Solar 101
5 short chapters in plain English. Start anywhere.
01How Solar Makes Power
How Solar Makes Power
Panels turn sunlight into electricity. An inverter changes it into the kind your home uses.
Your home uses that power first. Any extra goes out to the grid, and your meter keeps count.
Where Solar Power Goes
- SunlightHits your roof
- PanelsMake electricity
- InverterMakes it usable
- Your HomeUses it first
- The GridGets the extra
System size is measured in kilowatts (kW), the power a system can make at once. A typical US home system is about 7 kW.
02Net Metering and Your Bill
Net Metering and Your Bill
Around midday your panels often make more power than your home needs. The extra goes to the grid, and your utility credits you for it.
Extra Power on a Sunny Day
With net metering, you get credit at the full price you pay for power. Some utilities pay a lower rate for the extra instead, called net billing.
Solar can lower the part of your bill based on how much power you use. Small fixed utility fees usually stay.
03Own, Finance, Lease or PPA
Own, Finance, Lease or PPA
With cash or a loan, you own the system. With a lease or a PPA (power purchase agreement), a company owns it and you pay the company.
How the 4 Options Compare
| Ownership | You Own It | A Company Owns It | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What to compare | Cash | Loan | Lease | PPA |
| Who Owns It | You | You | The company | The company |
| What You Pay | The full price up front | Monthly loan payments | A monthly payment | A price for the power made |
| Repairs | You, after the warranty | You, after the warranty | Usually the company | Varies by plan |
| Selling Your Home | It goes with the house | It goes with the house | The buyer takes it over, or you buy it out | The buyer takes it over, or you buy it out |
We lay out every option for your home, side by side.
04What Affects Your Savings
What Affects Your Savings
Your savings depend on how much power you use, how much sun your roof gets, and what your utility charges.
Yearly Power by Roof Direction
- South100%
- Southeast97%
- Southwest95%
- East87%
- West85%
- North69%
Every roof is different, and shade from trees or buildings can lower what panels make. Power prices have gone up about 3% a year over the last 10 years.
We build your design from your real 12 months of bills. To try it now, use Estimate Your Savings.
05Incentives in 2026
Incentives in 2026
Solar incentives changed at the end of 2025. Some help is gone, and some remains.
Where Incentives Stand
- EndedHomeowner Tax CreditThe 30% credit ended for systems finished after 2025, so paying cash or taking a loan no longer earns it.
- May HelpLeases and PPAsThe company that owns the system may still get a tax credit. Ask if it lowers your payment.
- Varies by AddressState and Utility ProgramsSome states and utilities offer rebates or other help.
We walk you through what applies to your home.
