Whereas Maine could not appear to be a pure match for photo voltaic panels, greater than common energy prices may make rooftop solar panel set up make sense for you. Maine was among the many 10 states with the highest electricity rates in August 2023 — and the typical value per kilowatt-hour was up 20% from the place it was a yr earlier.
Larger electrical energy costs sometimes means extra savings from adopting solar panels, however this goes to point out that how a lot electrical energy you utilize is an enormous a part of the equation, too. Whereas statewide trends are a useful marker, your determination to go photo voltaic must be rooted in your particular circumstances. Solar panels still cost hundreds of {dollars} even after getting less expensive during the last decade.
State-level incentives corresponding to net metering and a property tax exemption for the worth that photo voltaic panels add to your property may assist make the clear vitality change a extra attractive determination. A federal 30% tax credit from the Inflation Reduction Act may cut back the price of your set up, however it is best to calculate your likely savings over your photo voltaic panels’ lifetime earlier than taking the plunge.
For those who’re fascinated by going photo voltaic in Maine, it is a good place to start out. These are among the solar companies you may contract with for photo voltaic set up within the Pine Tree State.
Finest nationwide photo voltaic panel firms in Maine
Irrespective of what number of choices of photo voltaic installer you might have, it is best to all the time get a number of quotes so you possibly can evaluate affords. Listed below are the nationwide photo voltaic firms CNET has reviewed that function in Maine.
Palmetto Photo voltaic
Finest total
Photo voltaic panels are sometimes low upkeep gear, however they’re additionally unfamiliar. If you wish to reap the advantages of photo voltaic however can have a bit extra peace of thoughts if another person is ensuring it is working, Palmetto may be an excellent match for you. Simply bear in mind so as to add the price of Palmetto’s monitoring service in to your payback interval calculations.
SunPower Photo voltaic
Finest photo voltaic panels
For those who’re in search of top-of-the-line photo voltaic panels, SunPower is your best option. However do not write it off for those who’re in search of a much less flashy set up that can get the job achieved. This yr it began putting in Qcells panels, which ought to make an set up from the longest-tenured firm on our listing out there to extra folks.
Freedom Perpetually
Finest for money prospects
Embody Freedom Perpetually in your search if you need the backing of a nationwide firm that installs all kinds of the preferred photo voltaic gear out there. Freedom Perpetually additionally extends a few merchandise that take among the ache and danger out of going photo voltaic, like a manufacturing assure and an escrow possibility with money purchases. On-line evaluations say buyer satisfaction has been low of late, although the corporate says that is altering.
Tesla Photo voltaic
Most inexpensive
Tesla’s photo voltaic department appears to be the least beloved of Elon Musk’s ventures. Even Tesla’s Photo voltaic Roof appears to get extra love.
If value is the factor you will not budge on, take into account Tesla. By all accounts, Tesla installs high quality panels and makes the closest factor there’s to a family identify in photo voltaic storage: the Powerwall.
The place you may miss out is customer support. Dialogue on-line appears to counsel Tesla’s service is a little bit of a big gamble.
Native photo voltaic panel firms in Maine
Alongside the nationwide gamers, there are many native firms to select from. Here is a small collection of them.
Maine Solar Solutions is an area firm working solely within the Pine Tree State. Whereas most of its prospects select to maintain their system tied to the facility grid, Maine Photo voltaic Options does supply off-grid photo voltaic, too. (You possibly can solely take part in web metering packages in case your system is grid-tied.) You should buy your photo voltaic panels or finance them via a photo voltaic mortgage.
Maine Photo voltaic Options sources its photo voltaic merchandise from producers together with REC, Hanwha Qcells, Silfab Photo voltaic and Tesla. The entire photo voltaic panels it affords have an influence output guarantee for 25 years and all inverters are warrantied between 10 and 25 years. Maine Photo voltaic Options additionally affords a 10-year quality-of-work guarantee.
ReVision Energy is a New England-based photo voltaic installer working in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Based in 2003, this installer has accomplished practically 14,000 photo voltaic initiatives within the New England space. At present, ReVision Vitality prospects should buy their photo voltaic panels upfront or finance them over time with a photo voltaic mortgage.
ReVision Vitality affords photo voltaic merchandise from Qcells, REC, Tesla, Generac and different producers. Clients may select between rooftop and ground-mounted photo voltaic panels. Rooftop photo voltaic panels are commonest, however a ground-mounted system may go when you have the house and your roof is unfit for photo voltaic panels. ReVision Vitality gives a 5-year quality-of-work guarantee and chooses photo voltaic panels with a 25-year manufacturing guarantee from the producer.
The way to decide which photo voltaic firm in Maine is best for you
The Solar Energy Industries Association says householders in Maine have 31 photo voltaic panel installers to select from. Photo voltaic panel firms have completely different set up processes — some use in-house workers to carry out photo voltaic panel system installations whereas different firms hire subcontractors. Be sure you know the set up strategy of the corporate you need to work with.
Discovering the best photo voltaic firm means discovering the one that most closely fits your vitality objectives. Which means you have to take into account a number of essential variables. Ensure the photo voltaic installer you are seeking to contract with has the gear and warranties you are comfy with and affords high quality customer support. Go into your consultations geared up with information about how many solar panels you need and how much you can save (together with net metering and whether or not it’s available to you) in order that you don’t get oversold.
Irrespective of how nice the primary firm you speak to is, all the time get a number of quotes — a minimal of 4 to 5 photo voltaic firm consultations is an effective begin. That approach, by the point you lock in a contract with a photo voltaic installer, you already know you are getting an excellent deal.
Value of photo voltaic panels in Maine
Here is a take a look at the typical money value for a typical photo voltaic panel system in Maine earlier than factoring in tax credit and incentives, based on knowledge from FindEnergy.com. It is essential to notice that your system may value extra for those who select to put in a solar battery. Nationwide averages fluctuate from supply to supply. One estimate from photo voltaic consulting agency Wood Mackenzie (PDF) places the typical residential value for the second quarter of 2023 at $3.28 per watt. All estimates and averages are simply that. The value you pay may fluctuate primarily based on native elements like allowing and labor prices and prices particular to your system like its measurement or the complexity of your roof.
Common value of photo voltaic panels in Maine
| Typical system measurement (kW) | Worth per watt | Whole put in value | Value after 30% federal tax credit score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | 6 | $3.80 | $22,800 | $15,960 |
| Nationwide common | 8.6 | $3.67 | $31,558 | $22,091 |
The interactive infographic beneath gives the typical whole value, value per watt and typical photo voltaic panel system measurement for various states, based on knowledge from FindEnergy.com. The costs proven don’t signify fluctuations from tax credit or state photo voltaic incentives. If FindEnergy does not have photo voltaic knowledge for a specific state, it seems grayed out on the map.
Photo voltaic panel incentives and rebates in Maine
Whereas photo voltaic panels have dropped in value within the final 20 years, buying rooftop photo voltaic remains to be a big investment. Yow will discover solar tax credits and incentives on the federal, state and native ranges to assist make photo voltaic panels extra inexpensive.
One of many largest tax credit is the residential clear vitality credit score, beforehand generally known as the funding tax credit score or ITC. The residential clear vitality credit score is a federal solar tax credit that credit 30% of the price of your photo voltaic panel system while you file your taxes. It is provided in all 50 states and was elevated and prolonged when the Inflation Reduction Act was handed in August 2022. There isn’t any cap on this tax credit score, so you possibly can declare the complete 30% regardless of the dimensions or value of your photo voltaic system, so long as you pay that a lot in taxes.
To use for the residential clear vitality credit score, fill out IRS form 5695 (PDF), following the IRS’s instructions (PDF).
There are additionally a number of state-level photo voltaic incentives in Maine. For starters, the state affords a property tax exemption on photo voltaic panels for residents who buy their system. Maine residents can also participate in web metering packages. Net metering lets shoppers promote extra solar energy generated by their system again to the grid in trade for credit on their vitality payments.
Community solar, which is rising rapidly all through the state, can also be out there. With an lively utility account, you should buy solar energy produced at one other location for about 10% to 15% cheaper than the usual electrical charge. Whereas there’s nonetheless room for growth, neighborhood photo voltaic will probably continue to grow in Maine.
Need one thing smaller than a whole-home photo voltaic system? See our picks for the best portable solar panels and solar generators.
Photo voltaic panels hold the lights on at this lighthouse in Maine.
The way to pay for photo voltaic panels in Maine
There are financing options to make the change to photo voltaic inexpensive. Whereas some residents purchase photo voltaic panels upfront, others finance them over time with a photo voltaic mortgage. It is also essential to issue within the solar payback period, which is the time it takes to recoup your upfront funding and when financial savings begins.
Listed below are some methods to pay for photo voltaic panels.
Photo voltaic mortgage: Your photo voltaic installer probably has a relationship with a financial institution or different monetary establishment to supply a mortgage designed for photo voltaic panels. This generally is a nice deal, however you will need to get a number of affords to make sure the charges and phrases are the perfect.
Lease or energy buy settlement: Some photo voltaic firms help you lease your system or enter a power purchase agreement. For those who select to lease, you will not personal the photo voltaic system, you will simply pay to be used of the gear. Coming into an influence buy settlement means you will purchase photo voltaic vitality generated from the photo voltaic firm to energy your property. The value you will pay is normally decrease than the retail charge out of your native utility firm. You will not get tax credit from leases and energy buy agreements, since you will not personal the photo voltaic panels. Maine permits third-party possession of photo voltaic panels, however laws fluctuate inside states, so affirm for your self.
Money: This strategy solely works for those who occur to have hundreds of {dollars} sitting round in a checking account. If you do not have that but, however you need photo voltaic panels sooner or later, take into account saving cash in a high-yield savings account. Rates of interest are excessive proper now, and this may help you save sooner.
Residence fairness: You do not have to make use of a mortgage out of your photo voltaic firm. Monetary establishments supply home equity loans and lines of credit (or HELOCs) which are generally used for residence enchancment initiatives. These loans can be utilized for principally any function, they usually could also be an excellent match to your photo voltaic venture. Store round and ensure you’re getting the perfect deal.
Private mortgage: You can too borrow the cash via a personal loan. The primary distinction between a private mortgage and a house fairness mortgage is {that a} private mortgage is often unsecured. Which means your own home is not in danger. The draw back is they have a tendency to have shorter phrases and better rates of interest than residence fairness merchandise.
Set up elements to remember
Investing in photo voltaic panels is an enormous determination, so it is best to take into account all parts that would decide whether or not it is the best transfer for you. Maintain these elements in thoughts.
Is your roof proper for photo voltaic? Some roofs is probably not in the best situation for environment friendly photo voltaic panel set up. The dimensions, form and slope of the roof will have an effect on how a lot energy the system can produce. In line with the Department of Energy, photo voltaic panels will likely be most efficient on roofs with a slope between 15 and 40 levels. You must also take into account the age and situation of your roof. Whether it is older or in want of upkeep, your roof must be changed or repaired earlier than putting in photo voltaic panels.
Does your neighborhood enable photo voltaic panels? In some states, residence house owners associations have the facility to prohibit solar panel systems. Maine legislation states that householders associations and neighborhoods are not allowed to ban solar panels, however could possibly affect your system’s design or location. Verify your householders affiliation bylaws earlier than getting into any settlement.
Are you able to add your panels to your insurance coverage coverage? Most standard homeowner’s policies cowl rooftop photo voltaic panels, so that you should not must take out a separate coverage. After putting in your panels, contact your insurance coverage company to replace your coverage. The precise particulars of your coverage may fluctuate relying in your protection.
Is your location proper for photo voltaic? On common, Maine receives 192 sunny days per year, which is barely decrease than the US common (205 days). Photo voltaic panels are designed to supply vitality in all climates and areas with much less direct daylight. One rule of thumb says that photo voltaic panels make monetary sense in the event that they obtain at the least 4 hours of direct daylight a day. For those who stay in a cloudy area of Maine or your roof will get fixed shade protection, a photo voltaic panel system will not produce as a lot electrical energy as it will in direct daylight.
Do you lease your property? Renters might want to examine with a landlord or rental administration firm to verify whether or not photo voltaic panels are allowed. If not, you possibly can take into account neighborhood photo voltaic packages as a substitute for rooftop photo voltaic. Community solar is an effective possibility for renters as a result of your subscription can align along with your lease. The photo voltaic vitality is produced at one other location, so there isn’t any want for set up at your house or rental residence.
How we discovered the perfect photo voltaic firms
The businesses we listed above as “the perfect” are curated from CNET’s best solar companies listing. Firms making the perfect listing are scored on the gear, warranties and customer support they provide. Then, we be sure that these suggestions can be found in your state. You possibly can learn a full breakdown of how we review solar companies here.
Firms listed beneath the native installers have been chosen in a much less rigorous approach. We selected them as a result of they provided one thing distinctive or notable to prospects within the state, they appeared well-regarded by web reviewers or as a result of they have been one of many few installers we may discover info on within the state.
Whether or not we have accomplished a full overview on an organization or not, it is all the time a good suggestion to get a number of quotes from completely different installers earlier than selecting an organization.
Maine solar energy FAQs
What upkeep is required for photo voltaic panels?
Photo voltaic panels can final greater than 30 years, however they are going to require some routine maintenance to carry out effectively. Probably the most primary upkeep you will want to consider is cleansing them of any grime and particles. Throughout the trade, it is also strongly really useful that you just schedule an annual inspection with a licensed professional to ensure your system is working safely and effectively. For those who discover a problem along with your photo voltaic panels, chances are you’ll must schedule further upkeep or repairs.
Does Maine require photo voltaic panels on all properties?
No, Maine doesn’t require photo voltaic panels, not like California, which requires that newly constructed properties embrace photo voltaic panel techniques.
How can I discover a good photo voltaic installer in Maine?
Because the variety of photo voltaic installers grows in Maine, it may be tough to decide on the best firm. Earlier than signing a contract with a photo voltaic installer, we suggest you completely overview your choices, get a number of quotes from completely different installers and browse buyer testimonials. You possibly can overview CNET’s picks for top solar companies to be taught extra about what to think about when looking for a photo voltaic installer.
