Black Hills Solar has built the strongest dedicated residential solar PV practice in western South Dakota, operating from 1950 Samco Road in Rapid City and serving the Black Hills region and a roughly 100-mile radius around it. The company was founded around 2018-2019 by Sonny, who holds NABCEP certification as both a PV system designer and an installation professional, and Black Hills Solar has since earned designation as a Tesla Premier Certified Installer, the highest tier Tesla reserves for its top-performing dealer partners. What stood out to our research team is the seriousness of the credentialing. NABCEP certification is widely considered the gold standard in residential solar, and the combination of Tesla Premier status with NABCEP-certified leadership is rare among small Plains-state installers. The company holds South Dakota electrical contractor license EC-3543, the Rapid City municipal electrical contractor license AEC3533, and a Wyoming master electrician license M-52663, meaning their installation crews can legally complete the electrical work and interconnection on every system they sell rather than subcontracting that portion to a third party. Their hardware lineup leans premium and diverse, with installations including Canadian Solar, Qcells, Solaria, Silfab, LG, Mission Solar, Jinko, LONGi, and REC Group panels paired with Tesla Powerwall and Powerwall 3 battery storage, Sol-Ark hybrid inverters, SolarEdge optimizers, and Enphase microinverter platforms. Prospective customers should understand that Black Hills Solar is a smaller, regionally focused outfit rather than a national brand. Their verified review base on third-party platforms like SolarReviews is still developing, and our research team noted that the bulk of the company's social proof comes from Google reviews and word-of-mouth in the Rapid City market rather than the deep aggregate review counts you would see in larger metros. Buyers in the Sioux Falls market on the eastern side of the state should also confirm coverage and lead-time before committing, since the company's installation reach is anchored in the Black Hills. With a composite score of 76.0 out of 100, Black Hills Solar stands as our top-ranked solar company in South Dakota for 2026.
Ritter Solar has built a small but legitimate residential solar PV practice in southeastern South Dakota, headquartered at 214 Linden Avenue in Vermillion. The company is led by Brad Ritter, who has taken the step of becoming personally NABCEP certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, a credential the company explicitly markets on its website. NABCEP certification is the recognized gold standard for residential solar installation professionals and is uncommon among installers in the South Dakota market, where state licensing requires only an electrical contractor's license to perform solar work. What stood out to our research team is the focus and discipline of the operation. Ritter Solar specializes specifically in residential solar installations, offering both grid-tied and off-grid systems with battery storage rather than scattering across HVAC, roofing, or general electrical work. They handle system design, permitting, and installation in-house, and the company provides a two-year workmanship guarantee alongside industry-standard manufacturer warranties on panels and inverters. Prospective customers should set their expectations appropriately. Ritter Solar is a small regional installer rather than a high-volume operator, and that has trade-offs in both directions. The upside is direct access to the owner-installer, a credential set that exceeds most competitors in the state, and a service area that includes Vermillion, Sioux Falls, Yankton, and the eastern South Dakota corridor where solar adoption has historically been thin. The downside is a comparatively small review base on third-party platforms like Google and SolarReviews compared with the higher-volume regional installers in Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska that cross into the state. Buyers should ask for in-state references on completed systems, confirm panel and inverter brand availability for their specific project, and verify timeline expectations during the South Dakota winter installation season when daylight and weather constrain crew productivity. With a composite score of 69.5 out of 100, Ritter Solar holds the second-ranked position in South Dakota for 2026.
Wegner Roofing & Solar operates a combined roofing and residential solar practice that fits the brief's allowance for roofing-plus-solar firms with a real, named PV division. The company was established in 2011 by Brandon Wegner, is headquartered at 6100 West 41st Street in Sioux Falls, employs roughly 61 staff, and serves South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Iowa, and Tennessee with locations in multiple cities. The Better Business Bureau opened the company's file in September 2022 and the BBB currently shows an A+ rating, although the company has not pursued formal BBB accreditation. What stood out to our research team is the credibility of the parent business. In January 2026, Roofing Contractor Magazine ranked Wegner Roofing & Solar #86 on its annual Top 100 Roofing Contractors list, placing them in the top 0.1 percent of roofing contractors nationally, and that operational depth on the roofing side translates into a real advantage for solar installations on existing roofs. Their Google review base of approximately 337 reviews at a 4.9 average is among the strongest in the South Dakota market. Prospective customers should understand the limitations of dual-trade installers. Wegner's website provides far less detailed solar portfolio content than dedicated installers like Black Hills Solar or Ritter Solar, with limited published case studies, no NABCEP certification listed at the corporate level, and a comparatively thin set of solar-specific testimonials versus the roofing reviews that dominate the public record. The company does install residential and commercial PV systems with custom design, permitting, and interconnection support, and their established roofing crews mean re-roof-plus-solar combinations are handled cleanly. Buyers considering Wegner specifically for solar should ask pointed questions about which crew members hold solar-specific credentials, request in-state PV-only references, and confirm that the project will not be subcontracted or routed through a partner installer. With a composite score of 67.5 out of 100, Wegner Roofing & Solar holds the third-ranked position in South Dakota for 2026.
“We had Wegner Roofing first install a new roof after we had damage from a bad storm. Noah Sanderson was our prime contact with the company. He was key in identifying the actual significant damage...”
Nicole A.
“I thought that we had a great company replace our roof. However we have had several issues now and they refuse to come out and fix it even though its under warranty. The first storm after they had to...”
Hannah S.
“We worked with Tiffany and Adam here in Sioux Falls, and Sara at the main office over the phone. They were all really helpful through a lot of the process! Tiffany went over and above the standard to...”
Miranda K.
“They used no tarps and surrounded the entire house in nails and debris, as pictured. The reps l are nice but all the workers are foreign and don't speak English. They left their lunch garbage all...”
Steven W.
“I've been trying to reach Wegner Roofing for the last few days to discuss a repair (3-yr old roof they installed had shingles blow off....). Now that they only use AI receptionist, I can't talk to a...”
Christina S.
“I purchased a home in the fall of 2023 that needed a lot of work. The roof was a major thing on the list, but it was a 1/12 roof pitch and covered in old and repatched tar and pebble. I got the...”
James A.
“When our roof was done by Wagner thought they did great until we started having issues. We have been trying for months to get leaks fixed. All I keep hearing is they will be there and nobody shows...”
Holly D.
“Nick at Wegner did a FANTASTIC job taking care of us from start to finish. He answered all questions and found us the correct information whenever we needed it. Wegner did all the work with our...”
Property tax exemption for solar (limited)|Net metering at retail rate|No state solar tax credit|No sales tax exemption for solar|Minimal state-level incentives
Net metering is a policy in which a utility must purchase power generated by its customer at the same retail price it sells electricity to the customer.
South Dakota does not compensate solar generation at a net metered rate. Please see the PUC's Compensation page for an explanation as to why that policy has ...
South Dakota has a favorable solar energy potential, especially during the summer months. By installing a solar system, residents can significantly reduce their ...
Thinking about solar in South Dakota? With no net metering mandate and limited oversight in rural areas, it's important to word with WRE!
*Companies displaying 15 or more years in business are typically established electrical, roofing, or general contracting firms that expanded into solar installation in more recent years. The years shown may reflect the age of the parent organization or a strategic partner, not necessarily the solar division itself. This distinction is worth considering when comparing to dedicated solar installers, as purpose-built solar companies may offer more specialized expertise despite a shorter operating history.
