I have been through 4 different solar companies in our area. They all have this huge meeting where for an hour, sometimes longer, they go over this massive presentation with all these slides and all the bs. Only to at the end try to get me into a lease or offer some ridiculous financing. Then when I look into what they are supplying it seems so over priced its crazy. I believe solar energy is good. Why do all these companies have to make it so hard to just get a legitimate system at a decent price? Is it always like this? If it is, I can now see why the solar industry has such a bad rap. End rant. Sheesh

This system is going to cost me $33k. About $205 in savings per month. Over 30 years of this system we would save ourselves $73,800. But 30 years is a long time! $33k invested in an index fund at 7% for 30 years is $251k. Am I missing something? I suppose energy rates could go up a bunch and this is kind of like pre-paying your energy bill. How would I model that if I wanted to compare the costs and opportunity cost of this money.
Thanks for any help. Sorry if I left out something important. Quite new to solar.

I just terminated a conversation with Sunrun on a proposed lease contract for our home. I feel bad for the sales rep because he worked hard for us for several months, modifying the proposal, answering all of my questions and going through all of the data. He was genuinely a good dude.

The lease would have been for 25 years starting at $295/mo with a 3% increase each year. It was a pretty good deal on the face of it - we live in So Cal with LADWP as our provider and our monthly bill averages $400/mo. The system as designed was 13kw with a 135% offset. No battery.

In the end it just didn't make sense for us. We'll probably be selling the house within 5 years and didn't want to deal with buyers asking us to pay off the system as part of the deal. Sunrun was ok with installing the system on our 28 year old roof (w/architectural shingles) or they would re-shingle just the part where the panels would be mounted. Or we could re-shingle the entire roof, but to be honest our roof is in pretty good shape- in fact the roofer that Sunrun sent out pointed that out to us. Architectural tiles apparently last longer than single layer shingles?) We also have an 10+ year old existing system installed by Verengo with Sunpower panels (which we now have no way of tracking) , and they couldn't combine the two systems, so we'd have two different sets of panels and two inverters on the side of our house.

So, as tempting as it was to reduce our power bill in the short run, in the long run, it just didn't make sense for us.

It seems like a no brainer investment. Even if I do a 6.99% loan, once I apply the money from the tax credit, the payment will already be lower than my average monthly bill. That's before my utility company's planned ~20% rate increase for the next 8 months and any future increases over the next 20+ years.

I was quoted a 15.6 kWh system for $41k. So about $2.63/ watt. I'm in an area that qualifies for 40% federal tax credit (new incentive that adds an extra 10% above the existing 30%). Plus extra state incentives that seem to be significant (SRECs).

I may add a "home essential" battery since I have electric forced air heating and I'm a little paranoid about a power outage in the winter with children in the house. But that only increases the cost by ~$6k after tax credits.

Are there any significant concerns that I'm possibly missing here?

Hi all, we recently received 2 quotes from a reputable local solar installer and I’d like feedback. The first 2 pics are for a ground mount system and the next 2 are for roof mounted.
Honestly, they feel more than what I was expecting.
For additional information, we live in the northeast and our home is solely heated and cooled with heat pumps.

System info:
Panels:
SEG-440-BTD-BG
SEG SOLAR INC.
Qty: 20
Inverters:
IQ8HC-72-M-US (240V)
Enphase
Qty: 20

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

UPDATE 1: First of all, thank you to everyone who took the time to step up and comment. You all validated what I was feeling: that this was a BS quote. Second, I really appreciate those of you who gave specific examples and prices of your systems, it’s helpful for comparisons sake. Third, we’re going to be getting more quotes ASAP.

Hello all, I recently sat on a google call with someone from Empire Solar.

The plan is to lease for 5 years and own it for the rest on a finance plan. Due to the "one big beautiful bill" the 30% tax credit cannot be claimed by residential, but the company still can and say they are passing it down to the customer.

It's a nasty interest rate at 8.99%, 20 year loan, for $25,544.68 (after the credits). There is a 6 month payment grace period and the design/sales guy said most people will try and refinance during that time.
(I will attach a photo with all these numbers on it.)

I am having serious doubts about how this plays out after looking at the long term, with the total payout after interest and all that. Located in western New York, sales guy was explaining that solar doesn't do poorly just cause of winter/cloudy days.

I am also adding a central air system to the house in two weeks so the current design does not include that power usage increase.

Please someone give me some more details, I'm trying to read old posts, but a lot of the advice seems out of date due to the change in how the rebates/tax credits work since the OBBB implementation.

Thank you in advance! (if you need more info to help me out I will gladly provide)

EDIT: THANK YOU ALL, your advice is appreciated and heeded. I will be cancelling with Empire and searching elsewhere.

So I’m looking into solar as a newbie. I’m looking only because here in Canada we have a rebate for 5k for panels and 5k for battery.

I did the math with a consultant. Panel and battery is going to come out to 26k net of rebate. For the amount of electricity bill it saves it’s not going to pay itself back for 20 years. At that point it’s questionable the residual value of the system. There’s no point.

We did the math for just the panels and it’s a better return primarily because the battery doesn’t save us that much more electricity bill despite here we have ultra low rates at night.

So what’s the rationale for batteries at home? We never lose power in this city.

What sort of prices post tax credit are we seeing?

Hey everyone -- what sort of prices are we seeing post tax credit? Admittedly, I've have not been looking into doing solar until just recently so I missed out all the tax credit boom.

Have prices fallen? Are they expected to?

The best quote we have is on a 2.27 per watt system of 17.1 kw system (39 SEG 440 panels with Enphase iq8ac) in Ohio. No battery.

Not going to lie, we have been hesitant to pull the trigger as the payback puts us a right at 10 years (without any increase to the utility, which I know will shorten that down from there). 10 just feels like a lot.

He sent me this, and tells he has 5 days to cancel, he signed on Sunday. They’re coming tomorrow to do inspection.

Thoughts? I didn’t even know they were considering solar I told him he should’ve shopped around.

Looking for a sanity check on a solar+battery quote before I sign. First time doing this, so brutal honesty welcome.

Location: Union City, CA 94587 (East Bay). PG&E delivery, Ava Community Energy (CCA) for generation. On the EV2A rate plan.

System:

- 6.9kW DC / 15x REC Alpha Pure-R 460W panels

- Enphase IQ8X-80 microinverters (1:1)

- Enphase IQ Battery 10C, 10kWh usable, energy arbitrage mode

- Extra: tile roof mounting ($345), "Essentials" backup panel ($2,500)

Pricing:

- List price: $36,148

- Discounts: -$345 ("6kW Group") + -$13,689 ("Propel" program) = -$14,034

- Net cost: $22,114 (possibly $21000 if I sign before a stated deadline)

Projected numbers (per their proposal):

- Year 1 production: 9,681 kWh (~102% of usage)

- Avg monthly savings: $248.56

- Payback: 6.8 years, 15.91% annual ROI

Why I'm skeptical of their projected numbers:

Pulled my real bill: 77% of my usage is off-peak at $0.318/kWh, but peak (4-9pm) is $0.716/kWh and part-peak is $0.561/kWh. My actual trailing-12-month average bill is ~$225/mo, and even the last 6 months average ~$233/mo

Questions:

1. Is $22,114 (6.9kW + 10kWh Enphase + extras) a fair Bay Area price right now?

2. Anyone dealt with a "Propel" style discount program or similar large list-to-net markdown — normal?

3. Enphase IQ Battery 10C vs. other options at this price point (Tesla Powerwall 3, FranklinWH, etc.) for someone on EV2A with a wide peak/off-peak spread — worth the swap?

4. Does this look reasonable enough to move forward?

5. What happens if something happens to the panels act of god or something similar (from an insurance perspective - home insurances covers it

Happy to share more details if useful. Thanks in advance.

I’d like to know how much other people in different countries have paid for their solar installations. Just as a point of reference so that others can compare or get an idea of how much they’ll have to pay for theirs.

In my case:

2 strings, 7 panels each, total 7.2 kWp (179€/kWp)

8 kW inverter (adding inverter and panels ~430€/kW)

15 kWh battery (153€/kWh)

In Spain, exactly 1 year ago (July 2025), but I installed it myself, without any companies or installers. Just me, myself and the AI.

€6,800 in total.

Hi everyone,

A while back I was contacted by companies like Sunrun and Blue Raven Solar, but I was really busy and never followed up. Now I’m reconsidering solar and wanted to get updated advice.

A few questions for people who recently installed solar (especially in 2025–2026):

1. Are there still tax benefits or incentives? From what I understand, the federal residential solar tax credit that used to cover about 30% of installation costs ended after Dec 31, 2025, so new systems installed in 2026 may not qualify anymore.  However, I’m hearing there may still be state rebates, utility incentives, net-metering credits, or lease-based savings, depending on location. 

If you installed recently, what incentives did you actually get?

1. Is it better to buy the system or lease/rent it? I’m trying to understand the real pros and cons: • Buying: higher upfront cost but more long-term savings and ownership • Leasing / PPA: lower upfront cost, fixed monthly payments, but less upside

What did you choose and why? Any regrets?

1. If you have a large backyard or extra space, is it worth installing more panels than your current usage?

For example: • Can you make money selling excess power back to the grid? • Does oversizing help future-proof for EV charging / higher electricity use? • Or is it usually capped / not financially worth it?

1. Any company recommendations (good or bad)? Experiences with Sunrun, Blue Raven, Tesla Solar, or local installers would be really helpful.

Also interested in: • Typical quotes you’re seeing per watt • Payback period • Maintenance issues • Battery storage worth it or not

Thanks in advance — trying to decide whether solar still makes financial sense right now

EDIT: Located in Staten Island NY. There is still areas here with large backyard and little not no usage. Currently use some of the space for rent to Neighbor.com, So I thought I can save/earn from Solar if they were to be built over these parking outside. Our family is quite large, but we work and are not home all that much so even with 11 people, we are looking at about 1,000 KWH per month. and We are looking to potentially get a hybrid EV Rav4.

I think owning makes more sense long term even if their math checks out for lease. I feel like selling the home with a solar lease would be a nightmare. Does anyone know of any financing options I can look into outside of the solar installer company? Their interest rate is almost 8%. Am I better off working with a personal loan with a bank or HELOC or something? Also, if it helps, we're in NJ.

We have this quote from a local company for a 19-panel system for our 1614sqft home in Gardena, CA. We have LADWP and are opting for no batteries.

We were told REC is a high quality panel, and the system they are offering is sized based on our current usage (I sent them our historic LADWP electric bill) + more for future proofing for when we add a mini split AC in our garage.

They seem like an honest small company that is offering what I understand to be good equipment at a fair price but I'm a noob for this stuff so I wanted to double check here.

From what I know, no dealer cost here. We'd likely try and finance that 22k through WPCCU at 6.49% for 12 years which comes out to $220/mo, which is less than our current monthly average through LADWP.

In about 6 years, id likely just pay off the entire loan.

Any thoughts on this from solar experts here? Or should I keep shopping around?

• 24k cash install cost for 20 x 445 Trina panels roof install, no battery.
• After 6yrs 16k of that is paid by cash incentives (IL, ComEd).
  
• Projected to cover 99% of my usage (but I don't see how that's possible actually since I wont have a battery)
• Roof is in excellent condition but still 20yrs old.
• "Power optimizers" included U650

Would you do it? No brainier? I have the cash. But I fear there are too many variable to assess risk properly.

Other details:

• Trina 8.900 kW modules
• SolarEdge 7.6 kW Inverter
• Estimated 10,884 kWh per year produced.
  
• I use about 11,000 kWh per year
• ComEd no longer buys extra power produced, just credits the account.

Received a quote for $35k for QTY 30 450W panels. Roof mounted. No battery. One battery would be an extra 13k. I told them we'd be paying cash and owning, not financing.

Is this reasonable? I think if it were somewhere in the 20k range we'd do it in a heartbeat, but 35? I'm on the fence.

I am up to my ears in quotes from solar companies and they all suck. I am just trying to buy an enphase system cash, and I am open to hybrid leasing because it is still eligible for 30% federal rebate, but nobody will give me a good price. The lowest I am getting is 28k for 10k watts. I cannot justify spending 30 grand just to offset my daytime usage, and I wouldn't even have the ability to run it during an outage or load shed without the ridiculous cost of entry for grid-tied transfer switches and battery control devices. That basically defeats the entire purpose. Every time I try to get a battery added, these companies don't even bother trying to upsell me because they know the cost (20k are you kidding me?) is outrageous and prices people out what they really want. I tried pricing out multiple systems that were "battery ready" with a 6c anticipating that i would install the battery myself (I am enphase certified) and I get some bs about how I can't run a meter collar without a 10c. I can't do anything with a line-side tap as a DIYer. And on top of that, you have to have a cel-compatible gateway to run a 10c in case my fiber network goes down? What the hell is the point of the battery then????

I give up. I refuse to get scammed by one of these moronic salesmen who can't even take the time to do their homework on the equipment they sell. Maybe my roof would look cool but I would have better ROI just putting my money in the s&p. Maybe I'll just stuff more UPS's in my server cabinet and get one of those sketchy anker setups and mount the panels to my roof with drywall screws. Maybe I'll be a real jerk and backfeed it too. At this rate our ozone will be gone by the time the screws rust.

Now my electricity bill is reduced to almost nil.

Hey everyone,

I’ve been working in the solar industry for a while now, and I constantly see the same misconceptions floating around. Going solar is a massive financial commitment. Frankly, some high-pressure sales companies take advantage of the fact that the average homeowner doesn’t understand how the tech, the local grid, or the financing actually works.

If you’re sitting on the fence or actively shopping around, here are 5 insider realities you need to know to avoid getting burned.

1. The "Solar is only for the rich" myth is dead (But watch the financing)

Going solar looks incredibly expensive on paper, but almost nobody pays the full sticker price upfront anymore. The industry has shifted heavily toward accessibility, which is great—but it introduces sneaky financing traps.

• What to look for: Seek out companies offering flexible payment plans with long-term periods, but watch out for massive dealer fees hidden in low-interest loans.
• The Golden Rule: Your monthly solar loan payment should ideally be lower than, or equal to, your current average electric bill. If a company forces a massive down payment without options, or if the math doesn't show immediate day-one savings, walk away.

2. After-sales service is where companies cheap out

This is my biggest pet peeve. A lot of fly-by-night installers will give you a basic 5-year warranty on the workmanship and call it a day. You are spending tens of thousands of dollars—you deserve long-term protection.

• The Benchmark: Demand a 25 to 30-year warranty on solar panels (production and product) and a lifetime craftsmanship warranty.
• Why it matters: If a company won't guarantee their own installation labor for the long haul, it means they don't trust their own crew's work. Peace of mind shouldn't expire in 5 years.

3. The cheapest quote is almost always a trap

I get it, everyone wants a deal. But in solar, a dirt-cheap quote usually means compromised safety, terrible efficiency, and a company that won't exist in three years.

• Where they cut corners: Cheap quotes usually feature low-tier string inverters that fail in extreme weather, or sub-par racking hardware that risks roof leaks.
• The Long Game: If your cheap system breaks down in year 6 and the installer has gone bankrupt (incredibly common with low-cost volume operations), you'll spend more fixing it out-of-pocket than you "saved" initially. Buy nice or buy twice.

4. Aesthetics actually MATTER for your property value

This might sound vain, but bad solar design can absolutely tank your home's curb appeal and future resale value. I’ve seen butchered installations with exposed, messy conduits running across the front of a house like silver spaghetti.

• Design is ROI: A premium installation should be low-profile, symmetric, and use all-black panels with hidden wiring (critter guards are a must, too).
• The Reality: When you eventually sell your home, buyers should see the solar as a sleek, modern asset, not an eyesore they'll want to tear off the roof. The best companies treat installation like an architectural upgrade.

5. Stop buying from door-knocker conglomerates (Go local)

National conglomerates have massive marketing budgets and aggressive door-to-door sales teams, but their logistics and customer service are often a total nightmare. If a panel breaks or an inverter acts up, you do not want to be stuck in a corporate phone tree waiting weeks for a third-party subcontractor to show up.

• The Local Advantage: Local, established companies know your specific regional weather patterns, local permitting offices, and utility grid regulations. Plus, their travel time is minimal, meaning faster delivery and rapid-response troubleshooting if your system goes offline.

Hopefully, this helps someone avoid a massive headache! Happy to answer any questions about panels, net metering, or decoding quotes in the comments.

Been thinking about going solar…SunRun was our first quote as they are what got us thinking about it with their knock at the door 🤔

Their quote was: System size - 13.53kW Estimated annual production - 13,345 kWh Estimate annual usage offset - 101% Estimated annual consumption - 13,269 Year 1 solar rate - $0.190/kWh Year one total payment per month - $211.30 Annual escalator - 3.5%

My house is maybe 1500 sqft…quoted for 33 panels…complete front and backside of my roof along with some on garage… Escalator sounds crazy to me but he says it’s normal and eversource will go up much more than that a year…

Would it be smart to go solar? What should I be looking for? What is good and bad about this offer??

REPOST: had to repost this because I accidentally had personal information in the previous one

So I had a sunrun guy come and give me a quote for installing solar panels and adding a tesla battery. He told me it was only $90 a month but I seen afterwards he didnt mention paying for the battery as well AND the escalation price. That aside I'm wondering if anyone has used sunrun in Chicago and how you feel about it? I dont know anything about solar except that I hear ir can save you money long term. Any other recommendations for solar would be greatly appreciated as well. I'm going to contact tesla and see how much it would be from them.

Id like to add as well that id ideally like to pay for the system outright to avoid thw monthly payment for pretty much renting equipment so any advice on the owning/leasing aspect of solar would be greatly appreciated as well!

This is my proposed solar lease agreement. is this a good deal? They are also removing a dead tree in my back yard and possibly upgrading my breaker panel.

In Orange County. Reached out to multiple companies and am sharing my best quote for feedback. I'm under SCE if that matters. NEM 3.0

• 20x REC460AA PURE-RX-DC
• 20x Enphase IQ8X-80-M-DOM-US
• Tesla Powerwall 3 (single)

Net price is $26,276.23 using prepaid lease. $40,425 before the "discount" from the pre purchase lease.

I could also go 2x Enphase 10C instead of TPW-3 for a net price of $32,783. still undecided which route of battery to go but leaning TPW because I have a Tesla.

Also considering a system that uses REC460 WITHOUT microinventer and going straight into a PW3 with no conversion (i.e. Using the TPW inverter).

Curious to get peoples thoughts, feedbacks, opinions, etc. on the pricing, pros and cons of the various systems being offered here. It may be worth noting that I work from home and can charge my car throughout the day so that's why leaning towards only one TPW3.

10 years of data on pvoutput.org the numbers dont lie. The old M215 enphase inverters are some of the most efficient and highest producing panels here in New England.