Solar installation services
Solar panel installation for Midwest homes
Wolf River Electric designs and installs solar panels for homes, farms and businesses in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, North Dakota, South Dakota, Michigan and Colorado. Our own licensed electricians handle all of it: design, permits, utility paperwork, installation, inspection and monitoring.
1,000+ five-star reviews | NABCEP-certified company | 25-year panel and labor warranty
What you get
Full-service solar panel installation
One company handles your project from the first quote to the day your system turns on, and stays with you after.
Design from your bills
We size the system to the power you actually use, based on 12 months of bills, your roof and your utility's rules.
Permits and utility paperwork
We file your building and electrical permits and your utility interconnection application, and follow them until they are approved.
Installation by our own crews
Licensed electricians and installers on our payroll do the work. We do not hand your home to a subcontractor.
Inspection and turn-on
We meet the inspector, then turn the system on as soon as your utility gives permission to operate.
Monitoring app
You see what your panels make by the day, month and year, right on your phone.
Service after the install
Our service team handles warranty claims, repairs, and panel removal and reinstall for a new roof.
How it works
Our solar panel installation process
Free consultation and quote
Share a recent electric bill and your goals. We show you the system size, equipment, price and payment options, with or without a battery.
Site survey
A technician checks your roof, attic, electrical panel and shading, and takes the measurements for your design.
Design and engineering
We lay out the panels, choose the inverter and racking, and estimate what the system will make each month.
Permits and utility approval
We apply for your permits and your utility interconnection. This step usually takes the longest.
Installation day
Most home installs take one to three days on site. The crew mounts the racking and panels, runs the wiring and connects the inverter.
Inspection and permission to operate
Your city or county inspects the work. Then your utility updates the meter and approves turn-on.
Turn-on, monitoring and service
We turn the system on, set up your monitoring app and stay your service contact for the life of the system.
Timeline
How long does solar installation take?
| Step | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Consultation and quote | One or two meetings |
| Site survey | Within 1 to 2 weeks of signing |
| Design, permits and utility approval | 4 to 10 weeks |
| Installation | 1 to 3 days on site |
| Inspection and turn-on | 2 to 4 weeks |
Total: usually 2 to 4 months from signing to turn-on. Your city and utility set the pace, and we track every step for you.
Pricing
How much does solar panel installation cost?
Price depends on system size, roof type, equipment and whether you add a battery. Our 2026 Minnesota and Wisconsin contracts came in at about $2.70 to $3.30 per watt before incentives for roof-mounted systems without a battery. Most homes need 8 to 12 kW, so a typical system costs about $21,600 to $39,600.
What changes the price: roof type and pitch, ground mount trenching, electrical panel upgrades, battery storage, and your choice of panels and inverters.
The 30% federal tax credit for homeowner-owned systems ended on December 31, 2025. State and utility programs, $0-down financing and lease options can still lower what you pay. See what changed with the solar tax credit.
| State | Price per watt | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $2.70 to $3.15 | Cost guide · Incentives |
| Wisconsin | $3.00 to $3.30 | Cost guide · Incentives |
| Iowa | $3.26 | Iowa solar |
| Illinois | $2.95 | Incentives |
| North Dakota | $3.44 | North Dakota solar |
| South Dakota | $3.46 | South Dakota solar |
Before incentives. Minnesota and Wisconsin: Wolf River Electric 2026 contracts, roof-mount without batteries. Other states: EnergySage and SolarReviews averages, October 2026. Your quote is built from your bills and roof.
Roofs and mounts
Roofs and mounts we install on
- Asphalt shingle roofs
- Standing seam and corrugated metal roofs
- Ground mounts for farms and acreages
- Pole barns, shops and detached garages
- Flat commercial roofs
Need a new roof? If yours will need replacing in the next several years, replace it before solar goes on. We can plan the re-roof and the install together, and our solar panel removal and reinstall service takes care of panels on an existing system.
Equipment
Panels, inverters and batteries we install
Solar panels
High-efficiency panels from Q CELLS, REC, Silfab, Canadian Solar and Waaree, built for cold climates and backed by 25-year manufacturer warranties.
Inverters
Enphase microinverters, which keep one shaded panel from dragging down the rest and show each panel in your app. SolarEdge for larger commercial systems.
Home batteries
We are a certified installer for Tesla Powerwall, FranklinWH and Enphase batteries, and also install LG and EG4. See home battery backup.
Smart panels
SPAN smart panels let you choose which circuits run on battery power and control them from your phone.
Pro or DIY
Professional solar installation or DIY?
You can install a small off-grid setup yourself. A grid-tied home system is different: it needs a building and electrical permit, an electrical inspection and your utility's approval to connect. Many utilities, incentive programs and panel warranties require a licensed installer, and mistakes can mean roof leaks, failed inspections or a fire risk.
A licensed solar installer costs more than parts alone, but you get engineering, permits, code-compliant wiring, the utility paperwork, a workmanship warranty and one company to call for service.
Why Wolf River Electric
Why homeowners choose Wolf River Electric
Our own licensed crews
Wolf River Electric is licensed in every state we serve, and our own electricians and installers do the work.
NABCEP-certified company
Our team is certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, the industry standard for solar professionals.
1,000+ five-star reviews
More than 1,000 five-star reviews on Google and BBB from homeowners and businesses. See reviews.
25-year panel and labor warranty
Through manufacturer programs such as REC ProTrust, your panels and the labor to service them are covered for 25 years. Our own 10-year workmanship warranty covers the rest of the installation. Warranty details.
Local offices
Headquartered in Isanti, Minnesota, with locations in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and Marion, Iowa.
Service for any system
We repair and maintain systems of any brand, including ones from installers that closed. Solar repair.
More services
More from Wolf River Electric
Solar panel installation questions
How long does solar panel installation take?
Most home installs take one to three days on site. From signing to turn-on, the whole process usually takes 2 to 4 months, because permits and utility approval set the pace. We handle both.
How much does solar panel installation cost?
Most homes we install need 8 to 12 kW. At the $2.70 to $3.30 per watt our 2026 Minnesota and Wisconsin customers paid, that is about $21,600 to $39,600 before incentives. See our Minnesota and Wisconsin cost guides, or get a quote built from your bills.
How much does it cost to put solar panels on a 2,000-square-foot house?
Square footage matters less than how much electricity you use. Many 2,000-square-foot Midwest homes need about 7 to 10 kW, or roughly $18,900 to $33,000 before incentives at the prices our 2026 customers paid.
Can I install solar panels myself?
You can for a small off-grid setup. A grid-tied home system needs permits, an electrical inspection and utility approval, and many utilities, incentive programs and panel warranties require a licensed installer.
What is the 20% rule for solar panels?
You will hear it two ways. Some installers size a system about 20% above your current use to cover panel aging or a future EV. In Minnesota, Xcel Energy also caps Solar*Rewards systems at 120% of your yearly use. We size to your bills and your utility's rules.
Do I need a new roof before installing solar?
If your roof will need replacing in the next several years, replace it first. Panels last 25 years or more. We check your roof during the site survey, and we can remove and reinstall panels later if needed.
Who installs the panels?
Our own licensed electricians and installers. Wolf River Electric is a NABCEP-certified company and does not hand your project to a subcontractor crew.
What warranty comes with installation?
A 25-year warranty on panels and labor through manufacturer programs such as REC ProTrust, plus our own 10-year workmanship warranty on the installation. Warranty details.
Do you offer financing?
Yes. Ask about $0-down financing and other payment options when we build your quote.
Do you install on metal roofs or on the ground?
Yes. We install on shingle and metal roofs, pole barns and shops, and ground mounts for farms and acreages.
What happens after installation?
After inspection and utility approval, we turn the system on and set up monitoring so you can see what it makes. We also service and repair systems after the install.
Do solar panels work in a Midwest winter?
Yes. Panels make less power on short winter days but run efficiently in cold, clear weather. Net metering credits from spring and summer help balance the year.