Sol-Up
4.9
7.8
Overall Score
Author: Kaitlyn Short
Founded in 2009, Sol-Up is a residential and commercial solar installer providing full-service solar installation to residents and business owners across the Las Vegas Valley, with another location opening in Reno, Nevada. The company is a member of the Nevada State Contractors Board, the Vegas Chamber of Commerce, The Solar Energy Industries Association, and has a certification from the North America Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP).
In its more than 10 years in business, Sol-Up has installed nearly 12 megawatts of clean, renewable energy on over 6,000 homes in Southern Nevada alone.
Sol-Up is also expanding its offering into whole-home energy efficiency upgrades, including new window and door installations.
The Good
- Awards and Certifications
- Top-Level Solar Equipment
- Workmanship Warranty
Awards and Certifications
Sol-Up has been the recipient of numerous awards and certifications during its time in business. As mentioned above, the company is a NABCEP-certified solar installer, meaning its installers have taken and passed one of the most rigorous certification exams in the solar industry. The NABCEP is an industry-recognized organization that maintains high installation standards, technology literacy, and other industry best practices within solar.
In addition to this certification, Sol-Up has also achieved “Elite Installer” status with leading solar panel manufacturer Panasonic. Similar to the certification from the NABCEP, Elite status implies that the company’s installers, designers, and electricians have undergone additional advanced training in solar panel installation and integration. In short, Sol-Up employs some of the most educated solar panel experts in Nevada.
Sol-Up has also been identified as a “Top 500 Solar Contractor” by Solar Power World Magazine every year from 2012 to 2022, maintaining "Top 3 in Nevada" status during each of those years. The company has a proven track record of full-service installation, from the free quote and initial consultation, to site auditing, system design, permit pulling, installation, and activation.
Top-Level Solar Equipment
Sol-Up installs panels from Panasonic, and is in fact a Panasonic Elite Installer. Panasonic panels are widely regarded as some of the best available on the market. Panasonic panels come with a 25-year equipment warranty, protecting them against product defects for the life of the system. They also sport an impressive 20.3 percent energy efficiency.
Sol-Up also uses inverters from both Enphase and SolarEdge in its systems, which are among the top inverter brands available. Inverters from both brands convert solar power into usable electricity and an incredibly high rate, but they also come with a system monitoring system that allows homeowners to easily manage and observe their energy consumption and energy production per panel, as well as project savings on their monthly utility bill.
Workmanship Warranty
Sol-Up mentions a 25-year equipment and performance (or workmanship) warranty attached to its solar equipment, which is backed by Panasonic and the company's status as an Elite Installer. This is an excellent warranty, and considered industry-leading. The workmanship warranty (also called the labor warranty or service guarantee) protects customers against having to pay for repairs or replacements caused by an equipment defect.
Excellent Sol-Up Reviews
Sol-Up has an impressive 4.9 out of 5 star ranking on Best Company with over 300 reviews. Happy Sol-Up clients talk about how communicative the company is, how organized the solar installation process was, and how the company consistently exceeded expectations.
With a home purchase as big as solar, it's important to choose a company with a good number of positive reviews, and Sol-Up definitely fits the bill.
The Bad
- Limited Availability
- Qualified Financing Options
Limited Availability
Sol-Up is available in the following cities and neighborhoods across southern Nevada:
- Las Vegas
- Henderson
- Summerlin
- Mountain’s Edge
- Southern Highlands
- Anthem
- Aliante
- North Las Vegas
- Boulder City
- Pahrump
Unfortunately, Sol-Up’s services are limited to these areas. And given that Nevada’s high sunlight levels make it quite a competitive market in the solar industry, the Nevada solar space is flooded with more than 400 solar companies. Sol-Up's limited availability could preclude it from some interested solar customers' solar options.
Qualified Financing Options
Although several areas across the Sol-Up website mentions the company offers “several financing options,” “new financing options,” and “short and long term financing,” the company still requires potential solar applicants to obtain a free quote or schedule a consultation before the specific terms or methods of financing can be disclosed.
Direct purchase, solar loans, solar leases, and power purchase agreements (PPA) are all available in the state of Nevada; however, whether all four options are available with individual companies is left to those companies’ discretion. All loans options are clearly communicated upon consultation.
The Bottom Line
As one of the few companies local to Nevada with an NABCEP certification, Sol-Up Solar is truly a premier solar installer. The company uses some of the best solar equipment and warranties around, and its employees have been trained and tested on all the latest developments in solar energy technology and installation practices.
If you live in a Nevada city serviced by Sol-Up and find a financing option that fits in with your budget and electricity bill savings expectations, you are strongly encouraged to go with Sol-Up.
