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Paying for it
The structure decides who holds the equipment, who claims any credit and what happens when you sell. Those three answers matter more than the monthly payment on the front page.
Side by side
Read the ownership row first. Everything else follows from it, including who gets the tax credit and what happens at closing when you move.
| Route | Who owns it | Tax credit | Upfront | Lifetime cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash purchase | You | You claim it | Full installed cost | Lowest total cost |
| Secured or unsecured loan | You | You claim it | Little or none | Cost plus interest |
| Lease | Finance company | They claim it | Little or none | Higher than owning |
| Power purchase agreement | Finance company | They claim it | None | Depends on the escalator |
The cheapest route over the life of the system and the only one with no financing cost at all. You own the equipment, you hold the warranties, you claim any credit you are eligible for, and the system transfers with the property on sale.
Watch for: Requires the capital and a tax position that can use the credit. If you owe little federal tax, the credit carries forward but is worth less in present value terms.
You still own the system and still claim the credit. The loan simply spreads the cost. Many solar loans are structured with a re-amortisation point that assumes you apply the tax credit as a lump sum against principal in year two.
Watch for: If you do not make that lump sum payment the monthly figure steps up sharply. Read the amortisation schedule before signing, not the monthly payment on the front page.
You pay a fixed monthly amount for the use of equipment somebody else owns. Maintenance is typically included. It suits households without the capital or the tax appetite to own.
Watch for: The system is not yours, so the credit is not yours either. On sale the buyer must assume the lease, which adds a step and occasionally a complication to closing.
You buy the electricity the system produces at an agreed rate per kilowatt hour rather than renting the hardware. If it produces nothing, you pay nothing.
Watch for: Almost all PPAs carry an annual escalator. A 2.9 percent escalator on a 25 year term means the final year rate is roughly double the first year rate. Compare that curve against your utility's, not against today's number.
Sample pricing
Installed prices from our own 2026 Triangle jobs, shown before and after a federal credit, with the guarantee attached to each.
One clear roof plane, no storage, modest consumption
Most installed
Two planes, one 13.5 kWh battery, critical loads subpanel
Larger homes, 27 kWh storage, well pump or EV charging
Sample pricingInstalled prices for illustration only, based on our own 2026 Triangle jobs. Your figure depends on roof planes, shading, service panel condition and whether storage is included. Tax credit treatment depends on your own position: confirm it with a licensed tax professional.
If measured output falls more than 10 percent below the year one model for reasons within our control, we correct the system or pay the difference at your utility's energy rate. The model and its assumptions are printed in your proposal, not hidden in a portal.
Mounting, flashing and penetrations are covered for 25 years. If a roof penetration we made leaks, we repair the roof and any resulting damage. This is the warranty that actually matters and the one most installers keep shortest.
The price after the site check is the price. Deck repair is the single exception and it is quoted per sheet in advance, because nobody can see under the shingles until they come off.
Module, inverter and battery warranties are registered in your name on commissioning day and a copy goes in your handover pack. You are not relying on us still being here to make a claim.
Questions
Cash, by a clear margin, because there is no financing cost and you keep the credit. A loan is next. Lease and PPA are the most expensive over a full term and the cheapest to start, which is exactly the trade they exist to offer.
A solar loan structured on the assumption that you will pay a lump sum, usually equal to the tax credit, against the principal within the first 12 to 18 months. If you do, the payment stays where you were quoted. If you do not, it steps up for the remaining term. Ask for both figures in writing.
It adds a step. The buyer has to qualify for and assume the agreement, or you buy it out at closing. An owned system, by contrast, simply transfers. Agents in this market are comfortable with both, but the owned case is smoother.
No. We introduce you to lenders we have worked with and we will read any offer you receive with you, including the ones from our competitors. We take no fee from lenders, which is why we can be blunt about a bad structure.
Often the lowest rate available to a homeowner with equity, and the interest may be deductible depending on how the funds are used. It is worth comparing against a dedicated solar loan before defaulting to the one the installer offers.
Bring us a competitor's financing offer and we will walk through the amortisation with you. We take nothing from lenders, which is why we can be direct about a bad structure.
No pressure appointment. The site check is free and the design is yours to keep.
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