Best 6 Solar Companies in Marion, OH

With Marion's clear skies and little rainfall, it's an excellent area for homeowners and businesses aiming to harness the extra sunlight by purchasing panels from one of the best solar companies. Solar providers take a uniquely educational approach, helping homeowners understand the underlying technology and customize it to their needs. In this guide, we'll highlight Marion's best solar installers and offer advice for your company choice, so you can find the right one for your household.

Ranking Methodology

Our team has thoroughly vetted dozens of solar companies near Marion, keeping in mind the following criteria:

• Educational programs and business model: Solar technicians must be excellent teachers. They should tap into their years of experience answer your questions on how to care for your system and optimize its performance.
• Customer feedback and reviews: Most Marion solar installers have both favorable and unfavorable reviews. However, a good review ratio demonstrates a company's reliability and responsiveness to issues.
• Certifications and credentials: Each contractor on our list complies with state and city licensing requirements and keeps current with industry best practices. Many of them have served the Marion community for over 15 years.
• Service offerings and warranties: Solar installers should stand behind their systems and services with warranties. We evaluated how each contractor responds to issues and warranty claims, focusing on timeliness and customer satisfaction.
• Panel quality and brand offerings: The top solar companies stay up-to-date with new technology, offering equipment from cutting-edge and trustworthy manufacturers.

Benefits of Solar Energy

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

• Better energy independence: Photovoltaic solar panel systems with battery backups and storage systems work through blackouts and emergencies, and you won't have to depend on the power grid for your safety and well-being.
• Reduced carbon footprint: Using clean solar power means you're less dependent on fossil fuels, which emit harmful greenhouse gasses.
• Lower energy bills: Sourcing some or all of your own electricity will cut power costs long-term. Plus, some states offer net metering programs that make it possible for you to sell your surplus energy back to the grid, generating extra credits toward your energy bill.

What Solar Incentives Are Available to Marion Homeowners?

Ohio's public agencies and power companies offer a variety of solar incentives to help cut your solar system costs. Below is a breakdown of available solar programs where you live.

How To Choose the Best Solar Company in Marion

Choosing a company is the first step toward an effective and cost-efficient solar array. Consider all of these elements in your contractor search.

Licensing and Training

Ohio may require a solar company to hold a state contractors' license, but only for commercial work. For residential work, cities can establish their own licensing or regulatory requirements. Solar installers can also obtain certificates from standards organizations and trade groups. The most recognized ones in the industry come from the NABCEP. Most company websites will prominently display earned credentials, but you should also ask your estimator for more information.

Cost of Solar Panels in Marion

The style of solar panels you purchase decides how much electricity you can generate. Monocrystalline panels and high-quality and cost more but give you the best performance. Polycrystalline panels work with a tried-and-true mechanism and cost less, but produce less power. Thin-film panels aren't recommended for large residential installations, but they are ideal for small projects like converting RVs and sheds.

You can also add battery backups and electric vehicle (EV) chargers. These will increase your total installation cost, but they can maximize your solar system's efficiency. Not all solar companies provide these additional features, so look for a provider that installs them if it's a priority for you.

If you're a resident of Marion and want a five-kilowatt solar energy system, you could plan to spend about $17,050 for parts and installation. Find more information on specific component and solar panel costs in the table.

Financing Solar Energy in Marion

There are a plethora of ways to pay for a solar energy system, and the right one will lower your costs. A few of the most common options include cash payments, leases, loans, and power purchase agreements (PPAs). Most solar experts recommend a cash payment or using a solar loan. Cash payments require 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. Much like a home or auto loan, you'll pay a set monthly rate with as little as $0 down. Solar leases involve paying a set monthly rate to use rooftop panels. A PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) lets you pay a monthly rate determined by the energy you use, as with an electric bill. We typically don’t recommend these two options because you won't own the solar system and cannot use solar incentives. We suggest working with a contractor that offers multiple financing options. Talk to each consultant about what's available, and obtain more than one estimate for the best odds of keeping within your financial plan.

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

A 26% federal solar tax credit applies to new residential solar equipment purchased through 2032. Further incentives may be available through city and state 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