15 Best Solar Companies in Madison, WI (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Madison based on:
- Customer review scores
- Service area for Madison, WI
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Madison homeowner saves $1,824/year with solar panels
Updated February 01, 2024
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Madison
If you’re on the hunt for the best solar companies in Madison, combing through so many options can be intimidating, but it can pay off since switching to solar power can offer so many great benefits. After 20 years of offsetting your energy costs with a solar panel system, you can save about $22,000 on your electricity bills.
Here, we’ll narrow down some of the top solar companies in Madison to make your decision a little easier.To get free quotes from the best solar companies in Madison, you can click "get quote" below.
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 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
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Madison
Drews Solar
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Residential Panels
- Commercial Panels
- Financing Assistance
Full Spectrum Solar
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Panels
- Residential Panels
- Consultation
- EV Charger
- Battery Storage
Midwest Solar Power
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Residential Panels
- Commercial Panels
All Energy Solar
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Full-Service
- Permit Assistance
- Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
- Residential Panels
- Battery Storage
- Commercial Panels
Arch Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Panels
- Residential Panels
- Battery Storage
SOLENERGY
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Full-Service
- Residential Panels
- Permit Assistance
Glow Solar
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Residential Panels
- Commercial Panels
- Consultation
Epic Electric and Solar Inc.
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Residential Panels
- Commercial Panels
- Consultation
Synergy Renewable Systems, LLC
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Residential Panels
- Battery Storage
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Permit Assistance
- Commercial Panels
Agsun Corporation
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Family-Operated Business
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Panels
- Residential Panels
ALL SKY ENERGY, LLC.
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Panels
- Battery Storage
- Residential Panels
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
Greenlink Energy Solutions
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Panels
- Permit Assistance
- Financing Assistance
- Cleaning
- Residential Panels
- Energy Efficiency Audit
- Battery Storage
- Maintenance
Iconic Energy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Residential Panels
- Financing Assistance
- Commercial Panels
Bright Skies Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Residential Panels
Full Spectrum Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Residential Panels
- Commercial Panels
- Battery Storage
- EV Charger
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Madison
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Madison 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 Madison
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 Madison
Although solar panels can help save you a decent chunk of change on utility bills over time, it’s necessary to consider the startup costs.There are a few factors you should consider when trying to determine the overall cost and how much you can save, such as:
- average energy usage: The more power your household uses on average and the larger your current electricity bills are, the more benefits you’ll see from making the switch to solar.
- Incentives: Those who buy and install a solar energy system this year can save 0 of their total solar spend by taking advantage of the federal solar investment tax credit. You can also save about $22,000 on your electricity bills over 20 years without incentives.
- The type of solar panel system you can purchase: This depends on what your budget is.
- Where your home is: This influences how much sunlight your roof receives, which helps determine how many panels you need.
So are solar panels worth it? Whether you’re trying to reduce your electric bills, carbon dioxide emissions or both, solar panels are a worthwhile investment for many Madison homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in Madison
One of the good things about installing a solar panel system is earning federal and potentially state incentives.In addition to the federal tax credit incentive, there are also some state- and city-level incentives, which in the majority of cases, stack with the federal incentive, so you can save even more. For more information about local incentives, check out our article on solar incentives.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Madison
There are tons of reasons to switch to solar power, like saving some money on electricity bills and helping to lower your carbon footprint.A question many homeowners might have in mind is how much can they really help the environment by switching to solar power anyway? In Madison, where the energy generation produces a lot of greenhouse gasses, going solar can have a big impact on the Earth since solar power is a renewable source of energy.When you go solar, your carbon emissions can be lowered by about 100 pounds a year. Since energy from the sun is plentiful and generates electricity without releasing carbon emissions, installing solar panels is one easy step you can take to help protect 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 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
EcoWatch's Madison, WI Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the best solar installation company in Madison?
The best local solar company in Madison is Drews Solar, with a rating of 5.00 stars.
What is the negative environmental impact of solar panel manufacturing?
Producing solar panels needs to use chemicals and produces toxic waste that can be bad for the environment, which is the main downside of solar panels.
How long does it take for solar to pay for itself?
Solar panels generally pay for themselves in about 11.9 years, but your solar payback period will vary based on your utility costs. The higher your typical energy bill, the quicker your solar panel system will pay for itself.
What is solar panel capacity and how much do I need for my house?
Solar panel capacity is rated based on how much power they generate under standard testing conditions. Since each panel can usually produce about 250 to 400 watts per hour, the average house will need 20 to 35 panels.
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.