With over 45 solar installers operating in Missouri, residents of the Show-Me state have a wide variety of options to choose from. Some of the best solar companies in Missouri are SunPower, ADT Solar, Green Home Systems, Palmetto and Blue Raven.
The Guides Home Team shortlisted the above companies based on detailed surveys and discussions with industry experts as well as manufacturing and installation companies. We also use an elaborate methodology to review each provider based on a multitude of parameters.
What To Look for in a Solar Company
Most homeowners have a limited understanding of how solar energy systems work and how they are installed. Naturally, it can also be confusing to choose the right installer, especially when the offerings of multiple solar companies seem similar. Below is a list of the factors that can help you choose the right installer for your system.
- Cost and financing: Even though the cost of a solar power system is offset by the electricity bill savings it offers, it is still a significant one-time cost. This makes the pricing of a solar installer one of the most important selection criteria. The lowest-priced system may not be the best, and homeowners should look for a balance between a system’s quality and cost. Buyers unable to spend thousands of dollars upfront can also look for installers offering financing options or different payment models such as leases or power purchase agreements (PPAs).
- Trustworthiness: A solar panel system is expected to last 25 or more years. The most reliable installers offer consistent support throughout the lifetime of the system. Buyers can check whether a solar company is trustworthy by checking their BBB score as well as reading customer reviews.
- Services offered: Some homes need multiple energy efficiency measures besides solar panels. For instance, many buyers choose to have a solar battery with their panels, or even a roof repair before installation. Homeowners should consider any additional services they need before finalizing an installer.
Compare Missouri Solar Companies
In Missouri, most solar power systems cost somewhere between $2.5/W and $3/W. This means most homeowners can get a 5 kW system around or below the $15,000-mark. Below is a chart showing the best solar installers in Missouri with their pricing and some other important information.
*Note: Pricing data is based on responses to our March 2023 solar cost survey of 1,000 homeowners with solar systems.
Our Recommendation
Missouri may not be a leader in solar energy capacity, but it certainly has some of the best solar companies serving its residents. Solar customers in Missouri can choose from a variety of installers. Those looking for experience and reputation can go with SunPower or ADT, while those seeking more financing options can choose Blue Raven.
Ultimately, we recommend reaching out to multiple solar installation companies and getting free quotes from all of them. This will help you compare several companies and their pricing, warranties and any additional services they offer.
Benefits of Going Solar in Missouri
Residents of Missouri buying a solar power system will enjoy numerous benefits, and many people feel that going solar is worth it.
- Electricity bill savings: Homeowners installing solar will supplement or replace their grid power consumption with clean energy from the solar power system with the right number of solar panels. Once the system pays itself off, it keeps generating free energy for another decade or two. Overall, Missourians can save thousands of dollars in utility bills by going solar.
- Security against rising bill prices: Each year utility companies hike power prices, citing reasons such as infrastructure upgrades and rising fuel costs. Over 25 to 30 years, the total rise in electricity bills is substantial. Solar power, on the other hand, is a technically free and renewable energy source. Homeowners can therefore protect themselves from rising utility prices by going solar.
- Resilience against power outages: Missouri residents are no strangers to storms, tornadoes and the power outages caused by them. Homeowners who install a solar battery with their system may be able to keep their appliances running even through multiple days of blackouts.
- Environmental benefits: Solar power does not use any carbon-emitting fuels to operate, which is why it is referred to as clean energy. A typical home solar system can offset thousands of tons of carbon emissions over its lifespan.
Missouri Solar Incentives
Missouri does not have a large number of state-mandated solar incentives and rebates. However, thanks to the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), several utility companies offer rebates on solar installations. Additionally, Missourians can also benefit from the federal tax credit and net metering to offset the cost of their solar system.
Federal Incentives
Also known as the Investment Tax Credit (ITC), the federal solar tax credit allows homeowners to deduct 30% of their system’s cost from their income tax returns. Effectively, this brings down the system cost by 30%. The ITC is the biggest solar incentive in Missouri and other states and is available until 2032.
State-Wide Incentives
Methodology: Our system for ranking the best solar companies
We closely evaluated seven crucial factors according to our solar panel installation company methodology to rank the best providers in the industry. Based on a 100-point scale, we came up with each provider’s score out of five stars. Here’s how we assessed each company:
- Cost and payment options (20 points): Companies that offer cash purchases and in-house loan financing earned full points in this category. Companies also receive bonus points if they offer solar panel leasing or power purchase agreements (PPAs).
- Services (20 points): Besides solar installations, companies offering backup battery and EV charger installations, energy efficiency audits and system monitoring earned the most points in this category. We also allotted points to companies that completed all their installations in-house (as opposed to contracting out installers).
- Reputation (20 points): We considered each company’s Google star rating, BBB customer review rating, BBB customer complaint response rate and NABCEP certification status to award each company its reputation score.
- Warranty (15 points): We verified that each company offers workmanship, product and performance warranties on all of its solar installs. Providers earned more points if their warranties were at or above the industry-standard length (10 years for workmanship and product warranties and 25 years for performance warranties).
- Customer Support (10 points): Solar companies that offered virtual consultations, a mobile app, 24/7 customer support and high customer satisfaction with backend support earned the most points in this category.
- Industry Experience (10 points): Providers with 10 or more years of experience in the solar installation industry earned a perfect score in this category.
- Sustainability (5 points): Companies with a detailed sustainability statement, ESG disclosures, end-of-life panel disposal programs and community partnerships earned all five points in this category.
Aniket Bhor is a solar engineer who has spent nearly a decade studying and working in the solar power sector in the European, Asian and North American markets. He is a climate enthusiast and avid cyclist, and he also loves to lose himself in books and cooking.
Sabrina Lopez is an editor with over six years of experience writing and editing digital content with a particular focus on home services, home products and personal finance. When she is not working on articles to help consumers make informed decisions, Sabrina enjoys creative writing and spending time with her family and their two parrots.