If you’re looking to go solar and save big on the inevitable rise in electricity rates, then you have a few Sunrun options. For two decades, we have offered options that will help save the planet from harmful greenhouse gasses—and save on your wallet, too. 

Our government’s short-term energy outlook indicates that electricity bills are rising by 3% every year.¹ Beat rising energy rates with solar energy, and determine which solar financing option works best for you. 

Buy or lease? Determine what solar plan is best

Should you buy,  lease, or take a solar loan? That is the question.

In a nutshell, leasing solar panels or taking a solar loan allows you to install a solar system without worrying about upfront fees. Explore your Sunrun™ solar power options below and determine what’s best for you, your family, and your home. 

Compare the costs and benefits of solar loans, leases, and available Solar Power Purchase Agreements. If you still have questions? Give us a call. Our solar technicians would happily walk you through everything from A to Z. 

Solar lease for little to $0 down

What exactly are the benefits of leasing solar panels? For starters, a solar lease will let you lock in a low, predictable rate that will protect you against rising utility prices for two decades.

The next best thing? You avoid doing your maintenance and repairs if you have solar PPA. Our service package and system performance guarantee can’t be beaten with BrightSave Monthly™. In other words, when you get a solar lease with Sunrun™, you can set it and forget about it. We do all the work, and you sit back and collect savings that would otherwise go to your local utility.

Once you switch to solar, we install the solar panel system, maintain your system and provide 24/7 monitoring. We also ensure your roof will stay watertight for up to 10 years with our solar lease. We design a custom system to meet your needs with the best technology and take care of your system for 2 decades.

Get the same dependable power with full ownership and a professionally managed and maintained system for 20 years.

Save more with a solar power purchase agreement (PPA)

Perhaps you don’t like the idea of ownership, but you like the idea of never getting an electricity bill for 240 months. That’s 20 years. If this option is more your speed, consider getting a solar PPA. A solar PPA is when you pay a solar company a fixed price per kWh for power generated by the system. This payment is typically lower than what utility companies charge.

When you make a powerful downpayment, the benefits of a solar PPA are clear. We give you the power right back with a hassle-free plan that reduces monthly frustration whenever that utility bill arrives.  

That’s what you get with Sunrun’s BrightSave Prepaid. Make a one-time upfront payment and lock in 20 years of power at a rate that’s less than your utility bill today. This payment allows us to transfer low up-front pricing to you, including the benefits of solar tax credits. You don’t have to fill out tax forms, and there’s no worrying about what is and what is not deductible.

BrightSave Prepaid comes with a standard 95% system performance guarantee.³ Rain or shine, we guarantee your energy production for savings you can count on.

The Commercial Solar Power Purchase Agreement reduces the financial risk for business owners. Just like leasing, once you make the switch to solar, we install the solar panels, maintain your system, and provide 24/7 system monitoring. We also ensure your roof and guarantee it will stay watertight for ten years.

If you want to learn more about the difference between a solar lease and a solar PPA vs purchase and solar lease, check out our page here.

Buying your home solar system

We get it. Many people like to own rather than get a solar lease. Purchase your own system and own your savings for life with Sunrun’s BrightBuy. That’s a lot of “owns.” But for people who love that, the benefits are clear.

One of those benefits? It increases the value of your home.⁴ The next reward? No monthly solar panel system payments, just reliable energy, and a smaller utility bill. You can offset 100% of your energy bills and protect yourself from future electricity price increases. 

No more worrying about rising energy costs. No more surprise hikes in your bill because you turned on the air conditioner to keep it from baking or used that portable electric heater because your hands were freezing.

Take advantage of the federal tax credit

Buying solar panels means you get a federal solar tax credit. Created to encourage and reward people who use alternative energies, the federal solar tax credit gives you a dollar-for-dollar reduction against your federal income tax. The 26% tax credit applies as long as a solar energy system was installed in 2020 or 2021.

The tax credit value will decrease to 22% for installed systems in 2033. After 2035, the tax credit for residential solar will end.⁵ Typically, the following entities can qualify for the federal solar tax credit:

Residential Properties

You can claim the residential renewable energy credit for improvement to your main home, whether you own or rent it. Homeowners who do installation of solar panels on their primary or secondary residences are generally eligible for the tax credit. The credit applies to new and existing homes, and the estate must be situated in the United States and utilized as a residence by the taxpayer. Rental property and second homes do not qualify for the credit.

Commercial Properties

The federal solar investment tax credit allows eligible businesses such as corporations, partnerships, and LLCs to claim a tax credit based on a percentage of the qualified solar energy property’s cost. These include:

• Commercial buildings

• Rental spaces

• Offices and 

• Other non-residential properties

Non-profit Organizations

Tax-exempt organizations may be eligible for the solar tax credit. Examples of such organizations include:

• Hospitals

• Schools

• Universities and

• Charitable institutions.

However, you must generate taxable income to claim the credit. You’ll not be eligible if you don’t have tax liabilities against which to apply for the credit.

Other Solar Incentives

Here are other examples of solar incentives implemented in various regions. Ask your solar company about the available incentives in your state:

Net Metering

Net metering is a charging mechanism that lets solar energy system owners receive credit for the excess electricity they generate and feed it back into the grid. This credit offsets the cost of electricity drawn from the grid when the solar panel system isn't generating sufficient solar power, e.g., at night. Net metering is available in various states with specific rules and regulations varying from one location to another.

Solar Rebates and Grants

Most provinces, states, and local municipalities offer financial incentives in the form of rebates or grants to inspire the installation of solar energy systems. These incentives help reduce the upfront costs of buying solar panels for installation. The utility rebate for installing solar is deducted from your system costs before you calculate your tax credit.

Low-Interest Loans and Financing Programs

Some governments and financial institutions offer low-interest loans or special financing programs to buy solar panels. These options help make solar more affordable by spreading the cost over time with favorable interest rates.

Payment for Renewable Energy Certificates

Renewable energy credits (RECs), also known as Green Certificates, are tradable certificates that represent the environmental attributes of a certain amount of renewable energy generated. Solar system owners earn RECs from their electricity and sell them to companies seeking to meet their renewable energy targets.

Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs)

Feed-in tariffs are commonly used in the USA and many countries to encourage the adoption of solar energy. Under this system, property owners are paid a fixed rate for the electricity they generate and feed into the grid. The rates are typically set for a specific period providing a stable return on investment.

Sunrun offers the best-in-class equipment and the highest quality workmanship backed by 20 years of residential rooftop solar experience. When you purchase, you also get an industry-leading roof penetration warranty. We protect our customers, not because we have to, but because we want to.

Ownership with no upfront cost

For those that don’t want to pay the cost of full ownership upfront, you can finance your system purchase with low, fixed monthly payments and a competitive interest rate. Keep the tax credits, build equity in your home, and begin saving money when you choose Sunrun’s BrightAdvantage plan.

Sunrun offers best-in-class equipment for all our plans and the highest quality workmanship, backed by 20 years of residential solar experience.

Whatever you choose - Sunrun does it all

Remember that Sunrun is your reliable solar company. We will tailor a solar system to meet the needs of your home, property, and lifestyle. We’ll take care of any paperwork or permits and handle all aspects of the installation.

Our ultimate goal is to satisfy solar customers across America and create a cleaner planet. And we are doing this, one rooftop at a time. For information about solar loans, leases, and more, call us at 833 324-5886 or request a quote here.