Comments on: How do you finance or lease solar panels and electricity for your home?

By: CBx

CBx — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 09:45:40 +0000

Ahh, I take it back. They do in fact take the credit on leasing.

By: CBx

CBx — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 09:33:22 +0000

The company I’m considering in the San Francisco area does not take the 30% credit. That goes to the homeowner. Your point about the inverter cost is well taken, but in a lease the company covers that cost as well. If you are not going to own that home for more than fifteen years, the lease does seem to be cheaper.

By: Bert Rivas

Bert Rivas — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 16:33:13 +0000

Ron,
I much appreciate you taking the time to write your comments comparing leasing and buying solar systems. It provided critical information. I will need to save for some time, but the information you provided soldified my intitial inclination to buy rather than lease. ~ Bert

By: Brandon Blum

Brandon Blum — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 05:15:11 +0000

Do you know a viable source for financing on these solar systems? What is the usual down payment requirement if any?

By: Night

Night — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 17:54:54 +0000

Yip I do agree with Ron Winton Renting or Leasing with thee terms is no deal at all.
If you do this you are a Fool that has to much money or a TV lizard that can not think for him self.

By: Ron Winton

Ron Winton — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 07:02:00 +0000

When you lease a solar system you don’t get the new 30% tax credit or the huge cash rebate or the valuable RECs(renewable energy credits) and all you’d be lucky to save is about $25.00 a month on a typical $250.00 electric bill after going through all the trouble of being locked into a lease for all those years. And after more than 10 to 15 years of lease payments you will own absolutely nothing. You’re far better off to buy a system using traditional financing. Not only will you get all of the financial incentives mentioned above but you’ll also own a system with a 30 to 40 year life expectancy that will put cash into your pocket every month for another 20 to 30 years after you’ve paid the system off. And that’s even considering the replacement of the inverter after 12 to 15 years. Lease a solar system…..I don’t think so ! Buying one makes alot more sense. Why do you think the leasing companies BUY solar systems, take all of the financial incentives for themselves then turn around and lease systems to homeowners.