Who Reaps The Tax Incentives
This is probably what talked me out of the leasing path. A big disadvantage of solar leases is that you dont get to take advantage of solar rebates and the Federal Investment Tax Credit .
Even though the panels are on your roof, they are the property of the solar company, which reaps all the benefits instead of you.
OK, so if Im buying, what should I know about the ITC?
The Solar Investment Tax Credit is a federal policy mechanism to support the growth of solar energy in the U.S.
Currently, its a 26% deferral tax creditclaimed against the tax liability of residential investors in solar energy property .
If granted, you can apply the credit to your income taxes.
However, under Section 48 it says that the business that installs, develops, and finances the project claims the credit .
The good news is that if you buy a newly built home with a solar system installed, and you are the owner, you are automatically eligible for the ITC the year you move into the house.
Winner: Buying Solar Panels
Theres no use sugarcoating it if you lease, you give up all the state and government solar rebates and tax incentives to the solar company. If you dont have the cash, get a loan.
What Are The Disadvantages Of Leasing A Solar Pv System
- You pay 2x to 3x more versus owning
- You cannot claim for State or Federal tax credits
- You are renting the equipment, so it does not improve the value of the house.
- More difficulty selling the house since the buyer may not want to take over the remaining lease terms.
For those on Oahu who want to own and not lease your solar PV system with no upfront cost, we have a GEMS/PV Tech unconventional loan.
We do not do credit checks or check your debt to income ratio. To qualify, you just need to be current paying your HECO bill. For more information, please contact us!
How Does Solar Leasing Work
Over the last decade, solar power has experienced explosive growth in the United States. Thats due in part to state regulations making solar more accessible, tax breaks and other financial incentives, and significant reductions in prices.
Homeowners who want to reduce their utility bills but cant afford the upfront costs of buying solar panels have the option to lease solar panels.
The solar lease process is not unlike leasing a car or renting a home. You dont own the panels. Instead, you rent them from the company that installs and owns them for a fixed period of time. The monthly repayments will typically be less than the savings made on your electricity bill meaning they help save you money every month.
Like an automotive lease, many companies will even offer you the option to purchase the system once the lease term is up.
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Guaranteed Solar Energy Production
With a power purchase agreement, you pay for the power, not the panels.2 Not only do we install and maintain your solar system, we also guarantee its performance, which is measured by the energy your solar system produces. Sunrun guarantees your new solar system will never operate below 95% of the estimated energy output. If the sun refuses to shine, or something breaks, and your panels dont produce the electricity we promised, you receive a refund for the difference.*
But it gets even betteryoull also get to keep the extra energy your system produces. We dont charge you for this extra power like some companies. We also guarantee to insure your roof and that it will stay watertight for 10 years. Click here to learn more about our solar guarantees.
Buying Is The Best Option For A Starter Home
Thanks to millennials, the real estate term, starter home may go away in the next few years. But some people do still buy houses that they plan to live in, only until they can afford a bigger, nicer house, in a more prestigious zip code.
While you are analyzing the pros and cons of leasing vs buying solar panels, you will want to consider how long you intend to live in your current home.
Should you buy solar panels for your starter home? The answer is a tentative yes, especially if you are going to keep this house for at least five years.
Make sure the company from which you buy your panels is willing and able to move them to a new location.
Obtain the cost of doing that, preferably in writing. And read your warranty to make sure that it isnt void if the panels are moved. Here is a guide on how to test a solar panel.
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The Bottom Line On Solar Leasing
Overall, solar leases present an enticing front with a lot of potential complications lurking in the background.
For homeowners who cant manage the upfront costs of a cash payment, dont qualify for a loan, or cant use the tax credits, it makes solar possible. But some warn that leases are best left as a reserve.
Owning your system produces the highest savings in the long run. If a loan isnt an option for you, a lease or a PPA may be the best option for you, Bouchy said.
If not carefully set up, a lease can leave customers trapped with a cumbersome system and with a real estate headache when its time to move on. In Guinns opinion, if homeowners are working, pay taxes, and have enough cash or good credit, the scales are in favor of buying.
Owned systems, either cash or financed, are the only way someone should consider solar on their home, he said.
How Will You Pay For Your Solar System
Whether you choose to buy or lease your solar panels will have a major impact on your savings. If you have enough to make a cash purchase, youll save more than with any other option but even with a zero-down solar loan, your savings could still be in the tens of thousands. While solar leases and power purchase agreements require no money down and promise a maintenance-free option, they come with a trade-off: your total savings will typically be just 10 to 30 percent of your utility electricity bill.
How does this play out in the real world? Check out the EnergySage Solar Calculator to see how your long-term savings will differ depending on whether you choose a cash purchase, a solar loan, or a solar lease or community solar, if thats something youre considering!
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No Worries About Installation And Maintenance
Most solar panel lease providers offer free installation and maintenance as part of their commitment to making lives easier for solar consumers. After all, not everyone has the right competencies for installing and maintaining a solar system.
Some companies also provide warranties for their products while continuously monitoring their solar gathering and generating performance.
Installing your purchased solar panels yourself can be a worthwhile DIY project. Unfortunately, setting up these gigantic slabs of mirror-like devices on the roof is fraught with dangers and risks. That is why most experts recommend expert installation.
Sadly, solar panel installation can cost families thousands of dollars. You can expect to spend $6,000 on a 2,000-watt solar panel array or $9,225 for a 3-kW system installation. Large families who need at least 8 kW of solar power can spend up to $24,500 on labor alone.
Repairs are also costly. People spend $195 to $1,225 to repair their solar systems. The good news is most solar panel manufacturers provide a 25-year solar performance warranty, a 5-year solar panel workmanship guarantee, and a 10-year solar panel manufacturerâs assurance.
Installation, maintenance, and repairs are not the only things people must consider when buying solar panels. The cost of ensuring the upkeep of the solar system is also a factor worth thinking about.
Buying Solar Panels: Cons
There are still some downsides to buying solar panels. One of the biggest struggles that many homeowners will face when it comes to buying solar panels is the cost associated with them. While yes, there are a number of ways that you can finance solar panels or pay for them without having to put forward a large amount of your personal capital, there is some investment required.
Solar panels will need some regular maintenance. You wont need to worry too much about keeping them clean, but you should regularly ensure that theyre free of leaves and other debris that can build up on your roof. Trees can grow a lot over the lifetime of a solar panel system, meaning that at some point, you may need to trim trees in order to keep the sun shining on your solar panels.
If an element of your system wears out, youll be responsible. Take this downside with a grain of salt because its not something that youll need to worry much about. Most solar panel systems and their components have a warranty that lasts 25 30 years. But some specific components wont have quite as long of a lifespan as the panels themselves. Your solar partner is always going to be willing to come back and replace these components at as small of a cost as possible. But you should be aware that there is that possibility.
Cons:
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Solar Power Purchase Agreement Vs Lease
How does a solar power purchase agreement differ from a solar lease? If you’re not familiar with the ins and outs of the solar industry, the two options might seem interchangeable â in reality, a PPA and a lease vary in important ways:
- Lease: In a solar lease, the homeowner signs a contract to borrow solar equipment for a set number of years. During that time, the homeowner’s relationship with their utility company is the same as it would be if the homeowner purchased the solar system. In other words, the homeowner can take advantage of net metering policies and similar utility programs. The homeowner pays a set monthly fee to the solar company for the duration of the lease.
- PPA: A PPA works differently. The homeowner does not own or lease the solar equipment. Instead, the PPA company owns the equipment. They sell the homeowner the electricity it produces at a set rate per kilowatt-hour or a fixed amount per month.
Solar Panels Require The Right Environment
Your roof is a vital consideration when considering solar panels. If there is too much shade from trees or nearby buildings, it will not receive the adequate sunlight needed to harness power.
You also want to consider potential regulations in your neighborhood. If you live in an area with a homeowner’s association, you need to seek approval before installing a system. And it is not a guarantee they will allow you to have one. If you don’t have an HOA, you still should check with your city, as many require permits before work begins.
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The Tesla Solar Roof: Pros And Cons Of Installing Solar Roof Tiles
Teslas Solar Roof tiles have been creating plenty of buzz in the world of solar power, and some people want to know more about these tiles and if Namasté Solar installs them. Namasté Solar does not currently install Solar Roof tiles, but we can help you cut through some of the media hype to decide whether solar roof tiles are a good option for you. In this post well look at the pros and cons of the Tesla Solar Roof for your residential solar energy system.
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Are You Renting If So Consider Leasing So Long As Your Owner Approves
Another key thing to consider when you wonder whether leasing vs buying solar panels is best: Do you own the building?
If you own your own home or the physical location of your business, there are substantial gains to be had by buying your solar panels. However, if you are renting, you will be improving the value of the buildingfor someone else.
Solar panels can be moved to another address, but its a costly and monstrous undertaking. If you never plan to buy your own home, leasing solar panels for the shortest term possible is your better option.
You will, of course, have to get your landlords permission to install them. If you live in a high-rise apartment building, its not the time to get solar panels.
However, you can certainly pressure the owner to put them on the roof!
But many people rent houses or townhouses. These properties can easily be fitted out with solar panels. If you live in a duplex or triplex, talk to your fellow tenants about sharing the cost of leasing vs buying solar panels.
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How Does Leasing Solar Panels Work
When you enter into a solar leasing agreement with a company, you are entitled to the energy produced by the companys solar panel for the duration of the contract. These contracts are almost always long term, with an average solar lease being approximately 15 to 20 years. After the solar lease is finished, you can renew or end it or alternatively, purchase the panels for a discounted price.
The contract is handled by the solar energy company, so you dont have to deal with any hassles. After you sign the lease, you start receiving two bills your regular utility bill and a new one for using the solar system.
Your electricity costs will be approximately 10 to 30 percent lower than what you would be paying with your utility company, although the exact savings will depend on your property and the incentives in your state.
Solar leasing might seem like a great idea to reduce your monthly energy costs, but dont jump into a contract with a solar company too quickly. Lets carefully look at the pros and cons first.
A Young Persons Guide To Solar Panel Ownership
If you are ruminating on leasing vs buying solar panels, consider this scenario: You are twenty-seven years old and making $30,000 at your first job out of college. It will take you twenty years to pay off the loan for your solar panels.
But you can pay back that loan, at least in part, with the money you would have to pay for lights, heat, and air-conditioning.
You may be making the final payment on the solar panels when you are forty-seven. Now, you can take all the money you would otherwise send to the utility company and use that to help your kids pay for college.
As you get older and more sensitive to heat and cold, you will need more energy, but your utility costs will remain stable. The cost of utilities will keep rising, possibly out of proportion to rising salaries, but you will be banking the money you would otherwise have thrown at a heartless corporation.
When you retire, you may have somewhat less money to live on than when you were working. The fact that you are not paying a fifth of your income to a power company will help you live well on a combination of social security and other retirement funds.
Admittedly, buying solar panels involves greater responsibility. You will want to consider how long you plan to live in your current home and the condition of your roof before buying. You will want some system of tracking the efficiency of your panels. Here is a guide to help you decide how to replace your roof with solar panels.
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Buying A House With Leased Solar Panels: The Pros And Cons
Switching to solar power is one of the most popular ideas for energy-saving and home improvement in recent years. What if the home you are planning to buy comes with solar power installation?
This would be a great addition to the house as it can save you money as well as reduce the headache of the whole process of shopping, buying, and installing a solar panel system. As long as you consider the price of the house reasonable and within your budget, you can consider going ahead with the purchase.
But before you make that decision, you should gather more information about the solar panel installation. Such as how old is the system, how much of the warranty period is left, what is the capacity of the system, and have there been any major issues with it.
Another main point that needs clarification is whether the solar panel system is an outright purchase or if it is a leased one. If it is a fully-owned one, you should check whether it was bought with a loan and whether it is cleared, or how much of it is left.
On the other hand, if the solar energy system is a leased one, you need to consider multiple aspects before going ahead with the purchase of a solar-paneled house. It is vital to understand the situation well before buying so that you wont have to deal with unpleasant surprises. This way you get to enjoy the benefits of solar energy without the trouble of buying solar panels and installing them yourself.
Tax Credits And Incentives
Federal Solar Tax Credit
Based on the Investment Tax Credit, also known as the federal solar tax credit, you can deduct 26% of the cost of installing solar panels on your home from your federal taxes if you own the system. This credit is guaranteed through 2022.
State Tax Credits
Depending on your state, you may or may not be eligible for a tax credit for the purchase of solar panels. Because cash incentives are one of the biggest benefits of purchasing solar panels, then leasing may have an advantage if your state does not offer a tax credit.
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