The state of Wisconsin doesn’t rank well in comparison to other states in terms of solar panel system installations, but that’s beginning to change — the Badger State is the 12th fastest growing state in terms of solar installation and adoption, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.
This rapid increase in adoption is likely happening in part because of federal and local incentives encouraging solar installation. The biggest recent federal incentive is a major tax credit included within the Inflation Reduction Act, offering a 30% rebate on the cost of any clean energy additions to a household.
Wisconsin residents can take advantage of strong local policies, too. Net metering policies let you send excess energy produced by your rooftop solar system to the grid, accrediting you to pull energy from the grid when your system doesn’t produce enough to power your household. The Badger State also provides a flat rebate to ease the cost of your rooftop solar system.
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Before you make the switch to clean energy, you need to do the proper research and understand your installation options. Here are the best national solar installation companies operating within Wisconsin.
Best national solar companies in Wisconsin
According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, 182 solar companies operate in Wisconsin, including 73 solar installers. Below, we’ll highlight five of the companies working in the state, including companies featured on CNET’s solar company best list.
Finding a trustworthy solar installer that fits your budget, can meet your timeline and offers the products you want is crucial. It’s also important to read customer reviews and get several quotes from different installers. We’ve compiled a list of solar panel installers that stand out in the market, but be sure to do your own research before signing a contract.
Include Freedom Forever in your search if you want the backing of a national company that installs a wide variety of the most popular solar equipment available. Freedom Forever also extends a couple of products that take some of the pain and risk out of going solar, like a production guarantee and an escrow option with cash purchases. Online reviews say customer satisfaction has been low of late, though the company says that’s changing.
All Energy Solar provides solar and energy storage services for residential, commercial and utility-scale customers in the Northeast and Midwest, including Wisconsin. The company manages the entire purchasing process in-house, including solar system design, installation, local permitting and post-installation monitoring. All Energy Solar partners with large solar manufacturers like Enphase Energy, Q Cells, Tesla and SolarEdge Technologies. The company provides up to 10 years of quality-of-work warranties in Wisconsin. All Energy Finance offers direct financing to its solar customers, which means you work directly with the installer to pay for your loan.
Solar Power World magazine, a leading solar publication in the US, ranked Arch Solar as one of the top solar installers in Wisconsin in 2022. With more than 90 employees, Arch Solar handles the installation in-house. The company partners with solar and battery industry manufacturers like Enphase, Generac, SolarEdge and Tesla. While solar panels and inverters come with a 25-year warranty, Arch Solar provides only a five-year quality-of-work warranty for residential customers.
Endries Solar and Electric provides full-service solar and battery installations for residential and commercial customers. The company customizes each solar system to suit the client’s needs and it’s a certified installer of Generac solar batteries. If you need solar financing, Endries Solar and Electric consultants can walk you through your loan options and payment strategies. The company provides a five-year quality-of-work warranty.
Important installation factors
1. Get multiple quotes and compare: This is possibly the single most important step. You can’t know if you’re getting ripped off without checking a quote against something else.
2. Ask you installer questions: A reputable installer shouldn’t be afraid of questions. If you feel you’re getting the run-around, ask other installers the same questions and compare their answers.
3. Talk to your neighbors who have solar panels: Ask your neighbor how well their chosen company communicated, stuck to the schedule, navigated the permitting process and supported them after installation. If the company has a referral program, you could kick a few hundred dollars your neighbor’s way, too.
4. Understand your local incentives: Make sure you know whether your local government and utility have solar-friendly policies that can make solar a safer financial bet.
5. Read reviews and complaints: Online reviews aren’t the gospel truth, but they’re useful for educating yourself on the issues that might crop up and common experiences that customers have had with a company.
6. Check licenses and certifications: You can check the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners for certified installers near you. There are other certifying organizations though, so ask installers where their licensure comes from.
7. Calculate your savings: If a company seems to be promising too much, don’t commit and investigate further.
