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The 30% federal tax credit for homeowner-owned residential systems is no longer available for 2026 systems you buy yourself. It still applies to third-party owned systems (lease/PPA) — the financing company owns the equipment, claims the credit, and passes the benefit through to you as a lower monthly payment. Ownership still makes great sense for a lot of homeowners; it just means the math looks a little different than it did in prior years.

Usually yes — just a much smaller one. Your utility keeps you connected to the grid, so you'll still see a small monthly connection charge, plus the cost of any power you pull at night or on cloudy days beyond what your system and battery cover. Most homeowners see their utility bill drop dramatically, but it rarely goes to exactly $0.

If you lease or choose a PPA, you pay GoodLeap — your financing partner — one fixed monthly payment. Nothing goes to the installer. If you pay in full, you pay the contractor assigned to your project directly, in milestone payments: a small deposit to reserve your system, a payment once the agreement is signed and design is complete, and the balance after installation is finished.

TPO means the financing company owns the system on your roof and you simply pay for it monthly. That means: • $0 out of pocket to start • They claim the tax credit and pass the savings to you • Maintenance, monitoring, and repairs are handled for you • Nothing financed in your name and no lien on your home • The agreement transfers to the new owner if you sell Owning your system is a great path too — TPO is simply the option built for homeowners who want zero upfront cost and hands-off ownership.

A PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) is a form of third-party ownership. Instead of paying for the equipment, you pay a set rate for the clean power your system produces — like buying electricity from your own roof, typically at a lower rate than your utility charges. No upfront cost, and you only pay for the power it makes.

With a PPA, GoodLeap owns the system and covers everything for the life of the agreement: parts, labor, monitoring, the inverter, and the Tesla Powerwall battery. If something breaks, they fix it at no cost to you. When you own the system — whether you pay cash or finance it — you get strong manufacturer warranties on the panels, inverter, and battery, plus a workmanship warranty from your installer. You hold the asset and the long-term savings, and you coordinate warranty claims yourself. Both are solid paths. PPA is the most hands-off; ownership gives you the asset and the highest lifetime return.

Yes. Most agreements allow a buyout after year 5. Here's how it works: 1. You request a buyout quote from GoodLeap. 2. They calculate the fair market value of the system at that point in time. 3. You pay that amount in one payment. 4. Ownership of the system transfers to you, and monthly payments stop. After the buyout you own the equipment outright, along with the remaining manufacturer warranties.

Yes. Lease and PPA agreements are designed to transfer to the next homeowner. The buyer simply assumes the same monthly payment and terms, and GoodLeap runs a quick qualification on them during escrow. If you'd rather hand over the home free and clear, you can buy the system out before closing and sell it with the house.

There's no wrong answer here — it comes down to what fits your goals. Buying (paying in full or financing) is a great fit if you want to own the asset, plan to stay in the home long-term, and want the maximum lifetime savings and added home value. Financing lets you own the system with a fixed monthly payment instead of paying cash upfront. A lease or PPA is a great fit if you want $0 out of pocket, a predictable payment that's typically lower than your utility bill, and everything — including the battery — maintained for you. It's also the path that still captures the tax credit benefit in 2026, passed through to you in the payment. Rule of thumb: own it for the best long-term return, lease or PPA for the easiest, lowest-upfront way to start saving right away.

Yes. Both options are priced on the exact same system, so you can switch at checkout without redesigning anything. You'll see the monthly payment and the all-in cash price side by side before you commit.

No. Every quote is one transparent, all-in price covering equipment, permitting, installation, and utility interconnection. Your terms are locked in the agreement you sign — nothing changes after installation.