Is Leasing Solar Panels Worth It

With a solar lease you do not own the solar panel system on your property.

Is leasing solar panels worth it.

You can expect 10 30 savings over the cost of your utility electricity bill. Your lease payments will still be lower than your old electric bill but that does mean less savings for you. The disadvantages of solar leasing include. If you have enough to make a purchase in cash you ll save more than with any other option but even with a 0 down solar loan your savings could still be in the tens of thousands.

If that sounds like you leasing solar panels or purchasing power through a ppa power purchase agreement could be a good option. Leasing solar panels for your home is not a good idea from a financial perspective. In fact one analysis shows buying a solar system can save you as much as 60 thousand dollars over 20 years. Plus solar leases could impact any future home or landscaping improvements you want to make on your home if it could potentially hinder the productivity of the solar panels.

A solar lease is a financing option for residential solar panels where the homeowner leases panels from a solar company. 1 solar leasing companies get to claim the tax credits rebates and srecs. Here s why you might want to lease solar panels instead of buying or financing them. You can save between 40 percent and 70 percent on electricity costs over the lifetime of your solar panel system depending on your property and the incentives in your state.

You receive free electricity for the life of the solar energy system usually 25 to 30 years. With both leasing and ppas you don t pay any upfront costs for your panels and you can typically save on your utility rate. Both a solar lease and ppa are affordable easy ways to enjoy solar power without a large upfront investment. In a lease you pay to rent the solar power system typically for about 20 percent less than you were paying for electricity explained freedom forever solar ceo brett bouchy.

But lease your system and your savings can drop to 20 000 dollars over the same 20. Some companies also offer power purchase agreements or ppas. We simply do not recommend it. Disadvantages of leasing solar panels.

People who lease their solar systems save far less than those who buy them outright or with a loan they also miss out on federal tax benefits and any local incentives. Power purchase agreements ppas work much like solar leases but instead of renting the system you agree to pay a set price. Whether you choose to buy or lease your solar panels will have a major impact on your system s long term value.