Best 10 Solar Companies in Evansville, IN

With Evansville's clear skies and little rainfall, it's a great area for homeowners and businesses hoping to harness the additional sunlight by purchasing panels from one of the best solar installers. While going solar comes with upfront costs, local homeowners could ultimately save $1,200 per kilowatt on their electric bills. A professional company can help you choose the best panels to maximize your savings. Discover Evansville's best solar companies and learn vital decision-making strategies on this page.

Ranking Methodology

We assessed a multitude of Evansville solar companies, using the following criteria to select the best:

• Customer feedback and reviews: Most Evansville solar providers have both positive and critical reviews. However, a good review ratio indicates a company's dependability and responsiveness to issues.
• Warranty and service offerings: Solar installers should stand behind their systems and services with warranties. We evaluated how each provider responds to issues and warranty claims, focusing on timeliness and customer happiness.
• Panel brands and quality: The best solar companies stay up-to-date with new technology, providing equipment from reliable, innovative manufacturers.
• Educational programs and business model: Solar technicians must be excellent teachers. They should utilize their years of experience answer your questions on how to care for your system and optimize its performance.
• Certifications and credentials: Each company on our list meets state and city licensing requirements and keeps current with industry best practices. Many of them have been a part of the Evansville community for over 15 years.

Benefits of Solar Energy

Solar energy comes with multiple advantages. Let's look at a few of them.

• Reduced carbon footprint: Utilizing solar is a surefire way to minimize your carbon footprint and home fossil fuel dependency.
• Reduced energy costs: Producing some or all of your own energy will cut power costs long-term. Plus, some states provide net metering programs that allow you to sell your unused energy back to the grid, generating extra credits toward your energy bill.
• Better energy independence: Adding a solar battery storage system lets you have dependable energy during storms and grid outages.

What Solar Incentives Are Available to Evansville Homeowners?

Governments and utilities often reward homeowners for switching to solar. Here are some of the tax credits, rebates, or other programs you could qualify for.

How To Choose the Best Solar Company in Evansville

Choosing a company is the first step toward an effective and cost-efficient solar system. Consider each of these aspects in your contractor search.

Licensing and Training

Indiana does not issue electrical or solar contracting licenses at the state level, but cities and counties might adopt their own licensing programs. Check a company's website for private accreditations from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), among the solar industry's most reputed trade groups. Its program includes certifications for both solar photovoltaic and water heating installers.

Cost of Solar Panels in Evansville

Your solar modules' model will affect how much electricity you can produce. Monocrystalline panels are among the highest quality and cost the most but perform the best. Polycrystalline panels offer you a budget panel with a traditional design, but at the cost of less power generation. Thin-film panels are excellent for non-traditional roof shapes and cost the least, but don't work well for large residential installations.

If you'd like to charge an electric car or use your solar power in dark weather, you can pay extra for accessories. By selecting the right components, you can make your panel array more efficient and user-friendly. Not every solar provider provides these additional features, so look for a company that installs them if it's crucial for you.

If you're a resident of Evansville and want a five-kilowatt solar energy system, you could expect to pay about $20,500 for parts and installation. Find more information on specific component and solar panel costs in the table.

Financing Solar Energy in Evansville

Solar providers offer multiple different financing options to lower your costs and increase your savings. Though some providers offer unique payment plans, the most common are solar loans, solar leases, power purchase agreements (PPAs) and cash payments. Most solar experts recommend a cash payment or using a solar loan. Cash payments demand a large up-front sum, but they help you avoid paying interest, grant you system ownership, and qualify you for cost-saving solar incentives. Solar loans have the same benefits, though you'll pay more in total due to interest and fees. Like an auto or home loan, you'll pay a set monthly rate with as little as $0 down. Solar leases allow you to pay a monthly fee to rent your panels, while a power purchase agreement lets you pay a fluctuating rate based on only the energy you use. We generally don't recommend these options since you won't own your system and are disqualified from solar incentives, but they might be appropriate in particular circumstances. Look for providers that offer multiple payment plans to find the right fit for your financial needs.

The table below lists the average payback periods for different capacities of solar systems in Evansville.

A 26% federal solar tax credit applies to new residential solar equipment purchased through 2032. Extra incentives may be available through local governments, usually in the form of rebates and special financing programs.

Sources

• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
• U.S. Department of Energy