Minnesota solar companies
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Wolf River Electric
Isanti, MN
EcoGen rating · 83/100Google 4.9 ★ (960 reviews)- Workmanship
- 25 years on labor, parts and workmanship (Complete Confidence Warranty, written around Maxeon systems); a separate page shows a 10-year labor-only warranty
- Roof penetrations
- 25 years
- Batteries
- Enphase IQ 10C, Tesla Powerwall 3 and FranklinWH
- Ways to pay
- Cash and loan (terms up to 25 years); its quote form lists a lease with no terms
- Solar since
- Not published
Isanti headquarters: 101 Isanti Parkway NE, Suite G, Isanti, MN 55040 DirectionsPhone: (763) 229-6662Website: wolfriverelectric.com
View Wolf River Electric profileHow this rating adds up
- Licensing30/30
- Warranty protection30/35
- Local presence15/15
- Track record0/10
- Options8/10
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Solar Connection
Rochester, MN · solar since 2010
EcoGen rating · 73/100- Workmanship
- 2 years (“anything happens” warranty), plus a 10-year structural warranty
- Roof penetrations
- Installation guaranteed against leaks (term not published)
- Batteries
- Battery storage offered (brands not published)
- Ways to pay
- Cash; it offers no financing itself but refers buyers to solar loan programs, lenders and home equity lines
- Solar since
- 2010
Rochester headquarters: 4105 East River Road NE, Rochester, MN 55906 DirectionsPhone: (507) 292-8400Website: solarconnectioninc.com
Visit Solar Connection websiteHow this rating adds up
- Licensing25/30
- Warranty protection15/35
- Local presence15/15
- Track record10/10
- Options8/10
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Centauri Systems
Blaine, MN · solar since 2019
EcoGen rating · 87/100- Workmanship
- 30 years on equipment and labor, backed by SolarInsure
- Roof penetrations
- 30 years (roof leak warranty in the same SolarInsure-backed coverage)
- Batteries
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P
- Ways to pay
- Cash and loans (OneEthos, Concert Finance and Affinity)
- Solar since
- 2019
State discipline: Minnesota DLI censured the company in two 2026 consent orders (May 21 and August 28, 2026). Our rating is one star lower because of it.
Blaine headquarters: 9278 Isanti St NE, Blaine, MN 55449 DirectionsPhone: (763) 248-2734Website: solarbycentauri.com
Visit Centauri Systems websiteHow this rating adds up
- Licensing30/30
- Warranty protection30/35
- Local presence15/15
- Track record4/10
- Options8/10
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Everlight Solar
Verona, WI · Minnesota offices in Savage and Brooklyn Park
EcoGen rating · 63/100- Workmanship
- 10 years
- Roof penetrations
- Not published
- Batteries
- Tesla Powerwall
- Ways to pay
- Cash and loan ($0-down loan offered)
- Solar since
- Not published
Brooklyn Park office: 10501 Winnetka Ave N, Suite 170, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445 DirectionsPhone: (833) 786-4387Website: everlightsolar.com
Visit Everlight Solar websiteHow this rating adds up
- Licensing30/30
- Warranty protection10/35
- Local presence15/15
- Track record0/10
- Options8/10
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All Energy Solar
St. Paul, MN · solar since 2009
EcoGen rating · 60/100Google 4.8 ★ (1,356 reviews)- Workmanship
- A workmanship guarantee is mentioned; no term published
- Roof penetrations
- Not published
- Batteries
- Tesla Powerwall and Enphase
- Ways to pay
- Cash, loan and EnergyLock prepaid lease; traditional leases and PPAs are not offered in Minnesota
- Solar since
- 2009
St. Paul headquarters: 1264 Energy Lane, St. Paul, MN 55108 DirectionsPhone: (800) 620-3370Website: allenergysolar.com
View All Energy Solar profileHow this rating adds up
- Licensing25/30
- Warranty protection0/35
- Local presence15/15
- Track record10/10
- Options10/10
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Sisu Solar
St. Paul and Britt, MN · solar since 2020
EcoGen rating · 57/100- Workmanship
- Not published
- Roof penetrations
- Not published
- Batteries
- Enphase IQ Battery 5P and EG4 (on its project pages)
- Ways to pay
- Cash; it helped one customer get a Center for Energy and Environment solar loan
- Solar since
- 2020
St. Paul location: St. Paul, MN DirectionsBritt location: Britt, MN DirectionsPhone: (218) 248-0212Website: sisusolar.com
Visit Sisu Solar websiteHow this rating adds up
- Licensing30/30
- Warranty protection0/35
- Local presence15/15
- Track record4/10
- Options8/10
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Live Wire Solar
Blaine, MN · electrical contractor since 2000 · solar since 2009
EcoGen rating · 50/100- Workmanship
- Not published
- Roof penetrations
- Not published
- Batteries
- Battery backup offered (brands not published)
- Ways to pay
- Not published
- Solar since
- 2009
Phone: (651) 688-2400Website: livewiresolarmn.com
Visit Live Wire Solar websiteHow this rating adds up
- Licensing30/30
- Warranty protection0/35
- Local presence5/15
- Track record10/10
- Options5/10
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Cedar Creek Energy
Blaine, MN
EcoGen rating · 48/100- Workmanship
- Not published (its homepage names a 25-year warranty on the panels)
- Roof penetrations
- Not published
- Batteries
- Tesla Powerwall (certified installer, company claim)
- Ways to pay
- Cash and loans (CEE, Affinity Plus, home equity line or your own lender)
- Solar since
- Not published
Blaine headquarters: 3155 104th Lane NE, Blaine, MN 55449 DirectionsPhone: (763) 432-5261Website: cedarcreekenergy.com
Visit Cedar Creek Energy websiteHow this rating adds up
- Licensing25/30
- Warranty protection0/35
- Local presence15/15
- Track record0/10
- Options8/10
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Holsen Solar
Fargo, ND · no Minnesota office published
EcoGen rating · 38/100Google 4.1 ★ (11 reviews)- Workmanship
- In-house labor and materials warranty; term not published
- Roof penetrations
- Not published
- Batteries
- Battery storage offered
- Ways to pay
- Purchase, Solar loan
- Solar since
- Not published
Phone: (218) 787-6527Website: holsensolar.com
View Holsen Solar profileHow this rating adds up
- Licensing25/30
- Warranty protection0/35
- Local presence5/15
- Track record0/10
- Options8/10
Request Minnesota solar quotes
Ready to compare Minnesota prices?
Enter your ZIP code to ask solar providers that serve your area for quotes. Compare each quote with the checklist below.
Solar providers that serve your area may contact you, and they pay EcoGen for the introduction. Providers can include installers, solar marketplaces and lead exchanges, and more than one may contact you. How we make money.
Need to know
- We rated 9 Minnesota solar companies on licensing, warranties, local presence, track record and options. The top three: Wolf River Electric (4.5, Excellent), Solar Connection (4.5, Excellent) and Centauri Systems (4, Very good).
- Minn. Stat. 216B.164 gives every home system under 40 kW net metering at every utility, co-ops and city utilities included. Co-ops and city utilities may add a fee for solar homes, and the rate paid for extra power differs by utility.
- Since July 1, 2023, the company that signs your solar contract must hold a DLI residential building contractor license, and a DLI-licensed electrical contractor must do the installation. Check both numbers on DLI’s license lookup.
What solar costs in Minnesota
There is no federal credit for a system you own. The simple payback before incentives is about 14.2 years across Minnesota and 14.0 years at Xcel, the largest utility; by utility it runs from 14.0 to 21.2 years. Batteries and roof work cost extra. Compare each quote’s price per watt with these numbers.
Source: EcoGen Solar Cost Index, September 2026 Edition, prices as of September 25, 2026. Full breakdown: Minnesota solar panel prices.
Solar incentives, tax breaks and rebates in Minnesota
- Net metering
- Every utility, co-ops and city utilities included, must give net metering to home systems under 40 kW (Minn. Stat. 216B.164). Extra power is paid at the utility's average retail energy rate.
- Xcel Solar*Rewards
- $0.05 per kWh your panels make, for 10 years, about $428 a year on a typical 6.12 kW system. The rate rose from $0.03 on October 2, 2026, for applications that are not income-qualified.
- Income-qualified Solar*Rewards
- $3.00 per watt upfront for lower-income Xcel homes. 96% of this year's money was assigned on September 21, 2026, and there is a waitlist.
- Batteries
- Xcel pays $175 per kWh, up to $5,000. Homes outside Xcel territory get $250 per kWh from the state, up to $7,000, until June 30, 2027 or until the money runs out.
- Minnesota Power SolarSense
- Up to $5,000 for households under 150% of area median income: $0.27 per kWh of expected yearly output, capped at $5,000 or 60% of the installed cost.
- Dakota Electric
- A $500 rebate per home for an owned system of no more than 20.01 kW. You need approval before you buy.
- Sales tax
- A solar energy system is exempt from the 6.875% state sales tax (Minn. Stat. 297A.67, subd. 29).
- Property tax
- The solar system itself is exempt from property tax (Minn. Stat. 272.02, subd. 24). There is nothing to file.
- Federal credit
- Not available for systems installed after December 31, 2025. Minnesota's 2025 income tax credit schedules list no solar income tax credit.
Who qualifies, deadlines and sources: Minnesota solar incentives.
What to check with your utility
Xcel Energy
- Net metering for systems under 40 kW. Extra power in a month is paid at Xcel's average retail energy rate: 14.998 cents per kWh from October to May and 17.656 cents from June to September, since April 1, 2026. Xcel resets it every year.
- Solar*Rewards pays for every kWh your panels make for 10 years. The system must be 40 kW or less and expected to make under 120% of your last 12 months of use.
- Do not let work start before Xcel approves your application. Xcel also asks for home liability insurance of at least $300,000.
Minnesota Power
- Net metering at its average retail energy rate: 13.75 cents per kWh for extra power since July 1, 2026.
- SolarSense money for 2026 was given out by lottery from applications sent March 1 to 5, 2026. Confirm money is left and get approval before the install.
Otter Tail Power
- Pays homes 9.264 cents per kWh for extra power since April 1, 2026. Solar homes on this rate pay $0.85 a month.
- Buys your renewable energy credits at $0.02 per kWh your panels make. There is no rebate for panels.
Dakota Electric
- Pays 14.94 cents per kWh for extra power since January 1, 2026.
- The $500 rebate needs approval before you buy, for an owned system of no more than 20.01 kW.
Connexus Energy
- Pays 12.4 cents per kWh for extra power since February 1, 2026.
- Solar homes pay a grid access charge of $2.98 per kW above 3.5 kW. A 7 kW system pays $10.43 a month.
Other co-ops and city utilities
- Net metering is required by state law, but the utility may add a fee for solar homes. Get the fee and this year's rate in writing.
- If you take kWh credits instead of money, unused credits are wiped out at the end of the calendar year with no payment. Size the system to your own use.
Check the company and its warranty
Three names can appear in one solar deal: the company that sells, the company that signs the contract and the licensed people who do the work. Check that they fit together.
- Contract company: look up its license on the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI): a residential building contractor (or remodeler) license for the company that signs your contract, plus a Class A electrical contractor license for the company that installs. The name must match your contract.
- Electrical connection: Since July 1, 2023, a company that contracts with a homeowner to install solar must hold a residential building contractor or remodeler license, and the installation itself must be done by a Minnesota-licensed electrical contractor (https://www.dli.mn.gov/business/electrical-contractors/solar-installer-licensing-requirement). Ask who does it.
- Warranty documents: ask for the workmanship warranty, the roof coverage terms and each equipment warranty before you sign.
Before your first sales call, read questions to ask your solar installer and how to read a solar quote.
Compare your Minnesota quotes
Ask every company to quote the same basics. Then the differences you see are real.
From quote to permission to operate
Some steps overlap, and timing depends on your town, your utility and equipment supply. Ask each installer for a written schedule for your project.
Proposal and site check
The installer looks at your roof, shading and electrical panel and gives you a written proposal.
You and the installerDesign and applications
After you sign, the installer finishes the design and applies to your utility for the connection.
Installer; you sign the formsPermits and utility review
Your town or county reviews the building and electrical permits. The utility reviews the connection.
Permit office and utilityInstallation and inspection
The crew installs the system. A licensed electrician connects it, and the inspector checks the work.
Installer crew, electrician and inspectorPermission to operate
The utility approves the system and updates your meter if needed. Turn the system on only after this step.
Utility
How we rate Minnesota solar companies
Each company gets up to 100 points from facts anyone can check: its own website and Minnesota’s public license records, read October 14, 2026. Facts a company does not publish earn no points. No company pays for its rating, and we do not use customer star reviews.
- Licensing (30 points): an active state license, a licensed electrician and license numbers printed on its website.
- Warranty protection (35 points): workmanship warranty length, roof-penetration coverage in writing and any production guarantee.
- Local presence (15 points): an office in Minnesota and Minnesota named as a service area.
- Track record (10 points): years installing solar.
- Options (10 points): batteries and the number of ways to pay.
Stars: 85 points or more is 5 (Top-rated), 72 is 4.5 (Excellent), 60 is 4 (Very good), 45 is 3.5 (Good), below 45 is 3 (Average). We did not inspect installations, collect customer quotes or test customer service.
Minnesota solar company FAQs
How do I check a Minnesota solar installer?
Search the company on DLI’s license lookup and match the name on your contract. Since July 1, 2023, the company that signs with you needs a residential building contractor license, and a licensed electrical contractor must do the installation. DLI also posts its enforcement actions online. Then read the written workmanship warranty before you sign.
Does Minnesota have net metering?
Yes, at every utility. Minn. Stat. 216B.164 covers home systems under 40 kW, co-ops and city utilities included. Extra power is paid at the utility’s average retail energy rate: 14.94 cents per kWh at Dakota Electric and 12.4 cents at Connexus in 2026. Co-ops and city utilities may add a fee for solar homes.
Is there a solar tax credit in Minnesota?
No. The federal credit is not available for systems installed after December 31, 2025, and Minnesota’s 2025 income tax credit schedules list no solar credit. A solar energy system is exempt from the 6.875% state sales tax and from property tax. Xcel customers can also get Solar*Rewards payments for 10 years.
Who gets the Minnesota battery incentive?
Xcel customers can get $175 per kWh of battery size from Xcel, up to $5,000. Homes outside Xcel territory can get $250 per kWh from the state, up to $7,000. Both need solar at the same home and a battery of 50 kWh or less. Money is limited and paid first come, first served.
Will the companies on this page contact me?
Not because they appear here. This page is an editorial comparison. If you request quotes, the providers that serve your area may contact you. They can include installers, marketplaces and lead exchanges. Our page on how we make money explains how EcoGen is paid.
More Minnesota solar guides
- Minnesota solar costs
- Minnesota solar incentives
- Is solar worth it in Minnesota?
- Minnesota solar guide
- Free solar panels in Minnesota
- Questions to ask your solar installer
- How to read a solar quote
- Solar scams and red flags
- Solar financing: cash, loan, lease or PPA
Request Minnesota solar quotes
When your shortlist is ready, enter your ZIP code to ask providers that serve your area for quotes.
Solar providers that serve your area may contact you, and they pay EcoGen for the introduction. Providers can include installers, solar marketplaces and lead exchanges, and more than one may contact you. How we make money.
