13 Best Solar Companies in Cincinnati, IL (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 13 in Cincinnati based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Cincinnati, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Cincinnati homeowner saves $1,167/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Cincinnati
When deciding on the best solar panel installers, Cincinnati homeowners have more choices than ever before, which can be a lot to consider, but we’re here to make making the switch to solar energy less confusing. On average, your family can save $14,000 over 20 years with solar panels. And because solar panels last about 25 to 30 years, your total cost savings will be much higher than that overall.
In this article, we’ll tell you about the top Cincinnati solar installers so you can find the best one for your home’s solar energy needs.If you’d like to get free, no-obligation quotes from the top Cincinnati solar companies, you can click the button below to learn more.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
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 Cincinnati
SunPower by Legacy Solar, LLC
Clear Pricing Policy- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Financing Assistance- Panel Installation
Sunrun Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Consultation
- Skilled Repairs
ROUTE 66 SOLAR
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- System Decommissioning
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
Sun Collectors
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- System Decommissioning
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
SOLAR PANTHER
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Financing Assistance
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
Halo Solar LLC
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
StraightUp Solar of Bloomington
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Grid-Tied Solar System
Skydrop Energy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
Nelnet Renewable Energy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
WindSolarUSA, Inc.
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Permit Assistance
IQ Group Inc
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
EFS Energy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
Route 66 Solar
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- System Decommissioning
- Grid-Tied Solar System
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Cincinnati
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Illinois 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 Cincinnati
While solar panels can save you a decent chunk of change on utility bills over time, it’s necessary to know the startup costs.Some significant things that influence the upfront cost and potential savings over time include:
- Incentives: Something that can save you money on your solar project is the solar investment tax credit (ITC), which is a tax credit that’s equal to a percentage of the project cost. You can also save on your power bills, which can give you an average of $14,000 of savings over 20 years.
- Your energy consumption: If your home regularly uses a lot of energy, you'll reap more rewards from switching to solar.
- Average daily sunlight: Since Cincinnati gets a decent amount of average daily sunlight, your solar panels can generally generate enough energy to power your whole home, which affects how much your electricity bills will be.
- Choice of solar panels: The type of solar panels you want will affect your total cost. High-efficiency monocrystalline panels will cost more upfront but can also lead to more savings over the lifetime of your system. If you don’t need to maximize efficiency, you can go with a higher number of more affordable panels.
Even though a solar panel system costs a good chunk of money upfront, it can save you a considerable amount over the lifespan of your panels. The question of how much, though, depends on several factors, such as the size of your house and incentives.
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Solar Incentives in Cincinnati
There are lots of reasons why you should switch to solar. One of them consists of some government incentives that can save you money.You are eligible for the federal solar investment tax credit (ITC) for the tax year you turn on your a solar system. You can also possibly use the ITC with other local incentives. Take a look at our article on solar incentives to find out what incentives are available to you.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Cincinnati
Installing solar panels can have a meaningful effect on the environment.Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in Cincinnati, though. The more power your house uses, the better off the planet will be when you switch to solar since you won’t need to rely on traditional energy sources as much.In Cincinnati, the average person can lower their carbon footprint by 100 pounds a year once they go solar. As you can see, investing in solar has so many other perks besides saving money. One of the major ones is that you can help save the environment too.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
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 Cincinnati, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar installation company is the best near me?
The highest-rated local solar company in Cincinnati is SunPower by Legacy Solar, LLC, with a rating of 4.80 stars.
What are a few of the major pros and cons of switching to solar?
A few of the biggest pros are that it decreases your electricity bills, it’s eco-friendly, and it can provide a significant return on your investment (ROI). The most notable cons are that solar panels don’t produce electricity at night, the installation cost is pricey and solar panels can look clunky on your roof.
How long does it take to see a return on your investment after installing solar panels?
The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 18.0 years, but the exact period depends on local electricity costs, incentives and net metering programs.
How much solar panel capacity do I need for my house?
Solar panel capacity is how much energy the panels can generate under ideal conditions (a sunny day around noon). The average household needs between 20 and 35 panels to cover how much energy they need.
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.