Is solar worth it here?
Is solar worth it in Michigan?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no, and the companies that went out of business here sold a lot of "yes" to houses that should have heard "no". Here's how we actually decide, and we'll tell you either way, for free.
- Honest look at your roof, shade and usage
- Your utility's actual buyback rate, not a sales number
- We say no when the math doesn't work
- No obligation, no door knockers
Get a free solar quote
No door knockers, no pressure. We'll call you, usually within one business day.
What actually decides it
- Your roof. South, southwest or west-facing roof space without shade from trees or a neighbour's house. A north-facing roof under oaks is a bad candidate, however good the sales pitch.
- Michigan sun. We get less sunlight than Arizona and more than Germany, which has one of the largest solar fleets in the world. Summers here are long and bright; December is not. A good design accounts for both.
- Your electric rate. The more you pay per kilowatt-hour, and the faster rates rise, the more solar saves. Consumers Energy and DTE customers generally pay more than municipal utility customers.
- What your utility pays you for exported power. Michigan's old net metering is gone for new customers; the current programs credit exported power at less than the retail rate. That makes using your own solar, and batteries, matter more than it used to.
- How long you'll stay. Solar pays back over years. If you're selling in two, it rarely makes sense unless it's priced into the house.
- How you pay. A fair cash price can pay back well. A loan with a large dealer fee and a 25-year term may not.
When we say no
A shaded or north-facing roof, a roof that has less than ten years left, very low electric bills, or a sale coming up. We'd rather tell you that now than leave you with a system that disappoints, which is how a lot of our repair customers found us.
Read more: what solar costs in Michigan and whether a battery makes sense.
How a quote works
- Send us your address and a recent electric bill, or just the form above.
- We look at your roof and usage and call you with honest options, including "not yet" if solar doesn't make sense for your house.
- You get a written quote with the equipment named, the price, the permit and utility steps, and the warranties.
- Licensed install, permit, inspection, utility approval. You don't pay for a system that isn't turned on.
Why people in West Michigan call us
We spend our days fixing what other solar companies left behind: unfinished permits, systems that never got turned on, inverters nobody will warranty. That's exactly why our own installs are done the boring, correct way. Every job is permitted, inspected and approved by your utility before we call it done, and the company that installed it is still here next year.
Common questions
Is solar worth it in Michigan?
For a house with an unshaded south, southwest or west-facing roof, a normal or high electric bill and owners who plan to stay, usually yes. For a shaded or north-facing roof, a roof that needs replacing soon, or a very low bill, often no. We tell you which, for free.
Does Michigan get enough sun for solar?
Yes. Michigan gets less sun than the Southwest but comparable to or more than Germany, which has one of the world's largest solar fleets. Production is high in summer and low in December.
Does Michigan still have net metering?
Michigan's original net metering closed to new customers. Current utility programs credit the power you export at less than the retail rate, so using your own solar directly, and adding a battery, matters more than it used to.
How long does solar take to pay for itself in Michigan?
It varies widely with your price, your rate, your usage and how you pay. A fairly priced cash system pays back far faster than a loan with a large dealer fee. We show the math for your house in the quote.