Solar in your state
With so many solar companies to choose from, we know how daunting it can be to find an installer you can trust with your home’s solar system. To help you make the right decision, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to the best solar companies in Michigan, as rated by our SolarReviews experts and Michigan residents who’ve already gone solar.
We look for solar companies with owners who understand that when they sell you a solar system, you expect them to be there for the next 25 years to fix any issues that may arise. Here are the top companies we recommend for solar in Michigan:
Company Description
Solar Power Midwest offers the highest value proposition for solar, batteries, and generators to Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, Residential, and Utility Scale Solar in the Midwest. All on our teams are highly motivated and love what they to in order to ...
Learn moreSolarReviews Expert Rating Score:
Elite
Rating breakdown
Positives:
10 / 10
Time in business
10 / 10
Litigation and background
8 / 10
Profitability of installer
7 / 10
Verification of licenses and insurance
4 / 5
Transparency of pricing and sales process
5 / 5
Company size and location
10 / 10
Quality of brands sold
4 / 5
Vertical integration
10 / 10
Competitiveness of loan options
3 / 5
Sustainable pricing of systems
3 / 5
Employee satisfaction and safety record
5 / 5
Reliability of consumer reviews
Negatives:
2 / 5
Consumer reviews performance
2 / 5
Transparency about reputation
Services offered
- Solar - Installation
- Roofing - Roof Replacement
Latest Good Review
TS | ottawa, IL | 06-06-2025
I asked Mike Myers for a good Solar company and he gave us Solar Power Midwest. They had a better package than the other place we were working with. We have only had 1 issue with the solar and Sherry, the office manager, took care of the issue very quickly. Dave has made sure to make everything go smooth and very easy with the whole process. We had a tornado go through the area and they were out very quickly to check to make sure our solar was fine. If I was to do this again, I would not hesitate to have Dave and his company provide us solar.
See full reviewCompany Description
Since 2010, Strawberry Solar has specialized as Michigan's leading expert for solar design, installation and support. Headquartered in Detroit, operating out of the Green Garage, with a warehouse at the Russell Industrial Center and a commercial account with ...
Learn moreSolarReviews Expert Rating Score:
Unrated
Rating breakdown
Positives:
Negatives:
0 / 10
Time in business
0 / 10
Litigation and background
0 / 10
Verification of licenses and insurance
0 / 10
Profitability of installer
0 / 5
Consumer reviews performance
0 / 5
Transparency of pricing and sales process
0 / 5
Company size and location
0 / 10
Quality of brands sold
0 / 5
Vertical integration
0 / 5
Transparency about reputation
0 / 10
Competitiveness of loan options
0 / 5
Sustainable pricing of systems
0 / 5
Employee satisfaction and safety record
Services offered
- Solar - Installation
Latest Good Review
BJ Tomiko | Detroit, MI | 05-23-2023
Great Installer
Top notch experience from start to finish with Strawberry Solar on my project (8.8 kW of solar with 21 kWh of battery backup, and an EV charger). They are knowledgeable, answered my many questions clearly, made everything as smooth and painless as possible, and handled all of the extra details like permits and inspections and everything. No pushy salesman talk, just straight answers and a great dedication to getting the job done right, much faster than I expected, and at a great price. They've been very responsive to follow up questions after the job was done too. Kudos to Will, Tim, Brad, and the crew. Thanks!
See full reviewLatest Bad Review
Oasis Acres | Detroit, MI | 07-19-2023
Solar Review measure I will start with before the contract was signed for our $72,000 system, they were very eager to talk with me. Things have just gone down hill from there. I am not one to leave a bad review but I want other people to be aware of what happened. Before installing my system I spent a lot of time talking with the sales representative, the electrician and the owner about my unique situation. I also have a geothermal system which used to have a 30% discount meter attached to it. My average electric bill in the winter before solar was about $500. My main concern was loosing the discount meter for the geothermal system. We had agreements on the layout of the panels and the electrical before we signed the contract but on installation day everything changed. Strawberry Solars electrician called me the day of installation and told me he had “run the numbers” and he was sure that he was going to save us money by removing the discount meter. I spoke with the owner later that day to voice my concerns again. I let him know that if the system did not preform as described I was expecting them to make it right by reinstalling the discount meter. I can tell you, 2 years in to having our system that my electric bill in the winter is over $800 a month. On top of my $550 solar payments. My payments for my electric bill were calculated originally to be an average of $100. That is rarely the case. Continuing into the actual install of the system things just got worse. The owner was on site and I talked to him several times throughout the day. The original plan for my panel set up was change without our consent that day. 6 panels were moved to another location and again I was assured that they would be more efficient like that. Again, that is not the case. The 6 panels that were moved are producing on average 50kWh less a year than previously anticipated. That is 300kWh lost every year for us. I know it doesn’t seem like much but at this point I need all the help I can get with my electric bill. The installers also took no consideration to the fact that I have animals that use my lawn for food. They left metal shavings in the lawn where my animals eat and the electrician left small wires and plastic debris everywhere. Again. They knew that I had animals and could easily see that they were grazing in the yard all day while they worked. Needless to say, I spent several hours searching for every metal shaving, screw and piece of trash they had left behind to protect my animals. If all that wasn’t enough, my most recent interaction wasn’t any better. 3 months ago I contacted the company directly to let them know I wanted to have another battery installed so I could use more of my own electricity. This had been the plan from the beginning. I informed them that I had spent the last 1 1/5 years calling, texting and emailing the contacts that I had from my original installation and sale with no response. The customer service representative on the phone was argumentative and very defensive when I was explaining the original situation. We came to an agreement that he would email me so I could send him my most current electric bills and they could help me to resolve this situation. Unfortunately, I still have not received any communication from Strawberry Solar’s representative. This is the last straw for me. Others need to know what happened and I am hoping that this will prompt a response from someone at this company. system, they were very eager to talk with me. Things have just gone down hill from there. I am not one to leave a bad review but I want other people to be aware of what happened. Before installing my system I spent a lot of time talking with the sales representative, the electrician and the owner about my unique situation. I also have a geothermal system which used to have a 30% discount meter attached to it. My average electric bill in the winter before solar was about $500. My main concern was loosing the discount meter for the geothermal system. We had agreements on the layout of the panels and the electrical before we signed the contract but on installation day everything changed. Strawberry Solars electrician called me the day of installation and told me he had “run the numbers” and he was sure that he was going to save us money by removing the discount meter. I spoke with the owner later that day to voice my concerns again. I let him know that if the system did not preform as described I was expecting them to make it right by reinstalling the discount meter. I can tell you, 2 years in to having our system that my electric bill in the winter is over $800 a month. On top of my $550 solar payments. My payments for my electric bill were calculated originally to be an average of $100. That is rarely the case. Continuing into the actual install of the system things just got worse. The owner was on site and I talked to him several times throughout the day. The original plan for my panel set up was change without our consent that day. 6 panels were moved to another location and again I was assured that they would be more efficient like that. Again, that is not the case. The 6 panels that were moved are producing on average 50kWh less a year than previously anticipated. That is 300kWh lost every year for us. I know it doesn’t seem like much but at this point I need all the help I can get with my electric bill. The installers also took no consideration to the fact that I have animals that use my lawn for food. They left metal shavings in the lawn where my animals eat and the electrician left small wires and plastic debris everywhere. Again. They knew that I had animals and could easily see that they were grazing in the yard all day while they worked. Needless to say, I spent several hours searching for every metal shaving, screw and piece of trash they had left behind to protect my animals. If all that wasn’t enough, my most recent interaction wasn’t any better. 3 months ago I contacted the company directly to let them know I wanted to have another battery installed so I could use more of my own electricity. This had been the plan from the beginning. I informed them that I had spent the last 1 1/5 years calling, texting and emailing the contacts that I had from my original installation and sale with no response. The customer service representative on the phone was argumentative and very defensive when I was explaining the original situation. We came to an agreement that he would email me so I could send him my most current electric bills and they could help me to resolve this situation. Unfortunately, I still have not received any communication from Strawberry Solar’s representative. This is the last straw for me. Others need to know what happened and I am hoping that this will prompt a response from someone at this company.
See full reviewCompany Description
Tiger Solar (formerly Altenergy Inc) is a solar contractor with over 17 years of experience designing the highest-quality clean energy systems. Headquartered in Charlottesville, Va., with branches strategically located in VA, MD, MI and ID, each branch is man...
Learn moreSolarReviews Expert Rating Score:
Unrated
Rating breakdown
Positives:
Negatives:
0 / 10
Time in business
Services offered
- Solar - Installation
Latest Good Review
Larry W Wilson - Retired | Staunton, VA | 08-13-2020
Exceeded Our Expectations
We are very impressed with the proposal, engineering, layout, site visit, and final installation. We monitor the results daily and we are right on schedule. Of course no one has control of the weather but it is on track as we expected. We had six craftsman on our projects at different times. All were very professional in all aspects of installation. Even in 94 degree heat they worked extremely hard and continuously. I am retired from the electrical industry and held several positions in management of Fortune 100 companies including owning a partnership in an electrical transformer manufacturing company. This crew was experts in their field, never thought of cutting corners, installed with quality products, and installed properly in accordance with NEC. I can not say enough about the entire installation and highly recommend AltEnergy Staunton for those considering a solar project. You will not be disappointed!
See full reviewLatest Bad Review
Helen Carnie | 11-11-2022
Worked maybe 50% in first 3 years- HORRIBLE
When we bought we were told they would Monitor it and let us know if something wasn’t working. After year 1, it went down. I noticed, they didn’t. They fixed the issue, we were reimbursed for lost solar and power we paid as a result as promised when we bought solar. After it was installed it never seemed to function properly. I called the company, I called Idaho power, both more than once. I kept paying typical power prices. Almost a year later they finally admitted that they missed the issue. Parts were on back order. We still haven’t been reimbursed for the lost power for almost a year. Lots of broken promises. Lots of broken communication on their end. I continue to call, text, email, with NO response. I stop by their office in person and am always told they are working on it. DO NOT believe their false promises for what happens when the system breaks. Ours has almost been broken longer than it has ever worked and I’ve paid for Both my solar and power. WORST COMPANY EVER!!
See full reviewBest solar installers in Michigan
Company | SolarReviews expert rating | Consumer rating | City | Quote |
---|---|---|---|---|
Solar Power Midwest | Elite | - | Get Quote | |
Strawberry Solar | Unrated | Detroit | Get Quote | |
Tiger Solar (formerly Altenergy Incorporated) | Unrated | - | Get Quote | |
AJ Leo Electric | Unrated | Ypsilanti | Get Quote | |
Basic Solar & Renewables | Unrated | Hastings | Get Quote | |
BTF Solar | Unrated | Fennville | Get Quote | |
City Creations | Unrated | Detroit | Get Quote |
Best solar companies for home battery installations in Michigan
Batteries have become increasingly popular because they take an intermittent energy source like solar and turn it into a reliable and consistent supply of electricity. We recommend getting a solar battery quote if you want a backup power source or if your utility company doesn’t have a net metering program that buys excess solar energy at the full price of power, as you could save a little extra on your electric bill.
Michigan offered full retail net metering up until 2018 when it was replaced by an alternative "Distributed Generation Program," where excess solar generated is valued at a lower rate. Having a solar battery can come in handy to save extra on your electricity bills. Not to mention, Michigan is a colder state prone to winter storms, so having backup power can give you peace of mind.
Here are some Michigan companies that install panels and solar battery storage systems:
Company | SolarReviews expert rating | Consumer rating | City | Quote |
---|---|---|---|---|
AJ Leo Electric | Unrated | Ypsilanti | Get Quote | |
Basic Solar & Renewables | Unrated | Hastings | Get Quote | |
BTF Solar | Unrated | Fennville | Get Quote | |
City Creations | Unrated | Detroit | Get Quote | |
Dovetail Solar and Wind (Out of Business) | Unrated | - | Get Quote |
How to find the best solar panel company near you
Picking a solar company is the most important decision you make when going solar. You need to trust them to drill holes in your roof, help you navigate financing and incentives and provide you with 25+ years of customer service.
Check out this video where our founder, who also founded a successful solar installation company, explains what to look for when choosing the best solar company near you.
Top things to consider when choosing a solar company in Michigan:
Years in business
One of the first things to look at when finding a company is how long they have been in business. We suggest looking for companies that have been around for at least five years, as the longer it has been in business, the more likely it is you’ll have a positive installation experience.
Companies with five or more years of experience will probably have established after-sales service and warranty support. It signals that they aren’t a company in it to make a quick buck; they’re in it for the long haul.
Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, which is why you should also keep a few other factors in mind.
Licenses, insurance and certifications
Solar companies that are licensed, insured and hold certifications take their business seriously. Look for companies that have NABCEP Certified professionals or certified electricians on staff and are properly insured, so their workers, and you, are protected.
Solar installers in Michigan are only required to hold the proper license to perform electrical wiring. Some installations might require specialized training in addition to the proper licensing.
Financing options
Not everyone has thousands of dollars to spend on a solar panel installation. So, you’ll want to find a company with solar financing options that work for you. Ask for quotes for various types of financing plans to see which one will work best for your budget. Solar loans are often your next best choice if you can’t pay in cash. But, if you don’t pay federal income taxes or can’t qualify for a loan, finding a company that offers solar leases or power purchase agreements might be the right move.
Services and products offered
Don’t choose a company that can’t complete the job that you want to be done. If you need an energy storage system, get quotes from companies that install batteries! Maybe you want a particular brand of panels or an electric vehicle charger installation. Ask the company if they provide those services or carry those brands so you don’t have to settle for less.
Customer review scores
Customer ratings give valuable insight into how a solar company actually operates and treats its customers. Read SolarReviews, Google and Yelp reviews to understand the company’s installation process, sales practices and overall customer service. But remember that some companies incentivize customers to leave positive reviews, so make sure you read reviews with some scrutiny.
Warranty
Any reputable solar installation company will offer a workmanship or labor warranty that covers any damages that may occur during the installation process. We recommend using an installer with at least a ten-year labor warranty.
Some installation companies, like SunPower, include a system performance guarantee. This promises you’ll get a certain amount of electricity from your solar panels and is an excellent added protection.
Michigan incentives and rebates
Solar incentives and rebates can cut the cost of installing solar in Michigan by thousands of dollars. The most significant incentive is the 30% federal solar tax credit, available to any taxpayer in the country when they purchase solar panels or battery storage.
Some states and utility companies offer additional solar incentives, saving homeowners even more money. Here are the solar incentives available in Michigan:
Incentive | Eligibility | Type |
---|---|---|
Residential Clean Energy Tax Credit | Federal | Personal Tax Credit |
Net Metering | State | Net Metering |
Solar property tax exemption | State | Property Tax Incentive |
How much can you save with solar incentives?
What to look for in solar quotes in Michigan
Once you’ve found a few companies you like, you can start getting solar quotes. You can get a better deal when you get quotes from multiple solar installers; we suggest getting at least three quotes. Here are a few of my favorite tips and tricks for comparing quotes and what questions you should ask installers.
System size and energy production
All solar quotes should include the size of the system and how much energy it is projected to produce. Most of the quotes you get will probably be in the same ballpark. But, if one is drastically larger or smaller than the others — ask about it! Maybe one installer included shading from a tree, while another based its estimates on having that tree removed.
Michigan is one of the cloudiest states in the country, only receiving about 170 sunny days annually -- sometimes less, depending on what region you're in! Located in the Upper Midwest region of the U.S., peak sun hours in the Great Lake state average out to about 4 each day.
All that aside, solar is still worth it here. It might just mean a larger system for your home to meet your energy needs. Your solar installer will be able to determine the correct amount of solar panels your home needs.
If you choose reliable installers, you can trust that these estimates will be as accurate as possible. But you can always double-check using the SolarReviews solar calculator and enter the information received in your quotes.
Pricing
You should know as much as possible about how much the solar panels cost. Make sure you know both the total cost of the system and the price per watt of solar installed. The cost per watt makes it easier to compare prices between quotes and gives you a better idea of how fairly the system is priced. The average price of solar is about $2.13 to $3.19 per watt in Michigan, so anything in that range is a fair price.
Financing
Financing is one of the most important things to look for in your solar quote. There are a few different things to keep an eye out for, depending on what type of solar financing you’re using.
If you’re looking to use a solar loan, you should ask the company for both a cash quote and the financed quote. Solar loans include something called dealer fees, which can sometimes add 20% or more to the total cost of your system in exchange for a lower interest rate. It’s worth comparing what dealer fees and interest rates you’re quoted from different companies to get the best deal possible.
If you want a solar lease or power purchase agreement (PPA), you’ll want to look for an escalator clause in the contract. The escalator clause outlines how much your payments will go up every year. Ideally, this should be lower than the rate at which electric prices increase in your area, typically about 3% annually. If the escalator rate is higher than this, you could end up paying more than if you hadn’t gone solar at all!
Payback period
Some quotes may include when you’ll break even, meaning when your panels have saved as much as you spent on them. If it’s not explicitly listed on the quote, you can compare any savings estimates they provide to the system’s total price and get a rough estimate of when your panels will pay themselves off. The shorter the payback period, the better.
Equipment
Good quality solar installers will carry good quality equipment. So if you pick an installer you trust, you can expect reliable products. But, it can’t hurt to research and ask the installer questions about what would be going on your roof.
Most solar panels installed today are about 400 watts in size and have efficiency ratings above 19%. Higher wattage and efficiency panels can produce slightly more electricity but may add a price premium. You’ll want to make sure the solar panels have the industry standard 25-year product and performance warranties.
Frequently asked questions about solar in Michigan
How much do solar panels cost in Michigan?
How much can solar panels save in Michigan?
How can you pay for solar panels in Michigan?
What are the best solar companies for a solar lease in Michigan?
What are the best solar companies for zero-down solar loans in Michigan?
How SolarReviews rates installers
SolarReviews developed our Expert Rating criteria to make it easier for homeowners to find solar companies they can trust. It’s not just about the consumer reviews or the products they sell — it’s about how they treat their employees, how they support their customers and whether they run an honest business.
We used our team’s extensive knowledge of the solar industry to create a data-based scoring system for rating solar companies that encompasses all of the most important things to consider when picking the best solar company, including:
- Background checks
- Licenses and insurance
- Profitability
- Consumer reviews
- Local service
- Brand quality
- Vertical integration
- Transparency
- Loan options
- Responsible pricing
Learn more about the SolarReviews Expert Rating System
Andy is arguably the most qualified rooftop solar expert in America. He is in a unique position, having founded a large solar company but now being independent of any particular company. He has appeared on CNBC, has been referenced in public hearings concerning the rooftop solar industry ( such as the recent CPUC NEM 3 decision) and has been referenced by many major publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Business Week and many others.