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Last Updated: February 25, 2025
Solar is one of the most easily accessible forms of renewable energy for Charleston homes. Switching to solar energy can lower your monthly energy expenses and decrease your carbon output. Before you begin the process, you want to make sure you find a qualified installer. Luckily, we've done the research and created a guide to the best and most reliable solar installation providers in Charleston.
Our Rating
User Rating
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
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Our Rating
User Rating
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Free quotes
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Free quotes
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Today's Homeowner looks at dozens of datapoints on solar companies to come up with our data-driven rankings. It's not possible for a company to pay for preferential treatment in our rankings. We look at the following key factors in determining who should top our list:
Installing solar panels can lower your electricity costs and benefit the planet by reducing your carbon footprint. When deciding if a solar provider is right for you, consider these key factors.
Hiring a licensed solar installer is critical. This helps ensure that the work is done correctly using current installation best practices. In Illinois, the state Commerce Commission issues licenses to distributed generation energy contractors, including home solar installers.
Check Google Reviews, TrustPilot, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and other review sites to see what past customers have to say about local solar companies. Detailed reviews on these platforms can help you evaluate a provider's integrity and customer service. Avoid providers with few or mainly poor reviews.
Contact three to five solar companies to receive free, detailed quotes. Quotes should clearly explain all costs and list the exact solar components included. Comparing multiple quotes helps identify the best value based on your budget.
High-quality solar installations should have robust workmanship and performance guarantees. The workmanship warranty covers any installation issues like poor alignment, poor wiring, or cracks in the panels. The output guarantee ensures an energy generation baseline. Strong warranties reflect a solar provider's confidence in its installations.
Solar energy can help reduce your electric bills over time. When evaluating the total price and value of solar panels, make sure to consider these factors.
In Charleston, solar panels cost an average of $3,760 per kilowatt, with an average system size of 6.3 kilowatts. The typical Charleston homeowner spends $16,523 on their solar array after federal tax refunds. An estimate from a local provider will factor in additional information reflecting your desired system's panel type, capacity, size, and required preliminary work. In some cases, homeowners may prefer to lease solar panels to reduce upfront costs.
Incentive Type: Property Tax Incentive
Incentive Amount:
Varies
A solar photovoltaic (PV) array can generate power to run any electric appliance or system in your home. More specifically, you can install a solar heating system for your water.
There are many benefits to home solar energy. You can reduce emissions, raise your property values, and qualify for tax benefits. With the right storage equipment, solar panels can also provide you with further energy independence and offer some protection from power outages.
Absolutely. Charleston uses a balanced mixture of solar energy and conventional power sources. While your panels at home will lower your home's emissions and provide cost savings, you'll still benefit from access to the local grid.
Your installer can give you an estimate of what your energy bills will look like after you install solar panels. Generally, your energy bills will decrease significantly because you'll be using energy from the sun for free, instead of buying energy from the utility company. The average annual savings in Charleston amount to $1,035.
You might be pleasantly surprised at how quickly you can get a return on investment from your solar panels. The sun shines frequently in Charleston, meaning your payback period could last 16.0 years per 5 kW of capacity on the high end.
Net metering is a power purchasing policy that allows solar energy system owners to get paid for the amount of energy they put back into the grid. It's available in most states and is a great way to reduce energy costs.
The most common types of home solar panels in Charleston include thin-film, monocrystalline and polycrystalline. Monocrystalline panels are balanced and efficient, while thin-film and polycrystalline panels pair good performance with greater upfront value. Ask your local provider about which solar panels they work with.
Solar panels are on par with other forms of renewable energy. They have low maintenance costs and today's systems can work in a variety of conditions.
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