Top 6 Best Solar Companies in Missouri (2024 Reviews)

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How Can You Save Money When Hiring A Solar Company In Missouri

Solar panel systems are expensive in Missouri, topping the national average by several thousands of dollars.

$32,760 is the avg cost to go solar in Missouri that the average resident can expect to pay to convert to solar energy before any rebates or other perks. This assumes an average cost per watt of $3.12 — which is below average — and a typical system size of 10.5 kilowatts (kW) — which is above average.

Thankfully, there are some ways to save money when choosing an installer and during the actual conversion process, including:

• Taking advantage of all of the solar incentive programs in MO
• Opting for a company that provides robust warranty coverage
• Getting multiple free quotes from different companies

We’ll expand on these ideas below and explain how each can lower your all-in cost to convert to solar power.

Take All of the Solar Benefit Programs You Can

The best way to bring down your initial and long-term cost of converting to solar is to make sure you take advantage of all of the solar benefit programs in Missouri available to you. Thankfully, Missouri is home to quite a few perks for solar conversion, which, combined, can save you thousands of dollars.

The table below provides a quick overview of the perks available in MO. You can also get more information about these and how to apply for them by checking out our guide to incentives for solar equipment in Missouri.

Make Sure You Get Solid Warranty Coverage

Most solar providers offer warranty coverage for their solar equipment, their workmanship or the efficiency and production of the PV panels, and some of the best companies offer all three. In some states, it’s wise to prioritize one over the other, but all three are important and useful in MO:

• Manufacturer warranties or general equipment warranties protect your panels from defects and can help you avoid expensive repair costs.
• Production warranties guarantee that your panels will continue to offset your energy bills for decades after installation, which ensures your long-term energy savings and reduces your effective system costs.
• Workmanship warranties help protect your system and home from damages and leaks caused by an installation. In a rainy state like Missouri, you may see some companies offering roof-leak protection guarantees as part of your workmanship warranty.

Get Multiple Quotes

Finally, getting multiple quotes will allow you to find the most valuable installer in your area that provides the products and services you need. All of the nearly 40 installers in Missouri can charge different prices for an identical system due to varying labor and equipment costs.

We suggest requesting a few free quotes from your top companies and comparing the cost to the value and protection provided. Remember, these companies are competing for your business, and you never know which company might offer the best package for you.

Curious to learn more? You can use our solar calculator to see how much you can save by going solar.

Will Solar Increase Your Home Value In Missouri?

Yes! Installing a solar panel system will bump up the value on your home in Missouri by approximately 4.1%.3 Given the average property value in MO of $235,844, that’s an expected jump of about $9,669.

The increase in property value is expected to be even higher in more expensive areas like St. Louis, Frontenac and Ladue.

In some cases, solar can have a negative impact on a buyer’s perception of your home, but this typically doesn’t negatively affect the value of your home. Some individuals just don’t like the appearance of panels or solar shingles or are overly concerned about roof leaks.

With that being said, areas like Springfield, which have made a valiant effort to promote green building practices and educate consumers on the benefits of renewable energy are more likely to be accepting of solar. Either way, panels are likely to boost the value of your home.

Should Missouri Residents Hire a Professional Solar Installer Or DIY?

When you’re looking to convert to solar energy, it’s often tempting to consider a DIY solar panel installation. DIY installations end up being significantly cheaper in most cases — usually about half as expensive — but there are some significant downsides and risks associated with installing your panels themselves, including:

• An increased risk of roof leaks due to improper installation
• Limited warranty coverage that isn’t ideal in an area like MO that experiences extreme weather
• Lower panel efficiency ratings that aren’t ideal for high-consumption areas like Missouri, even if energy costs are below average

We’ll explain these downsides a bit more in the sections below.

Higher Risk of Roof Leaks With DIY Installations

We always recommend solar installers with years of experience behind them, partially because inexperience means a higher risk of roof leaks. Roof penetrations are necessary for most solar applications, and they are dangerous if you don’t have experience, putting your property at risk of leaks and water damage.

Doing the installation yourself leaves you at an elevated risk of these problems, and without a professional doing the work, you won’t have any workmanship warranty to cover you in the event of an issue. That means any damages that occur will be your responsibility.

Since Missouri sees above-average amounts of rainfall and leaks are already an above-average risk, a professional installation is that much better of an idea. Ultimately, deferring to a pro can cost more upfront but might save you in property repairs and panel replacement in the long run.

Limited Warranty Coverage

Another major downside of DIY installations is the lack of warranty coverage. Most DIY brands offer five to ten years of equipment protection and occasionally the same in a production guarantee. You’ll never get a workmanship warranty.

As mentioned above, all three warranty options are helpful in MO and help protect you from the cost of damages and repairs going forward. Again, you might spend more hiring a professional installer in Missouri, but you’ll get closer to 25 years of coverage for equipment, production and workmanship.

Lower Panel Efficiency

Finally, the panel brands available for DIY installation usually come with significantly lower efficiency ratings than the top brands installed by professionals. Renogy and Grape Solar, for example, hover between 15% and 20% efficiency in most cases. The top brands offered by pros often top 20% and reach as high as around 22.7%.

Having solar panels with high efficiency ratings is crucial in areas like Missouri, where energy consumption is high and roof space is limited. The average home in MO uses around 1,028 kWh of electricity per month, which is much higher than the national average of 881 kWh.³

Better efficiency means fewer panels needed for your home to offset your electric bills. You likely won’t save on the upfront costs, but chances are your roof will be able to support the number of panels you need to maximize savings on your energy bills.

What Should Missourians Look For in a Solar Installer?

Narrowing down the prospects for solar installers can be a time-consuming process in Missouri, especially since there are nearly 40 companies that service the state. There are a handful of factors we recommend prioritizing to save time, though. These include:

• Warranty coverage included with the installation
• Overall price and financing options
• Local experience

We’ll explain why these factors are so important in Missouri below.

Warranty Coverage

First off, we recommend prioritizing the warranty coverage you get with your system.

Equipment warranties protect against defects; performance warranties ensure your panels produce the estimated amount; and workmanship warranties help protect against roof leaks and other issues stemming from improper installation techniques.

Choosing an installer that provides all three warranties is best, and you can base your pick on the coverage included as it compares to the industry averages:

• 10 years for workmanship
• 25 years for equipment
• 25 years for energy production

Price and Payment Options

Next, we suggest looking at the overall cost and the financing options that each company provides.

Converting to solar in MO is more expensive than in most other states, with an average pre-credit installation cost of $32,760 as compared to the U.S. average of $29,970. Keeping costs should, therefore, be a priority in the Show-Me State.

It’s also useful to consider what payment options are available from each company. If you know that a lease or PPA would be the only option that would work for you, you can easily rule out companies that don’t offer those.

Local Experience

Finally, we recommend considering a company’s local experience and prioritizing those that have at least five years and ideally 10+ years in the industry.

Longevity in the solar industry suggests that the company is here to stay, which means your warranties will likely persist for decades after the installation.

Plus, more experienced companies are less likely to make mistakes during the installation. This is crucial in a place like Missouri, where improper installation techniques increase the risk of panel damage and roof leaks in the state’s extreme weather conditions.

Best Solar Financing

4.5/5

Competitive pricingExcellent reputationIndustry-leading in-house financing

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Outstanding Regional Installer

4.5/5

Comprehensive service offeringsExcellent reputationAward-winning company

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Methodology: How We Ranked Missouri’s Solar Companies

Our goal is to promote solar energy as a means for our readers to reduce their carbon footprints and save money over time with their systems. To reach that goal, we take great care in reviewing the solar providers available to you. We use the following criteria to rank companies for our ratings in MO:

• Solar Warranties Offered (20%)

• Price and Solar Payment Options (20%)

• Qualifications, Reputation & Certifications (15%)

• Experience (15%)

• Availability (10%)

• Solar Services (10%)

• Environmental and Social Impact (10%)

You can read more about our process by reading through our methodology or by looking at how we rank companies based on these factors below.

Solar Warranties Offered

We first look at the warranty coverage offered by solar panel installation companies in your area, as we believe this is one of the most important things an installer can provide. This is especially true in MO, where tornadoes, heavy rainfall and other extreme weather can put panels and roof penetrations at an elevated risk.

The industry standards we use to compare companies include ten years for workmanship and 25 years for equipment and power generation. We give companies a perfect score in this area if they offer all three warranties at 25 years each.

Price and Payment Options Made Available

Next, since the cost of solar systems in Missouri is well above the national average, we consider the pricing and financing options offered by each company.

Installers that charge around the average price — or provide outstanding value at a higher price — and include things like in-house financing and multiple options rank highest. We specifically look for companies that can offer low interest rates and flexible down payment requirements to make the above-average cost of converting to solar in MO more accessible.

Qualifications, Reputation and Certifications

Next, we consider how qualified each company is and its reputation within the local industry.

Qualifications we look for include years of experience, certifications from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), electrician licensing, general contractor licensing and other industry affiliations that establish the company as a leader.

We also read through dozens of company reviews on Google Reviews, GlassDoor, Better Business Bureau (BBB) and other review sites to ensure the installer provides good service and maintains adequate communication with its customers.

Overall and Local Experience

Experience can set companies apart on a few fronts, including:

• How likely they are to stay in business and honor your warranties
• How experienced their technicians are
• How likely they are to be able to help you take advantage of local solar perks
• How likely they are to provide an adequately-sized system that meets your specific needs in MO

We use the industry average of at least five years of experience and give perfect scores to installers with at least ten years of experience.

Availability and Service Area

Many companies in Missouri don’t service the entire state and instead focus on particular areas or major cities. Since companies that do work throughout the entire state will appeal to more customers, we rank them higher than those that specialize in a limited service area.

Solar Services Offered

Next, we look at the services provided by each company. Companies that only install solar panels — like Blue Raven — won’t appeal to as many prospective solar customers as those that also handle solar batteries, EV chargers and other options.

We use the industry standard of panels and batteries to compare companies. Those that also offer home efficiency upgrades, solar monitoring, EV chargers and other add-on solar products and services get higher scores.

Environmental and Social Impact

Finally, we look at each company’s impact on the renewable energy movement as a whole and the local community.

Companies that are B Corp-certified, align with local solar initiatives and are Green Building Certified by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) get scored higher in this area.

The cost information presented in this article is derived from a comprehensive analysis, incorporating data from multiple industry sources. The average cost per watt per state was calculated based on figures from Consumer Affairs, Energy Sage, and Berkeley Lab’s Electricity Markets & Policy Department. Additionally, monthly energy consumption and the average monthly cost of electricity were sourced from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, ensuring a well-rounded and accurate representation of the information presented.