Find the Best Solar Installers in Great Falls, Montana
Discover companies with proven track records, excellent customer reviews, and a commitment to service and quality. Here’s our curated list of Great Falls, Montana’s most reliable solar installers, to start your solar journey with confidence.
Purelight Power review 34 Industry Loop, Helena MT, 59635
Solar Montana review 420 N Last Chance Gulch, Helena MT, 59601
With an overall third-party rating of 4+ and positive feedback across more than 10 reviews from different platforms, Solar Montana read more…
Solar Montana review 330 Fuller Ave, Suite 1, Helena MT, 59601
With an overall third-party rating of 4+ and positive feedback across more than 10 reviews from different platforms, Solar Montana read more…
Solar Montana review 420 North Last Chance Gulch, Helena, MT 59601
With an overall third-party rating of 4+ and positive feedback across more than 10 reviews from different platforms, Solar Montana read more…
Independent Power review 2430 North 7th Avenue #6, Bozeman MT, 59715
Independent Power is rewarded with our Expert Choice badge, serving an exclusive area of fewer than 2 states. With a read more…
OnSite Energy review 1515 N Rouse Ave, Bozeman, MT 59715
With an overall third-party rating of 4+ and positive feedback across more than 10 reviews from different platforms, OnSite Energy read more…
Big Sky Solar & Wind review 1308 River St, Missoula, MT 59801, United States
Big Sky Solar & Wind is rewarded with our Expert Choice badge, serving an exclusive area of fewer than 1 read more…
Solar Plexus LLC review 1002 Burlington Ave., Suite 100 Missoula Montana 59801
With an overall third-party rating of 4+ and positive feedback across more than 10 reviews from different platforms, Solar Plexus read more…
Solar Plexus LLC review 1605 Stephens Avenue , Missoula MT, 59801
With an overall third-party rating of 4+ and positive feedback across more than 10 reviews from different platforms, Solar Plexus read more…
SBS Solar review 1819 Kensington Ave, Missoula MT, 59801
SBS Solar is rewarded with our Expert Choice badge, serving an exclusive area of fewer than 1 state. With a read more…
SBS Solar review 3225 Helena Drive, Missoula, Montana 59803
SBS Solar is rewarded with our Expert Choice badge, serving an exclusive area of fewer than 1 state. With a read more…
Carbon Recall Kalispell Solar review 303 Airport Wy Suite 6, Kalispell, MT 59901
With an overall third-party rating of 4+ and positive feedback across more than 10 reviews from different platforms, Carbon Recall read more…
SBS Solar review 620 Fish Hathery Road, Hamilton MT, 59840
SBS Solar is rewarded with our Expert Choice badge, serving an exclusive area of fewer than 1 state. With a read more…
Purelight Power review 1925 Grand Ave, Billings Montana, 59102
With an overall third-party rating of 4+ and positive feedback across more than 10 reviews from different platforms, Purelight Power read more…
YellowBall Roofing & Solar review 454 Moore Ln, Billings, MT 59101
With an overall third-party rating of 4+ and positive feedback across more than 10 reviews from different platforms, YellowBall Roofing read more…
How Much Can Solar Panels Save You in Great Falls, Montana?
Finding out how much you can save on solar in Montana, is not a straightforward answer. It depends on several factors, including the solar billing of your utility company, the size of a potential solar system on your roof, and your household’s energy consumption. While most solar installers will try to cover all your electricity needs, the actual savings will depend on your home’s unique conditions. To get a personal estimate of how much you could potentially save by going solar, fill out a simple form on our website, use Google’s Project Sunroof solar savings calculator, or consult with a couple of local solar installation companies for a personalized savings calculation.
Read more about solar panel costs, incentives, and rebates in Montana.
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Solar Financing Explained
You can pay for solar panels in a couple of ways:
- Cash
- Installer solar loans
- Personal loans
- Cash-out refinance or HELOC
- Solar Leases or Power Purchase Agreements (PPA)
First, there is a cash purchase, which in most cases provides the best price and long-term savings, but the upfront payment is not always what you can afford. If you want to own your solar panels and don’t have about $15,000 to $20,000 in the bank, you’ll have to choose solar panel financing.
You can consider a personal loan, a home equity line of credit, or a solar loan offered by the solar company. However, keep in mind that these loans come with interest and additional fees. Solar loans often are tied to dealer fees, which can increase the total cost of your solar system by 20% or more in exchange for a lower interest rate. To ensure you get the best possible deal, it is wise to compare the dealer fees and interest rates offered by different installers. This way, you can make an informed decision based on the most favorable terms available.
Some companies offer solar leases or PPAs that require zero upfront cost. But in such cases, you don’t own solar panels and you are not eligible for any solar rebates or the federal tax credit. And, because you have to pay the solar company monthly, your total solar savings will be lower. Ask for detailed savings calculations from a solar installer to decide on the best option. In most cases, you will still be paying less for electricity.
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Montana Solar Incentives and Rebates
Thinking about solar in Montana? The incentive situation here is pretty bare-bones compared to what it used to be. Montana had some killer programs years back that are long gone now, but there are still a few things that can help bring your costs down.
1. Federal Solar Tax Credit
This is basically it—your main savings. The feds give you 30% back on everything. Panels, installation, permits, the whole package.
Right now, a typical 6 kW system in Montana is going for around $21,500 (that's October 2025 pricing, about $3.58 per watt). Take 30% off, and you're down to around $15,050 out of pocket. You're saving close to $6,500 just from this credit.
Same deal everywhere: you've got to own the system, either cash or financing. Leases don't count. And you need enough federal tax liability to use it. If you don't owe enough in one year, it rolls over to the next. The credit ends December 31, 2025—systems must be installed and operational by that date to qualify.
2. Montana Property Tax Exemption
Montana exempts up to $20,000 of your solar system's assessed value from property taxes for 10 years. That's just for single-family homes—there's a higher cap for other buildings.
Solar bumps up your home's value, which would normally mean higher property taxes. Montana gives you a 10-year pass on that increase. Montana's property tax rate sits around 0.70%, so this saves you maybe $70-80 bucks a year, depending on your system value.
Not exactly life-changing annually, but over those 10 years, it adds up to close to $800. Better than nothing.
3. Alternative Energy Revolving Loan Program (AERLP)
If you need help covering the upfront cost, Montana's got this loan program through the Department of Environmental Quality. They'll loan you up to $40,000 for solar installations, and it's available to individuals, small businesses, nonprofits, government entities—pretty much anyone.
The interest rate for 2025 is locked at 3.5% (4.023% APR), and you get up to 10 years to pay it back. The program's been around since 2003 and has funded over 500 renewable energy projects across the state.
Fair warning, though—demand has been outpacing available funds lately. If you're interested, apply early in the quarter or you might get stuck waiting.
4. Net Metering
Montana's got decent net metering through the main utilities. NorthWestern Energy and Montana-Dakota Utilities both do it for residential systems up to 50 kW, and they give you a full retail rate credit for excess power you send back.
Your panels make more power than you're using during the day. That extra juice goes to the grid, and you get credited for it. Then you use those credits at night or on cloudy days when you're pulling from the grid. Pretty straightforward, and it really helps the economics work.
Net metering in Montana is actually protected until solar hits 5% of the state's total energy production. Right now, solar's at about 1%, so those credits should be around for a good while.
What Montana Used to Have (But Doesn't Anymore)
Here's where it gets frustrating. Montana used to have some really solid state-level incentives that are gone now. Montana does have a small state tax credit—up to $500 per individual or $1,000 per household—but it's limited and rarely makes a huge difference. Check with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality for current availability. No state rebate programs.
You might see old information online mentioning a 35% state tax credit—that's ancient history. Montana doesn't have sales tax at all, so there's no sales tax exemption because there's no sales tax to exempt.
Some local utilities might have tiny programs here and there, but they're few and far between and usually pretty limited. Worth asking your utility, but don't get your hopes up.
What You're Actually Looking At
Without much state help, you've basically got that federal 30% credit (ending December 2025), the 10-year property tax break, and net metering.
That $21,500 system runs you about $15,050 after the federal credit. Add in the property tax savings over 10 years (call it $700-800), plus net metering cutting your monthly bills, and most Montana folks are looking at payback somewhere around 11-13 years.
Montana actually gets fantastic sun, especially in summer. People don't realize this because of the brutal winters, but solar panels work better in cold weather anyway. Even places like Billings and Great Falls have solid solar potential. The real trick is making sure you've got good southern exposure and your roof isn't in the shade all day.
Montana's electricity rates are pretty reasonable—around 12.8 cents per kWh on average. That's way lower than California or New York. What that means is your monthly savings aren't huge, and payback takes longer. But with rates slowly climbing and solar equipment getting cheaper, the math still works for plenty of homeowners.
One last thing: that federal credit only helps if you're paying federal income taxes. If your tax bill is on the smaller side, you won't capture the full benefit right away. It does carry forward to future years, but it's something to think about. Probably smart to run through your specific tax situation with your installer or an accountant before you sign anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
How We Rank Solar Installers
Our main goal is to provide homeowners like you with top-rated solar companies you can trust. Our solar experts analyzed thousands of local and nationwide installers to get to the bottom of who is best in a specific location. The solar company ranking methodology is based on gathering input from homeowner surveys, consulting with industry experts, and extensive research into the solar energy market. Here are the things we believe are the most important to consider when choosing a solar company.
In short, here’s how we pick top installers:
- Company that has been in business for over five years as it indicates stability, reliability, and successful installations.
- Local solar companies over big national ones are covering multiple areas, and they can provide better personal attention and learn more about the solar needs and regulations in their area.
- Companies with hands-on experience and a wealth of projects under their belt are more likely to deliver efficient and timely installations that cater to specific customer needs.
- Companies that handle their own installations instead of outsourcing to subcontractors ensure a higher caliber of work and nurture a culture of excellence and accountability in service.
- Select a company that has a good overall reputation and reviews on sites like SolarReviews, BBB, Google Maps, and Yelp.
- The company is licensed and insured and holds relevant certifications such as NABCEP certification.
- Companies that offer a wide selection of high-quality solar panels and related products and work with reputable brands.
- Companies that provide flexible financing options such as solar loans, leases, or power purchase agreements.
- Installers that provide substantial workmanship warranties and system performance guarantees.
Read more:
Our Methodology
What Made Us Choose Sources for Expert Score?
How We Classify Solar Installers: What Matters Most?
What to Look for In a Solar Company
To ensure that you partner with a great provider that can meet your needs of going solar, look for the following:
- Make sure the solar installer has industry-standard certifications, such as those from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), indicating that they meet the gold standard in renewable energy installations. Also, verify if they are licensed, bonded, and insured for residential solar projects in your area. If subcontractors are involved, check their credentials as well.
- Prioritize installers with a proven track record in solar installations, ideally with at least 5+ years of experience. Ask about the number of systems they’ve installed and their project portfolio. A competent installer should openly discuss the solar panels, inverters, and batteries they use if they help to take advantage of local solar incentives and rebates, and warranty coverage specifics.
- Your installer should be forthcoming about the installation process and answer any questions you might have, like “How many solar panels will I need? Why?”, “Can you give me a detailed cost breakdown based on my energy consumption?”, “What solar panel brands do you install? Why?”, etc.. They should also be transparent about their use of subcontractors, detailing their roles and how their work will be supervised.
- A preliminary evaluation of your roof’s condition is the groundwork. The installer should advise on necessary repairs to ensure it’s ready for solar panel installation and clarify responsibilities for any potential roof damage during the process. Discuss aesthetic concerns, such as the placement of solar panels around roof vents or the possibility of relocating vents for a more visually appealing setup.
- Check the installer’s reputation through online reviews and testimonials. They should be able to connect you with past customers willing to share their experiences. Personal recommendations from friends or neighbors who’ve gone solar can also be invaluable.
- Solar installation costs can vary widely, so obtaining multiple quotes is advisable. Experienced installers will adjust their offers to your home’s specifics—size, energy needs, etc. For an objective cost comparison, calculate the price per watt of the proposed system, giving you a standardized basis to evaluate different quotes.
Should You Choose a Local Solar Installer or a Big National Company?
Always choose a local solar company over a big national corporation. Small local companies that operate in a distinct local area are better than multi-state and national solar companies and large corporations. It’s the small local companies who get the best reviews on our website, and it’s the national multistate companies who get very poor reviews. Why so, you may ask?
Solar is a local service business, for the most part, and it is extremely difficult to run a solar company and offer good customer service to many locations from a central office.
Local ones have a community connection, they know better the incentives and regulations in the area, and they simply care more about you than large businesses trying to get into your pocket and overprice you. While multi-state solar companies might try to convince you by financial stability and “quality of installations across different locations”, try to choose a local company that meets all your criteria.
What Does a Solar Installation in Great Falls, Montana Look Like?
Here’s how a solar system installation will look like once the design for your solar system is approved:
- First, a solar installer should estimate your energy needs and analyze your annual and monthly electricity consumption, which you can find on utility bills measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). Such calculations will help you understand potential savings, the payback period, and the system size you need.
- A home energy audit is something every experienced solar company would do to understand the size and output needed.
- Next question on the list: are your house’s roof conditions good enough for installation? A solar installer should carefully inspect the roof and ensure its conditions and orientation are good to go, how and where to better place solar panels and wire the system.
- Next, they will design the system and show you how it’s going to look.
- You will usually need a permit to install solar panels from your local authorities, and the solar provider should handle all the paperwork.
- The entire process might take up to 3 months depending on the state and local regulations, while the system installation is usually up to 3 days (might take longer depending on roof conditions and system complexity).
- The installation crew should always clean up and remove any debris, leaving your house in good condition.
- When the system is installed, it should be checked and approved by local municipality inspection.
- If you’re connecting your system to the grid, it has to be wired to your local utility system. You’ll apply for connection through your utility company, which will also want to inspect your system to ensure it’s following utility guidelines. Some installers may help you with this step, so always ask. Once you have all the permits, your system will be up and running, powering your home with solar.
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