Solar Panel Cost Guide in Fort Madison, IA (2024 Update)
- Fort Madison Solar Installation Cost: $26,485
- 25-Year Savings: $33,656
- Payback Period: 12.7 Years
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Average Cost of Solar Panels in Fort Madison
Find out what the average cost of installing solar panels is in Fort Madison.
While the national average of solar panels is $2.66 per watt, solar panels in Fort Madison typically cost around 4.The average solar panel system size in Fort Madison is around 9.4 kilowatts, meaning a cost of about $26,485 for a solar installation, or $37,874 before the 0 federal solar tax credit is applied.
These figures are only averages, and your own solar costs may look different based on factors unique to your home and what company you choose to go with.For most homeowners, the upfront cost of solar panels is worth paying. On average homeowners in Fort Madison see about $21,000 in savings on utility bills over 20 years.
To calculate your potential ROI and connect with a local solar installer, click the button below.
Solar savings over time in Fort Madison
| Year | Return on Investment |
|---|---|
| 1 years | $-24,769 |
| 3 years | $-21,336 |
| 5 years | $-17,903 |
| 7 years | $-14,470 |
| 9 years | $-11,037 |
| 11 years | $-7,604 |
| 13 years | $-4,171 |
| 15 years | $-738 |
| 17 years | $2,695 |
| 19 years | $6,128 |
| 21 years | $9,561 |
| 23 years | $12,994 |
| 25 years | $16,427 |
Top Solar Installers in Fort Madison
Many homeowners opt for a solar installer since trying to put up solar panels on your own can be hard. Local solar installers can also help you optimize your return on investment by assisting with any local incentives you can benefit from and by offering warranties and repairs.
If you’d like to go solar but still aren’t sure which solar company to go with, here are our suggestions for providers in Fort Madison:
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 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
See all of the solar companies in Fort Madison
Factors that Affect Solar Panel Costs in Fort Madison
For many Fort Madison homeowners, the decision to go solar rests on cost. However, the range of solar installation costs can be quite wide in Fort Madison, with typical prices between $20,000 to $40,000. There are a number of factors that considerably influence the price you’ll pay, which we'll go over below.
Solar Equipment
One of the most significant factors to consider when it comes to the cost of installing solar panels is the size of the solar system, which is measured in kilowatts (kW). The more energy your household consumes, the larger your system will likely need to be. You can expect to spend about $4,010 per kilowatt in Fort Madison.There are many different solar panel brands and the one you choose also changes the cost. In many cases, the brands that are more efficient tend to also be more expensive. In addition, the type of equipment you choose can affect your total cost. If you just need panels, your system will be far less expensive than if you also need solar batteries or an electric vehicle charger.
Solar Financing Terms
For some homeowners, paying for a solar system out of pocket can be challenging. Solar loans are offered by most installers in Fort Madison, which can lower, or in some cases completely eliminate, your upfront costs to make solar more affordable.Even though solar loans make going solar more accessible for Fort Madison homeowners, they can also increase the total you pay for your system, depending on your interest rate and how long you take to pay off the loan. If you make a larger down payment, though, you can cut back on how much interest you have to pay.
Solar Panel Installation Company
The final key cost factor you should keep in mind is the installer you choose. Given the booming popularity of clean energy solutions in Fort Madison, you’ll have lots of options to choose from, but each comes at varying price points for labor and equipment.The size of the company can sometimes play the most considerable role in the cost of installation. Larger national companies, like SunPro and Sunrun, often have lower pricing because they have more resources and bulk pricing. Smaller local companies might be more costly, but they generally have better customer service and more customization options, and the occasional sale or promotion can bring their pricing down to compete with bigger names.
Solar Panel Cost Data by System Size
| System size | Cost per system watt | Solar system cost | 25-Year savings | Payback period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 kW | $4.17 | $17,516 | $15,520 | 13.3 years |
| 8 kW | $4.09 | $22,905 | $21,143 | 13.0 years |
| 10 kW | $4.01 | $28,070 | $26,990 | 12.7 years |
| 12 kW | $3.93 | $33,010 | $33,061 | 12.5 years |
| 14 kW | $3.85 | $37,726 | $39,358 | 12.2 years |
| 16 kW | $3.77 | $42,217 | $45,878 | 12.0 years |
| 18 kW | $3.69 | $46,484 | $52,624 | 11.7 years |
| 20 kW | $3.61 | $50,526 | $59,594 | 11.5 years |
How to Save on Solar Panels
Since the type of solar panels and the company you choose greatly affects your costs and your system’s efficiency, production, and durability, it’s important to select the right ones for you. Here are some tips to keep in mind to help with your decision:
- Installation Process: When making the switch to solar, it’s important to keep an open line of communication with your solar installer. Make sure you understand how the installation process works and the project timeline.
- Solar Panel Brands: Each solar panel brand and type has varying levels of quality, durability and energy efficiency. They will come at different costs as well. The company you choose has an impact on which solar panel brands you have access to.
- Contract: It’s important to look over your solar installer’s contract carefully to understand what services they will provide, what the warranty covers and what expectations you should have about the installation process.
- Reputation: Your solar installer should have a sound reputation as a company and have verifiable expertise in the field. A couple of ways to check this are to look for whether a company has technicians that hold a certification from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) and if it has satisfied reviews from previous customers.
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 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 Fort Madison, IA Solar Cost FAQs
How much does it cost to install solar panels in Fort Madison?
The average cost of solar panels in Fort Madison is about $20,050 for a 5-kW system and $40,100 for a 10-kW system before the ITC, but the actual cost will depend on stuff such as the type of solar panels you want, what size system you need and how much energy you use.
Is it better to lease or buy solar panels in Fort Madison?
Leasing solar panels can be an appealing choice, as it often comes with low or $0 upfront payments. The downside is that you won’t be able to save as much. If you lease, you don’t own the system, so you can’t claim any tax rebates and credits and your home value won’t increase. Buying solar panels is a better way to go if you want to maximize your savings.
Does Fort Madison have a net metering program?
The majority of states have net metering programs of some kind. Through these, you can either be compensated for the extra power your system generates or or receive credits to put toward future utility bills. Currently there are just three states that don’t have any net metering laws: Alabama, Tennessee and South Dakota.
How often do you have to replace solar panels?
Even though the average lifespan of solar panels is 25 to 30 years, that doesn't mean they are completely unusable at that time. What this means is the amount of energy they produce will have decreased significantly after that point. You can decide to replace them once you've had them for that long or you can keep using them at a lower efficiency.
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.