Solar seems right for me. Should I lease or buy?

solar panel roofing

If you’re wondering whether residential solar falls within your reach, a good place to start would be a comparison of the three most common purchasing options available:

 

  • Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) in which a developer arranges for the design, permitting, financing and installation of a solar energy system on a customer’s property and then the customer purchases power from the developer.

 

  • Solar Lease in which a complete package of solar equipment gets installed on a customer’s roof at little or no  upfront cost and then the customer pays a monthly lease on the equipment.

 

  • Solar Purchase in which a customer pays out-of-pocket or acquires financing for the outright purchase and installation of solar equipment which they operate from that day forward.
3 types of residential solar

Should I Lease or Buy My Solar Array?

 

If the idea of leasing solar equipment that is installed on a property that you own seems strange, you’re not alone. It may seem surprising to learn that until recent years, the residential solar market was dominated by solar leasing and Power Purchase Agreements. It was a combination of factors that made the solar market that way, and now, another combination of things is driving the shift where more homeowners are able to purchase solar equipment outright. Two big reasons stand out. First, the price of equipment continues to fall steadily. And second, there are now customer-friendly financing options that make owning solar possible for zero out-of-pocket costs upfront just like with a solar lease.

 

Combine those reasons with the fact that solar ownership puts tax incentives and cash rebates back in the customer’s pocket to help pay off the solar financing faster and easier, and it becomes really clear why buying solar is an obvious no-brainer. Still, there are cases where it makes more sense to sign a lease or PPA. So, let’s talk about the advantages and disadvantages of each.

 

For the most part, solar leases and PPAs share the same set of pros and cons. So, for the purposes of this comparison, we’ve grouped solar lease and solar PPA into one category and compared them to ownership.

Pros of a Lease or Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)

 

Low Upfront CostsBlue piggy bank icon

 

Going solar with a PPA/solar lease comes with a fair share of benefits and could be a great match for your particular budget and energy needs. The primary perk is affordability.

 

When you lease your solar system, you get the equipment and installation for little or no cost. You don’t own the equipment, but you do get to save your money for normal household expenses while powering your home on clean, renewable energy.

Low Maintenance

 

When you go with a solar lease or PPA, your solar provider maintains, repairs, and provides insurance coverage for the equipment. You don’t pay for upkeep or service calls. You also don’t need to include it in your own homeowner’s insurance policy. You still get to enjoy any warranty or guarantee offered with your solar system. If it fails to perform as expected or if it needs to be replaced, it may be covered under the warranty or performance guarantee. Many solar power companies offer warranties that extend 10 to 15 years—or even longer.

Monitoring Done For You

 

Because some solar companies know that homeowners may feel too busy to keep an eye on how well their systems are performing, some PPAs/solar lease agreements include free system monitoring.

Cons of a Lease/PPA

 

Despite the advantages of leasing a solar system, there are a few negatives to be aware of.

Built-In Escalator

 

When it comes to electricity rates, there are no guarantees. Utility companies tend to bump up their price per kilowatt rates by at least 1% each year. By owning solar, homeowners can avoid the escalation in electricity rates, but homeowners who choose solar PPA or leasing deals lock themselves into a contract with price escalators. This means that every year or every several years, their leasing bills are going to go up by some % guaranteed!

 

Over the lifetime of their contract, the original figure the homeowner was paying will have doubled by the end of their solar journey. All in all, these hidden, long-term fees are the biggest downfall to PPA and leasing deals.

No Tax Benefits

 

With a solar lease/PPA, the solar provider pockets the tax incentives. Instead of you deducting a percentage of the cost of a solar installation from your federal income taxes—typically $10,000–$15,000—and rolling that massive savings over into your loan, the solar provider gets to do that for themselves instead.

Moving Can Get Complicated

 

If you decide to sell your house and move and you have rooftop solar panels that you don’t own, things can get messy. The solar lease doesn’t travel with you. And you’ll be limited to only those buyers who will be willing to take over the lease payments in addition to buying your house. Typically, this complicates the sale and limits the buyer field. Your other option is to buy-out the lease/PPA before sale.

Pros of Owning a Solar System

You Pocket the Savings

 

When you own your solar energy system, all the tax credits, utility company cash rebates, and net metering energy credits go into your pocket. Compare that to a lease/PPA, where the solar provider keeps those savings, tax rebates, and energy credits for themselves and gives you only slightly lower utility bills.

Instant Home Equity

 

Take the amount of money a solar array saves you on utility bills over the course of a year—say $600 as a general example—and multiply it by 20—so $12,000 hypothetically speaking. That’s about how much your home value increases when you buy a solar energy system. So, if you wanted to move, you get higher resale value, plus you’d be able to sell your home without having to find someone willing to take over lease payments.

Fixed Payments

 

When you buy a solar array and elect to finance your system, you’re left with low, fixed monthly payments. There are no built-in price escalators like those that come with a lease or PPA. And the value increases as the difference between your monthly payments and the rising cost of electricity grows.

BluePower Plus benefits graphs

You Pocket the Tax Credits

 

Finally, you are entitled to claim several helpful tax deductions each year. The federal solar tax incentive program launched in 2005 to encourage the growth of clean energy sources like residential solar. As mentioned earlier, 30% of the cost of buying and installing a residential solar array can be deducted from your income taxes. Most solar customers apply the tax credit toward paying off their solar loan.

 

Plus, many states also have their own tax incentives in addition to the Federal Investment Solar Tax Credit (ITC). Search the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) here to find incentives in your area.

Cons of Owning a Solar System

Qualifying for Tax Incentives

 

Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, homeowners who install rooftop solar on their homes are eligible to deduct up to 30% of the purchase price from their federal income taxes. But there are several qualifications that must be met in order to claim those deductions.

 

Homeowners who don’t pay enough in federal taxes each year will not qualify to collect the full 30% tax credit all at once. But the deduction does roll over for four years, so over time, they still collect the full deduction.

Maintenance Is Your Job

 

When you elect to buy solar, you also sign up for the maintenance costs. Luckily solar panels don’t need much maintenance. On occasions when it is necessary, Solar panel maintenance isn’t complicated, but we highly recommend you purchase your system from a company that is going to stand by their work and help you along the way.

 

Blue Raven Solar will continue to work with you long after installation, and if you need your panels serviced, call customer service and they’ll send a technician out to help.

Get Help from the Biggest and Best Ownership Provider

 

Over the last several years, Blue Raven Solar has committed to helping homeowners buy their panels. We’ve learned that homeowners are happiest when they own their power, unlock thousands in savings from local, state, and federal solar incentives, and receive the best customer service.

 

By providing these benefits and giving our customers the best financing plans, Blue Raven Solar has quickly become the largest provider of residential solar ownership in the United States.

 

Our secret is that we help our customers save from day one of their solar journey until the end of the life of their panels. With our latest financing program, BluePower Plus+, we cover the first 18 months of solar payments for all eligible customers. Every month, homeowners, who finance their panels through BluePower Plus+ will receive a check in the mail that will cover the exact cost of their monthly loan bill. This way Blue Raven Customers can save thousands of dollars in their first year and a half with solar!

 

If you’d like to own solar on your roof without having to pay a penny down and nothing for the next 18 months, click the link below and submit a free quote application. By doing so, you’ll receive a free and accurate solar proposal (shows costs, 3D solar rendering, and savings) and have a consultation set up with one of our solar specialists. They will be able to guide you through the BluePower Plus+ financing program and answer any of your questions to help you determine if solar panels are right for your home!

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Should I Lease, or Buy?

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