Solar Side Up - Profile & Reviews

After researching many providers (thank you, Energy Sage), we ultimately chose to work with SolarSide Up for our home installation. They quickly answered our questions, were patient and engaged throughout the numerous delays on our end of things, and, when we ultimately committed, were quick to both schedule and then complete our install. The installer was professional, efficient, and was a pleasure to work with, adjusting the routing to meet our aesthetic preferences and answering all our questions. And now we have the joy of watching our system contribute to Fort Collins' utility grid after meeting all of our needs, thanks to the crew at SolarSide Up.

To evaluate the competing bids I received from Energy Sage, I considered the total cost and the amount of solar promised.  Solar Side Up won my business based on these considerations.  Unfortunately, what I was promised is not what I got. 

First: Solar Side Up convinced me to replace my roof prior to getting solar panels.  Not because the old roof could not support solar panels, but just because the roof was close to the end of its expected life.  They told me that if I used them to replace the roof and get the panels installed, then I could claim the solar tax credit (then 30%) on both the new roof and the solar.  Turns out, based on advice from my accountant and based on actually reading the IRS regulations, this would have almost definitely been illegal.  This resulted in an increase of about $6500 to my total cost compared to what I was led to believe.  When I mentioned this to Solar Side Up, they basically said "don't worry, nobody will check," and even provided an invoice that falsely stated that the entire amount they received was for solar panels.

Another thing they did to win my business was to guarantee (in the contract) a certain amount of solar production in year one.  They only did this because one of their competitors told me they thought their promise was not realistic and that I should get it guaranteed in writing.  Sure enough, after one year, the production was well short of the guaranteed amount.  When I contacted Solar Side Up I was completely ignored multiple times.  Finally when I threatened to write bad reviews, I was contacted by CEO Jeff Fleischman who condescendingly told me that weather is variable so I shouldn't expect any specific amount of production.  When I pointed out his salesman promised to add another solar panel if the guarantee was not met, I was offered $80 instead.  They received over $45,000 from me, didn't give me what was promised, but hey, I can get $80 of that back.

These are just the highlights. I could go on.  On the other hand the solar does work, so I give them a generous 2 stars.

Solar Side Up has been excellent to work with from the first moment of hearing the sales pitch for solar to turning on the system. They have always been super responsive and helpful with questions and their installers were professional and did an excellent job! I am really glad to have partnered with Solar Side Up for installing solar at my home.

40 panels installed