3 Best Solar Companies in Mississippi

The Main Types of Residential Solar Systems

The first important decision you'll make when putting together your solar array is what panels to use. There are three main kinds to choose from, and you can decide which one is best for you considering your budget and the design of your home.

Monocrystalline

In the warm summers of Mississippi, you'll get the best results from monocrystalline panels. Each black-hued cell has only one silicon crystal, meaning you can generate additional energy with a small array. While they cost more upfront due to their more complex manufacturing process, their efficiency means you'll save more money over the longer term.

Polycrystalline

If you're not concerned about efficiency as much as you are about cost, consider a polycrystalline array. These dark blue panels contain a composite of multiple different silicon fragments in each cell, with less material wasted at the factory.

However, they take up more space than monocrystalline panels, so you'll need more free roof space for a high-capacity array.

Thin-film

Thin-film arrays are a great choice for value in more "partly sunny" areas of Mississippi. They maintain efficiency as temperatures fluctuate and work with many different roof shapes. Thin-film solar panels use various metal alloys instead of silicon crystals. Some homeowners pick them for their light weight or greater compatibility with unique roof shapes. Others pick them for their superior heat resistance and low-light performance.

However, they take up more space than monocrystalline or polycrystalline panels, and you could have better-performing options if your property has high solar suitability.

Solar Purchase Options

While certain terms may vary based on your contractor and panel model, you might be able to make use of these financing tools to keep solar power as affordable as possible:

• Solar leases: You can completely avoid down payments or upfront costs with a solar lease. Instead, you'll pay based on what the provider expects your panels will generate. Leases will frequently include the cost of repairs and scheduled maintenance. If your panels don't reach their efficiency target in a certain month, you could receive a partial reimbursement. However, they do not qualify for state or tax incentives and won't increase your property values. If you sell your house, the panel provider will remove the panels unless the buyer decides to continue with the lease.
• Power purchase agreements (PPAs): With a power purchase agreement, your installer will sell you the power your solar installation generates for the length of the contract duration. In exchange, they'll pay for the cost of the system. However, PPAs can be lengthy commitments, with some lasting up to 25 years. You could be subject to additional fees if you move out of your home or get out of the contract.
• Solar financing: If you would prefer to pay off your solar panels faster, get some tax breaks, and capitalize on local incentives, consider a solar loan. New lenders specializing home energy projects have emerged in the banking sector, and you could avoid paying a down payment or interest with a good lender. Bear in mind, however, the specific terms of a solar loan will often depend on on your credit score.

Your final bill will contain the cost of the panels, your installer's labor, subcontracted roofing, electrical, and plumbing work, and application fees if you're connecting your panels to the grid through your utility. Each financing option is usually all-inclusive.

Residential Solar Incentives and Cost Support

If you decide to go solar, you can take advantage of a variety of incentive programs through your contractor, utility company and state government. A few of the most common incentive programs include:

• Tax credits: The IRS provides a 30% tax credit on the value of your new solar equipment, so you should include Form 5695 with your federal returns for the year. Your state, county, or city could also offer similar income or property tax credits, or even exempt solar equipment for a period of time after installation.
• Rebates: Rebates are direct incentives offered by utilities or manufacturers. The application process for a rebate will vary from program to program, but usually, your contractor will have to provide plans or receipts and prove that they're certified to work on your project. Sometimes, the company will receive the payment and give you a discount on their work. With other programs, you'll receive the money as a direct payment or a credit on your power bill.
• Net metering: Many homeowners have solar panels that output more electricity than their property needs. If you're enrolled in a net metering program, you'll send power you don't use back to the grid in exchange for credits on your energy bill. This saves you money and protects the security of the power grid for others in your area.
• Net billing: Net billing works like net metering in that your solar system will send energy you don't use to the grid. However, rather than earning credits on your utility bills, you'll sell the power to the utility at a wholesale rate for a direct payment.

Solar Energy By the Numbers in Mississippi

The solar market in Mississippi is just as hot as the summer days there. Check out some interesting facts and figures about solar energy in your state:

• Solar energy has enabled the creation of 847 jobs in Mississippi, with more added as companies grow and technology continues to improve.
• In Mississippi, the average new home solar array is rated for up to 8.8 kW and costs $23,170.
• Mississippi generates 9 MW of residential solar energy, powering 17,857 homes and counting.
• Without solar, the average family spends about $1,914 every year on their electricity bill.
• A five-kilowatt solar array in Mississippi has an average payback period of 10.5 years. However, a system at that capacity would also save you $1,007.53 on your energy bill.

Useful Resources

Want to learn more about solar energy in your area? Take a look at these pages and resources:

• Best solar companies by city: If you're looking for tailored solar company recommendations in your area, Today's Homeowner has just what you need. We can recommend you the best companies in cities likeDATAPOINT_ERR_{top_live_cities(largest_cities, 5)}.
• PVWatts: PVWatts is a useful online tool that lets you virtually tinker with different solar arrangements on your home. You can get high-quality predictions of how much energy your panels could yield and see which angles and locations would give you the greatest ROI.
• DSIRE: You can use DSIRE to track solar incentive programs in your area, including net metering or billing programs, public policies in your state, solar thermal rebates, and solar photovoltaic incentives.