9 Best Solar Companies in St. Charles, MN (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 9 in St. Charles based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for St. Charles, MN
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average St. Charles homeowner saves $1,612/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in St. Charles
Looking for energy freedom in St. Charles? Installing solar panels can be a rewarding home project since you can take advantage of lots of benefits when you switch to solar power. Over 20 years of offsetting your energy costs with a solar panel system, you can save about $19,000 on your power bills.
In this article, we’ll help you narrow in on the top companies in your area.Interested in knowing how much you would pay to install a solar system on your roof? Click "get quote" below to get a free, no-obligation quote from a highly rated St. Charles solar installer.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
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 St. Charles
Solar Connection
Clear Pricing Policy- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Permit Assistance- Panel Installation
- Consultation
Champion Solar
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Skilled Repairs
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
Kuntz Electric, Inc.
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
Olson Solar Energy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Panel Installation
Austin Electric
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Family-Operated Business
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
Solar Connection Inc.
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
Midwest Solars
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
American Energy LLC
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
Blake Electric, Inc.
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in St. Charles
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in St. Charles 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 St. Charles
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Minnesota 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 St. Charles
The cost of installing a solar panel system has gone down significantly in the past several years, but it’s still a significant investment for most homeowners.The cost and possible savings vary depending on some important factors such as:
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit currently lets you decrease your taxes by 0 of the project cost. Your state and even local utility companies may also have various incentives that you can benefit from. Plus, you can save about $19,000 over 20 years on your utility bills, before factoring in incentives.
- Your home's orientation toward the sun: This, plus how your roof is set up, affects affect how much energy your solar panels can generate.
- Typical energy usage: The more power your household uses on average and the greater your current electricity bills are, the more likely you'll benefit from making the switch to solar.
- Your income and budget: This determines what type of solar panels you can get.
There are lots of wonderful benefits of solar despite the upfront cost of installation. It can help the environment and your finances. In addition, it can increase the value of your home, leading to even more benefits if you choose to sell your home later.
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For an idea of both how much you could save and help protect the Earth by installing a solar panel system, you can give the calculator below a try. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for St. Charles, MN.
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Solar Incentives in St. Charles
There are several reasons why you should switch to solar. One of them involves some government incentives that can save you money.Regardless of where you live, you can take advantage of the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which allows you to claim 0 of how much you paid for your solar installation on your tax return, lowering the amount of taxes you owe that year. In addition, there may be some state and city incentives you can benefit from too. For comprehensive information about incentives that apply to you, visit our article on solar incentives.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in St. Charles
A lot of people want to do what they can to help save the environment, which for many is the chief motivation to install solar panels.You may be curious – how much does making the switch help the environment anyway? Something that can drastically influence your carbon footprint is how long your commute is and how much you drive overall. If you install solar panels and drive an electric car, you can vastly reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by charging your car at home.When you go solar, your carbon emissions can be cut by about 90 pounds each year. Since solar energy is renewable and generates electricity without a carbon footprint, adding solar panels to your home is one easy step you can take to help preserve the planet.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
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 St. Charles, MN Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar panel installer is the best in St. Charles?
In St. Charles, Solar Connection is the most reputable local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.80 stars, so it's a solid choice if you're planning to add solar panels to your house.
What are the best and worst things about solar power?
The main advantages of solar power are that it can decrease or, in some cases, totally cut your electricity bills, raise the value of your home and lower your carbon footprint. The biggest disadvantages are that solar panels can be pricey to install, you may not save as much if you don’t use a lot of electricity and whether you can install solar panels depends on your roof configuration.
How long does it take to see a return on your investment after buying solar panels?
Solar panels typically pay for themselves in about 14.0 years, but your solar payback period will depend on your utility costs. The higher your typical power bill, the quicker your solar panel system will recoup your installation costs.
What are the different kinds of solar panels?
The different types of solar panels are monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film. Monocrystalline panels are more efficient but also more costly. Polycrystalline panels are cheaper but also less efficient than monocrystalline. Thin-film solar panels are flexible, so they can be used where the other types can’t, like on curved surfaces or cars, but they are also less efficient. The best one for you depends on your budget, roof configuration and how much energy generation you want.
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.