SOUTH SIDE SOLAR
RESIDENTIAL SOLAR
Solar is the #1 Choice for Savvy Ohio Homeowners
Avoid Rate Inflation
Hedge yourself against rising rates by making your own power instead of buying it all from the utility.
Weather the Storms
Protect your family and be prepared for the coming grid failures with a home backup battery system.
Be a Part of the Solution
With solar power dominating new electric generating capacity, the grid is getting cleaner, and every house helps.
WHY THE TIME FOR RESIDENTIAL SOLAR IS NOW
Ohio electricity rates have risen 40% in 5 years, at the same time solar and battery costs have fallen. There’s actually never been a better time to invest in your family’s energy future.
Owning solar panels helps you save money by reducing what you have to pay to the utility, because panels make power anytime the sun is up, and sunlight is free. Whereas buying utility power has you subject to market prices, your solar array is a fixed, known cost that will last for decades.
Main Considerations Going Solar:
• Home solar installation costs range widely depending on size and options, from a small $18,000 system to a large system with batteries that could be $50,000 or more.
• Your goals for electrification may change not only the size of the array, but the timing of those projects.
• Your system will produce Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs), which can be sold for additional revenue.
• You earn immediate equity in your home, with solar boosting resale value by an average of 4.1% (see FAQ for more).
• Zero-down financing helps you access the benefits, locking in costs for years to come.
Here's Joe's Example
• Joe’s roof space can host enough panels to offset 80% of his annual electricity needs. Although he plans to transition to a heat pump soon, he can do solar first, knowing that the roof is already maximized.
• His array is 12 kW and cost him $28,000. SREC incentives took his net cost to $26,500.
• It produces 15,400 kWh every year, saving $2,850 at today’s rates.
• Because of forecast rate increases, the array is expected to pay itself off in under 9 years.
• Although it’s a good cash investment, Joe decides to leverage a 20-year fixed-rate loan whose payments are lower than his expected savings, helping his budget immediately and saving his cash for the heat pump or a future backup battery.
Powering Ohio,
one roof
at a time.
We're thrilled with the results!
Working with Kurt and the team at South Side Solar was an outstanding experience from start to finish. The entire project went smoothly, and Kurt guided us through every step with patience and expertise. He was incredibly responsive and had a genuine talent for explaining complex details in a way we could easily understand.
We’re thrilled with the results — we received our first negative electric bill shortly after installation! The monthly savings more than cover the loan, making this one of the smartest decisions we’ve ever made. We couldn’t recommend South Side Solar highly enough!
– Tim and Nicole F. | Powell, OH
Highly recommend his solar design and installation
Working with Kurt was great. He was professional, communicative, and a hard worker. He was very helpful even when the issue was not his, but a software issue with the vendor. I highly recommend his solar design and installation!
– Daniel K. | OH
Building Solar Solutions to Fit Your Needs
Simple Solar
A grid-tied solar photovoltaic (PV) array is a simple and straightforward way to save money on utility bills. Ready for some panels? We’ve got you covered! With a good roof, it usually works out well.
SIMPLICITY: great equipment, solid crew, fair pricing.
Secure Solar
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are optional for grid-tied home solar, but are the only way to keep solar energy flowing during a grid failure. These products have greatly matured in recent years, and costs are quite comparable to standby generators.
SECURITY: perpetual power, no fuel needed.
Synergistic Solar
We can help you triple your impact by electrifying everything (EVs, appliances) and replacing even more of your energy consumption with solar energy.
SYNERGY: leverage economy of scale while hedging more of your spend against decades of inflation, multiplying savings.
“Solar is going to be for everybody. There’s too much rational sense to the idea of solar and storage.” – Edward Norton
Residential Solar FAQ
Are leases better than loans?
Many solar companies today are offering a lease, a “pre-paid lease,” or even a loan-backed pre-paid lease, in order to retain federal tax credits, available only through these Third-Party-Owned (TPO) products because of a loophole in the latest tax code. But did you know that between the lender taking their cut of the credits, escalation clauses and likely, more expensive equipment, you might end up paying more for these systems than just buying one outright with a loan or cash?
Furthermore, leased systems do not add value to a home sale, because the buyer has to take on the lease under the same terms, whereas with a loan it gets paid off at closing with the boost in property value. Worse yet, leased systems usually do not allow for future modifications, such as adding modules or batteries.
Although the tax credit is valuable, chasing after it seems to be less so. At South Side, we don’t hold a hard line against these funding mechanisms, but encourage homeowners to be fully informed of the details involved.
In 2026, most homeowners can finance Simple Solar with a 20-year fixed-rate loan and pay less for it monthly than the utility savings it earns.
What amount of maintenance should I expect?
Your solar energy system requires very little maintenance, because it has no moving parts. We suggest that you trim any trees that shade your solar panels, and also install a squirrel guard around the perimeter of the solar array, if there are squirrels in the neighborhood.
Generally, you should expect to “repower,” or replace any string inverters, once during the life of the panels. And although some systems have been operational for over 10 years without a single glitch, others from time to time need to have inverter or optimizer issues looked into, which is identified through the system’s monitoring portal. Often, WiFi and/or cellular communications need to be reset, although the homeowner may be able to update their connection through their app. One of the most common maintenance issues, though, is actually caused by squirrels, so if they’re present, it’s best to have us install a wire mesh squirrel guard around the perimeter.
What happens when I go to sell my home?
According to a 2019 Zillow report, in most real estate markets around the country, homes with solar command a 4.1% average price premium over comparable properties. In other words, you make some money back in equity, not just energy savings!
Of course, every home and system is different, but as long as you own the array, it is expected that the extra money you make from the sale can be used to help pay off any outstanding loans on it. South Side Solar can help the new owner take over system monitoring with a free tutorial.
How long until my panels get installed?
Tom Petty said it best: “the waiting is the hardest part.” The permitting process, plus procurement and scheduling, can take 2-4 months, and installation is always dependent upon fair weather. So hang tight - we’re in this together!
WHAT TO EXPECT
4 Steps to Going Solar
We're here with you through the entire process. It all starts with a conversation.
1. Free Consultation
Solar can be complicated. We help make it simple and answer all your questions, including reviewing financing options and what they mean to your wallet.
2. Site Survey
We will double-check all structural and electrical technical details pertaining to your site environment so your project goes off without a hitch.
3. Design and Paperwork
This step takes the most time. We engineer final designs and obtain all necessary permissions from the utility and local jurisdictions, so you don’t have to worry.
4. Installation and Instruction
Once fully approved, we’ll work with you to schedule a convenient time for installation. We help you understand how utility billing will work, and how to use the monitoring tools. If you have a battery system, you will also be trained how to use it during a power outage.
