cheaper in Wisconsin, $23,240 isn’t a small investment. But there are some ways you can save money when hiring a solar company in Wisconsin:

• Take advantage of local and federal solar incentives
• Only install as many solar panels as you need
• Put more money down or pay in cash
• Shop around and get several quotes

Take Advantage of Local and Federal Solar Incentives

While Wisconsin isn’t the first place most would think of when it comes to solar power, state leaders sure make it tempting to install solar panels by providing a lot of solar incentives for homeowners who help the state reach its Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) goals.

Below is a brief overview of some of the programs you can take advantage of to save money going solar in Wisconsin. You can check out our guide to solar incentives in Wisconsin for more in-depth information.

Only Install As Many Solar Panels As You Need

While Wisconsin has a favorable net metering program, you still don’t want your solar panel system to be producing more energy than what’s needed to power your home.

As we mentioned before, solar panel systems are priced on a per-watt basis. So to save on a solar panel system, you’d ideally want to install the smallest one possible that still produces enough power to meet your needs.

To figure out what size solar system you need, you’ll need to check your utility bills to figure out your average monthly energy consumption.

The average Wisconsin resident consumes 690 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month.⁴ Dividing this number by 100 will give you a ballpark estimate of the system size needed for that home, which is why in Wisconsin the average homeowner needs a 7 kW system (rounded up from 6.9, of course)

Put More Money Down or Pay In Cash

Affording an entire solar panel system in cash (or credit) is not a realistic option for most homeowners. But the more you pay upfront, the more energy savings you’ll accrue over time.

There are plenty of solar financing options available if you can’t afford to pay for your entire solar array at once, the most popular being a solar loan. However, if you choose a solar loan, what you pay in interest will be an additional cost you wouldn’t pay if you bought your panels in cash.

That’s why we recommend putting as much money down on your solar panels as possible and trying to pay off the loan as quickly as you can. That way, you can minimize your interest payments and pay off your solar panels faster. Just make sure you check the loan conditions carefully to ensure you won’t get penalized for making extra payments.

Shop Around and Get Several Quotes

The Badger State has a growing solar market, with more than 60 different solar companies now serving Wisconsin.⁵ That means the market is pretty competitive, which can work to your advantage.

Be sure to shop around and get multiple solar quotes (at least two) to make sure you’re getting the best value out of your solar panels. Pro tip: if you prefer one company we’ve featured over another, but the preferred company is more expensive, use the lower quote as a bargaining chip. Many solar installers are willing to match prices.

See Also: Calculate How Much You Can Save By Going Solar

Will Solar Increase Your Home Value In Wisconsin?

Yes, multiple studies have confirmed that solar panels do increase the value of a home. In fact, in an EcoWatch survey of 1,000 homeowners, 63% of respondents said they’d pay more for a home with solar panels than a home without

Research from Zillow backs this up. In the real estate company’s study, it found that homes with solar panels typically sell for 4% more compared to homes without.⁶ In Wisconsin where the average home sells for $286,787, that turns into a potential $11,758 increase in home value.⁷

Should Wisconsin Residents Hire a Professional Solar Installer Or DIY?

We know it can be tempting to want to DIY a solar panel installation to save money.

Labor costs vary by company, but according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, labor typically accounts for at least 10% of the total cost of solar installation.⁸

In Wisconsin where the average solar installation costs $23,240, you can expect labor costs to be about $2,324 of the total installation.

That’s a nice chunk of change. But are the savings worth the risks?

Installing solar is more complicated than you think. When you hire a solar panel company, the installation process can involve a project manager, a team of licensed technicians and solar panel design specialists who all work together to make sure your solar panels are placed in the best direction and angle to get you the most solar power.

Unless you’re an electrician or certified in a similar trade, we don’t recommend installing your own solar panels. It’s not an easy job and it comes with a lot of potential risks to you and your home.

What Should Wisconsin Residents Look For in a Solar Installer?

You don’t need us to tell you that it’s a good idea to find a solar company that has positive customer reviews and knowledgeable staff. But there are other qualities that make some solar companies a better option for homeowners in Wisconsin, like offering

• High-efficiency panels
• Solar energy storage systems
• Strong warranties

High-Efficiency Panels

Wisconsin has an average of 188 sunny days a year, which is less than the national average of 205. While 188 is still plenty of sunshine, Wisconsin homeowners will get a lot more out of their solar investment if they opt for higher-efficiency solar panels.

The higher the efficiency of a solar panel, the more energy it can generate in a shorter period of time. The best solar panels on the market have an output of around 350 watts (W) to 400 W and efficiency ratings over 20%, which is what we’d recommend for Wisconsin homes.

Solar Energy Storage

Along with less than average sunshine, Wisconsin sees above-average snowfall. While solar panels still work when it’s cloudy and snowy, it’s safe to say that they won’t be as powerful during those periods.

Installing a solar energy storage system allows you to store the excess energy your panels produce on sunny days so that you can use them on those days when the sunshine isn’t as strong.

Strong Warranties

Even the cheapest solar panels are a pretty decent investment, so you want to get the most out of your investment. A solar panel system should last you at least 25 years, which means you shouldn’t accept a panel warranty that’s any less than that.

We also recommend choosing a company that has a workmanship warranty, because your solar panels are only as good as they were installed. A workmanship warranty — also called a labor warranty — protects you in the event of a faulty installation, or if there is any home or roof damage during installation.

For this reason, we really like Sun Badger Solar. Sun Badger offers 25-year workmanship and equipment warranties, which are above the industry standard.

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The cost information presented in this article is derived from a comprehensive analysis, incorporating data from multiple industry sources. The average cost per watt per state was calculated based on figures from Consumer Affairs, Energy Sage, and Berkeley Lab’s Electricity Markets & Policy Department. Additionally, monthly energy consumption and the average monthly cost of electricity were sourced from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, ensuring a well-rounded and accurate representation of the information presented.

Methodology: How We Ranked Wisconsin’s Solar Companies

When we rank our top solar companies, we start by identifying the factors that matter most when ensuring that our readers find a trustworthy, reliable and environmentally responsible installation. We’ve listed those factors as categories below. We then weigh these factors against the industry benchmark (a company meeting the industry standard in all categories would earn 4 stars in our rating system).

Our goal is to deliver unbiased reports and honest reviews, thus, our methodology is not affected by commercial partnerships and is specifically tailored to Wisconsin homes.

• Solar Services (20%): All solar companies install panels, but others offer several related services, such as energy efficiency, electrical or roofing services. We give higher scores to companies that offer more services to benefit the homeowner.
• Qualifications, Reputation & Certifications (20%): Companies that make an effort to forge relationships with industry affiliations are more likely to last longer, have better service and create a positive lasting impact on the area they service.
• Solar Warranty & Customer Support (15%): Almost all solar companies carry solar panels that are protected under a 25-year equipment warranty, but we award additional points to solar companies that offer protection beyond that. But warranties are also only as good as the company’s customer support service, so we look for a good rating in that category, too.
• Solar Financing Options (15%): Going solar is an environmental solution that should be made more accessible to more people. As such, we award higher scores to companies that offer more numerous and flexible financing options to help more homeowners be able to afford solar panels.
• Experience (10%): Older, well-established companies tend to offer an abundance of experience and knowledge accumulated over decades of service. While some younger companies may be able to rival their older comrades, there’s something to be said about years of experience.
• Availability (10%): Some solar companies in Wisconsin only serve select cities or areas. We give higher ranking to companies that serve more cities, including Wisconsin’s more rural areas.
• Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance Factors (10%): While going solar is great for money-saving benefits, we prioritize people and the planet alongside your profit. As such, we take each company’s ecological and ethical standards into account when ranking our top providers.