Founded in 2016, Solar Is Freedom was a regional solar company primarily serving Ohio. While it had a limited service area, the provider earned largely positive reviews from customers and promoted a strong mission to improve communities through clean energy.
Though it’s no longer in operation as of August 2023, this review covers Solar Is Freedom’s previously offered services to help you understand its past offerings, strengths, and weaknesses. We recommend choosing from the top solar companies that continue to operate and provide strong customer support.
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What Do We Think of Solar is Freedom?
While the provider has several positive features, such as a 25-year warranty, Solar Is Freedom is limited in its state availability and the services it provides. The provider only serves four states and doesn’t install solar batteries or conduct energy audits.
Pros
- In-house, 25-year warranty
- Dedicated account manager for the entire process
- North American Board of Certified Energy certification
Cons
- Availability in three states only: Ohio, Kentucky, and North Carolina
- Communication issues, according to some customer reviews
Compare Solar Is Freedom to Other Solar Providers
| Company | Star Rating | BBB Rating | Warranties |
|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 25-year panels, 10-year workmanship | ||
A+ | 25 years | ||
A+ | 25–30 years | ||
A+ | 25-year panels, 10-year workmanship |
Solar Is Freedom Solar Panel Options
The company installs both residential and commercial solar panels, but it isn’t forthcoming online about individual panel options. We were able to find that Solar Is Freedom partners with JinkoSolar, LG, SolarEdge, and Enphase for solar panels and solar inverters.
According to the provider, its team assesses each property carefully to determine if it’s right for a solar panel system. It then proposes products and a design plan with the best financial decision for the customer in mind, giving you all the information before you make a commitment.
Pro Tip
- When comparing solar providers, This Old House Magazine recommends getting at least three bids—five is better for a full picture of the options and prices—from companies referred by friends, neighbors, or tradespeople you trust. The bids should include the federal tax credit and any available local incentives, which you can verify at dsireusa.org.
Solar Is Freedom Installation
The provider has the following eight-step solar installation process:
- Home qualification survey: The Solar Is Freedom team first conducts a free property evaluation to see if it’s suitable for a solar system and to answer any questions the property owner has.
- Design: Next, the pre-engineering team uses that information to create a custom system design based on the property owner’s goals.
- Presentation: The team then presents the design and a comprehensive report on what that type of system can provide. The team will walk through each step of the process and the system’s benefits until the customer is ready to move forward.
- Site inspection: Solar Is Freedom will handle all permitting needs for the solar project and schedule a site inspector to gather necessary information within three weeks of your commitment.
- Design and electrical review: Once the site inspector has the information needed for permitting and net metering, the provider’s project team will work with the property owner and electrical engineering team to ensure everything is in place and the design is ready.
- Permitting and staging: The utility company and permit office then review and approve the plans. Once final approval is in hand, the project team schedules the solar panel installation.
- Installation: An expert Solar Is Freedom installation crew installs the system. After, the project team schedules a quality control inspection of the installation.
- Permission to operate: After Quality Control signs off on the installation and the property owner’s questions are answered, the provider orders the bidirectional meter installation from your utility company. Following the installation, the process is complete. The system is then operational, and the property owner can take advantage of monitoring and the net metering program through the utility company.
Pro Tip
- As explained during a This Old House solar installation segment, when your system generates more power than you need, it spins your meter backwards—that power goes to the grid, is used by your neighbors, and you get a credit from the utility. At night, when the sun is down, you draw electricity from the grid as usual. At the end of the year, you may end up ahead of the game or have substantially discounted your energy costs.
Solar Is Freedom Payment Options
Solar Is Freedom offers multiple payment options, including cash purchase, PPA financing, and a blended model that allows you to pay a percentage up-front and the difference via financing.
- Cash purchase: An up-front cash payment is the most straightforward option. It allows you to own your solar system right away and qualifies you for cost-saving solar tax incentives.
- Power purchase agreements: Power purchase agreements, or PPAs, let you pay a fixed price for the power you generate each month, similar to an electric bill. As with solar leases, you won’t be your system’s legal owner and are disqualified from tax incentives.
Pro Tip
- According to This Old House Magazine, it can take 9 to 12 years for energy savings to pay back the cost of a solar system in most of the U.S., after which your panels should provide essentially free power for as long as two decades more. The payback period depends on your latitude, roof orientation, tree cover, local electricity costs, and your utility’s policies. For a quick estimate, plug your address into Google’s Project Sunroof tool.
What Are the Available Solar Incentives?
The federal solar tax credit, also known as the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), allows solar purchasers to receive a deduction on federal taxes equal to 30% as of August 2022. The 30% tax credit is available through 2032 thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act’s extension of the ITC. Starting January 1, 2023, you can also claim the 30% credit for stand-alone solar batteries with a minimum of 3 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of capacity.
There are also state tax credits for solar purchasers to encourage clean energy. In Ohio, where Solar Is Freedom primarily operates, property owners can claim the following:
- Solar Renewable Energy Certificates: Ohio uses SRECs to reach the state’s goal of producing 12.5% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2027. For each megawatt hour (MWh) of electricity your solar panels produce, you will be granted one SREC that you can sell for extra cash.
- Energy Conservation for Ohioans Program: Apply for the ECO program and you can receive up to a 3% interest rate reduction on your bank loans for up to seven years.
- Net metering: Your solar panels will often produce more electricity than you need. Ohio’s net metering policy allows you to sell this back to the grid in exchange for credits on your utility bill.
Pro Tip
- During a This Old House project installation, experts explained how net metering works in real terms: excess power “spins our meter backwards and that power goes to the grid and is used by our neighbors and we get a credit for that from the utility.” At night, you draw from the grid as usual, and “at the end of the year, we may end up ahead of the game or substantially discounted our prices.” If you pair your system with battery storage, you can also avoid peak time-of-use rates, which, as This Old House plumbing and HVAC expert Richard Trethewey learned on a project visit, can “pretty much double” during high-demand late afternoon hours.
Some utility companies also offer rebates. These vary by company and can be applied to your energy bill or be paid directly to you.
What Are the Customer Reviews of Solar Is Freedom?
Solar Is Freedom has an NR rating with the BBB* and is not accredited. The company previously held an A+ rating. The BBB stated that Solar Is Freedom has a pattern of complaints concerning communication issues, inoperable panels, delayed installations, and refund check issuance.
Customer experiences are mixed based on reviews. While some customers report a great experience and speedy support, others report the exact opposite, saying that timeliness is an issue and communication with the provider is difficult. This could be due to different levels of service at different office locations.
Below are four reviews posted to the company’s BBB page:
Positive Reviews
“Solar is Freedom is every homeowner’s dream come true. We received our install back in July and it has been such a neat experience. Not only do they look great and are a head turner amongst our neighbors but breaking the numbers down, they just made sense. We are projected to save minimum 90k over the next 25 financed year.” — Zach C.
“Awesome company to work with. They answered all my questions up-front and more. The designed system is attractive and sized for maximum ROI. Installation was efficient and clean. I recently had a problem which they quickly diagnosed and fixed. Have recommended them to friends and family.” — Lorraine C.
Negative Reviews
“At first it seemed like an amazing company. They will not get back to us. Instead of getting a significant discount on electric – it had doubled! I’ve tried calling them for a month. Despite emailing and leaving messages when their recording says theyll get back to us in 48 hours, we have heard nothing.” — Tamara C.
“The panels are up and working great. The install went well even though it was two months behind schedule. After the install it took several weeks for them to communicate to the power company to get us switched over to net metering. Next they promised they would monitor our system 24-7 so if anything was wrong they would know it right away. The monitoring system quit working after just a few weeks and it took three months and several phone calls and emails before they came out and fixed it.” — D.W.
*BBB rating is accurate as of April 2024.
Pro Tip
- According to This Old House Magazine, when comparing installers, check that you’re getting all-black monocrystalline panels with a hidden racking system. Engineering professor Joshua Pearce of Western University says not to worry about brand or country of manufacture—focus instead on panel efficiency and warranty terms. Also look for NABCEP certification, though as This Old House Ross notes, if an installer doesn’t have it, “it doesn’t mean they’re not a good installer. You just have to do more research and dig a little bit deeper.”
Our Conclusion
Solar Is Freedom has NABCEP certification and an in-house, 25-year warranty. However, customer reviews are mixed, and the provider is vague about its exact products and services online. Customers in Kentucky, North Carolina, and Ohio may have better luck getting details in person or over the phone.
If you’re considering the solar power path, be sure to carefully vet each company and get a quote from at least three providers before making a decision. Please use our tool below to find solar companies serviceable in your area.
Frequently Asked Questions About Solar Is Freedom
What services does Solar Is Freedom offer?
Solar Is Freedom installs solar panel systems and solar inverters using a professional in-house installation team.
Does Solar Is Freedom offer free estimates?
Yes, Solar Is Freedom offers free estimates. The company conducts free property evaluations and provides estimates up-front.
Who is the most reputable solar company?
Some of the most reputable solar companies include ADT Solar, Blue Raven Solar, Momentum Solar, and Tesla.
Our Rating Methodology
We are committed to providing comprehensive and unbiased reviews to our readers. After over a thousand hours of research on solar companies, interviews with experts, and common customer needs, we’ve created a detailed rating system for solar providers based on six factors:
- Solar equipment, installation, and services (25%)
- Warranty and performance guarantees (25%)
- Brand reputation and certifications (15%)
- Financing options (15%)
- Experience (10%)
- Availability (10%)
Total scores are divided by 20 for a final 5-point rating scale.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.