Solar Side Up LLC Overview
Established in 2011 and operating out of Denver, Colorado, Solar Side Up is a small company that provides residential and commercial solar energy solutions throughout the state. Despite seeing itself as one of Colorado’s best-kept secrets – largely relying on referrals for business – Solar Side Up already has over 1,200 installations to its name.
Starting as a small project in founder Jeff Fleischman’s backyard, Solar Side Up has expanded into a thriving business. Their commitment is to treat you like family and to ensure you get the correct solar energy solution for your situation. However, a few of their customers shed doubt on their adherence to these ideals.
Solar Side Up Services and Specifics
Specific Solar Panels offered
Solar Side Up is partnered with a variety of manufacturers – including LG Solar, Panasonic, and SolarEdge – working to provide you with the best components for the best price.
Specific Types of Solar Offered
Solar Side Up offers roof-mounted and grid-tied solar energy systems for both residential and commercial properties throughout the Denver Metro area and beyond. Covering a variety of systems – from 3kw to 500kw – they provide a complete turn-key service, meaning they’ll handle every step for you. From the initial free consultation, through design and financing, and even acquiring the necessary permits and permissions prior to installation, Solar Side Up is the only port of call you’ll need.
In addition to solar panels, Solar Side Up also provide battery backup and energy storage systems to ensure you get the most out of your energy. They primarily use the Enphase Ensemble and even include installation videos on their website to explain the inner workings behind these systems.
Unlike many solar energy companies, Solar Side Up also provide roofing services for properties looking to install solar panels. If you need a new roof in a few years, or your roof needs a few repairs before installation, then Solar Side Up is happy to help; after all, there isn’t much point in installing a solar array only to tear it down a few years later for unrelated repairs. If you are in such a situation, though, Solar Side Up will happily dismount and reinstall your solar panels to perform any repairs – even if they weren’t the ones to install your system in the first place.
Solar Side Up Installation Costs and Process
Costs
Quality rarely comes cheap, and that’s the experience customers have with Solar Side Up. Working with some of the industry’s top manufacturers, Solar Side Up works to provide you with the best quality for the best price. What you’re paying for is not just a good product but also excellent service – with many five-star reviews on Google and EnergySage, the vast majority of customers praise Solar Side Up’s professionalism and expertise. With a NABCEP-certified professional handling the process from start to finish, you can expect a hassle-free installation.
If the upfront cost is too much, Solar Side Up is partnered with multiple financing companies to provide you with a variety of loans to help you pay. Whilst these options are not advertised on their website, you may discuss them in a Solar Discovery Call. Solar Side Up’s services also qualify for state and federal tax rebates, though again, the specifics are not listed.
Solar Side Up also offers a referral program; any referred household will receive a $500 discount if they choose to go solar with them. The one who referred them will also receive a $250 referral gift – a nice little incentive to spread the word.
Legitimacy
Solar Side Up are a legitimate company, with many industry certifications;
- A licensed Electrical Contractor with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) (#EC0008135)
- NABCEP Certified Photovoltaic Installation Professional
- Accredited with the Better Business Bureau since 2021 with an A+ rating
- EnergySage Elite rating, screened and verified
- Associated with the American Solar Energy Society (ASES)
- Associated with Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)
- Enphase Gold Installer
- Solaris Pro Partner Platinum
In addition, they are partnered with multiple other manufacturers, including Panasonic, LG Solar, SolarEdge Technologies, Silfab Solar, and Q-Cells. They are also associated with a number of financing companies, such as the Elevation Credit Union, ezSolarLoan, and the Westerra Credit Union.
Maintenance
Solar Side Up provides numerous repair services for solar installations, including ones they had no hand installing. This covers the basics, such as hail damage, inverter replacements, and chewed wiring. A service call will likely cost you $350, but their team will try their best to troubleshoot your problem over the phone to save you time and money.
Solar Side Up’s customer service comes highly recommended, providing rapid responses and speedy installation times, as well as a lot of ongoing support for existing customers.
For the most part, that is – despite their impressive review scores, a handful of customers lodge some scathing complaints. One in particular claims that Solar Side Up botched the handoff to their utility company, resulting in them having to pay a couple of very costly energy bills despite assurances that their solar system was online.
Yet another review describes the team as incompetent, promising “false hopes”, and claims they bid on a solar project without being properly certified at the time, eventually having to hand it over to another team. Although the language in this review is suspect – the term “imperialist” is thrown around, and Jeff and his team have been certified long before this review was posted – the company’s response, e.g. to say that you “can’t fix crazy”, is extremely unprofessional. This attitude appears to be a habit, as Solar Side Up responds to every negative review they receive, often claiming the reviewer was/is not a customer of theirs.
Secret Shopper AnalysisOur investigation into Solar Side Up, LLC reveals that it’s a well-regarded company in Denver, Colorado that provides high-quality solar solutions for residential and commercial clients. Partnering with esteemed manufacturers like LG Solar, Panasonic, and SolarEdge, Solar Side Up ensures customers get top-notch components at the best price. They offer comprehensive turn-key services, from consultation and design to handling all necessary permits and installation procedures. Despite some customer feedback questioning their customer service quality, the majority commend their professionalism and expertise. Given this, while Solar Side Up’s service might come at a higher price, it’s reflective of their quality offering. We did note that they have several impressive industry certifications, further attesting to their legitimacy. Overall, our contact with Solar Side Up left us confident in their capabilities, albeit aware of the potential for less-than-ideal customer service. |
Review AnalysisSolar Side Up has established a strong reputation in the solar industry, demonstrated by their impressive average review score of 4.7. They have earned 49 5-star ratings, largely due to their skillful installations, the quality of their roofing work, and the efficiency of their solar systems, as highlighted by customers. However, there were 4 instances where they received 3 stars or less, with customers accusing them of over-promising and under-delivering and providing poor customer service. Despite these isolated complaints, Solar Side Up’s high rating shows that the majority of their customers have had positive experiences, with the company often exceeding their expectations. |
The SolarEmpower View
| Cost: 8/10 | Legitimacy: 9/10 |
| Quality: 9/10 | Customer Service: 5/10 |
Despite being a small company, Solar Side Up has left a big impression on the Denver Metro area. Providing a high-quality product for the best price, and sporting several impressive certifications, you can expect to get your money’s worth. A few complaints about their customer service do hang over them, though what’s more concerning is their confrontational responses to these complaints. Whilst we can recommend them for the installations themselves, we understand if this attitude puts you off. A respectable 7/10.
