General & About Us.

For most Phoenix homeowners — yes, and often significantly so. Arizona has some of the highest solar irradiance in the country, and APS and SRP rates have climbed considerably in recent years. A properly sized system can eliminate 80–100% of your monthly utility bill.

That said, it depends on your roof condition, energy usage patterns, how long you plan on staying in the home, and financing structure (purchase via cash or loan, , pre-paid PPA or lease option). We run the real numbers for your specific situation before making any recommendation.

Phoenix averages 299 sunny days per year — making it one of the best solar markets in the United States.

This is one of the most overlooked questions in the solar sales process — and one we always address first. Key factors include your roof's age, material, pitch, and structural condition. In many cases, if your roof is more than 20 years old or shows visible signs of ware, it makes sense to address it before installing solar so you're not paying to remove and reinstall panels later (solar panels have a 25-year warranty, so it’s recommended to have at least that many years remaining on your roof).

Our assessment includes a roof evaluation specifically for solar readiness. We partner with both solar installers and roofing contractors so we can coordinate a bundled approach when needed — often at better pricing.

There are four main options: cash purchase (fastest return on investment), solar loan (second fastest ROI), Prepaid Solar Power Purchase Agreement (Prepaid PPA), or a solar lease, which functions essentially as a “solar subscription” or rental agreement , allowing the homeowner to purchase the energy from the solar system over a 20-year period at a lower rate than their utility provider, without having to own the solar equipment.

With the exception of the aforementioned solar lease, each option has different implications for ownership, tax credits, and long-term savings. The right choice depends on your tax situation, credit, and how long you plan to stay in the home.

As of 2026, cash and loan purchases for traditional residential solar are no longer eligible for the federal 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC).

Now only the 30% Commercial solar ITC remains, however options like the Propel Prepaid PPA lease option qualify for the 30%+ federal tax credit (Section 48/48E) and passes the savings to the homeowner through lower, fixed monthly payments and an eventual transfer of ownership at year five.

No matter what option you opt for, we will explain them clearly before you sign an agreement with anyone.

Many homeowners are concerned because the standard residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) has expired. Our program uses a Prepaid Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) model to ensure you still receive the full benefit of solar incentives through the Commercial Investment Tax Credit (Section 48).

Here is a breakdown of how that benefit is passed directly to you:

1. Third-Party "Incentive Capture"

Under a Prepaid PPA such as Propel, they are the commercial financing partner technically owning the solar and battery system for the first five years. Because they are a business entity, they are eligible to claim the 30% (or more) Federal Commercial ITC.

2. Immediate Price Reduction

Instead of you waiting until tax season to claim a credit—and hoping you have enough tax liability to use it—the financing partner claims the credit themselves. They then apply the full value of that credit upfront to reduce the total cost of your solar system.

• The "Double Stack" Benefit: In addition to the 30% Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC), the financing partner can write off the cost of the equipment as it "depreciates" over time.

• Accelerated Savings: Normally, assets depreciate over decades. MACRS allows solar equipment to be written off over just 5 years. "Bonus" depreciation allows them to take a massive chunk (currently 20% in 2026) of that write-off in the very first year.

• Calculating the Depreciable Basis: Per IRS rules, when the partner claims the 30% ITC, they must reduce the system's "depreciable basis" by half the value of that credit (15%). This leaves 85% of the total system cost available for them to write off.

• The "Pass-Down" Effect: This depreciation can recoup another 10%–20% of the system's total cost for the financier. They factor these estimated tax savings into their business model, which allows them to offer you a lower upfront prepayment amount—typically about 30% less than if you bought the system in cash.

3. Lower Monthly Payments

Because the 30% savings is applied before your loan begins, you are only financing the "net cost" of the system. This results in:

• Lower monthly payments compared to a standard solar loan.

• No "balloon payments" or requirements to pay back a tax credit check to the lender within 18 months.

• Guaranteed savings, regardless of your personal tax bracket or tax liability.

4. Path to Full Ownership

Even though the commercial partner claims the credit, they do not keep the system forever. After the 5-year federal "recapture period" ends, ownership of the system automatically transfers to you. You get the long-term benefit of owning your power, while the financing partner handles the complex tax paperwork and provides the upfront discount.

In short: The financing partner uses their commercial status to "unlock" the 30% discount, then passes every penny of that savings to you through a lower contract price.

The physical installation typically takes 1–2 days. However, the full process from signed contract to system activation — including design, permitting, utility interconnection approval, and inspection — typically takes 6–12 weeks in the Phoenix market.

Any solar company promising faster activation without explaining the permitting process is either cutting corners or setting unrealistic expectations. Our contractors manage this process transparently and keep you updated at every step.

If you own the system outright or have a loan, it typically transfers with the home as an asset — and studies show solar homes sell for a premium and faster than comparable non-solar homes in Arizona.

Leases and PPAs are more complicated. If you have a prepaid PPA through a provider like Propel, you will own the system after 5 years — if you sell it before then, the buyer must qualify to assume your agreement, which can complicate or slow a sale. Same goes for the traditional lease of course, and this is another reason we walk you carefully through financing structure before you commit.

Installing battery storage at the same time as solar is generally more cost-effective than adding it later — the electrical work overlaps and installation costs are lower. Whether it makes financial sense depends on your utility's rate structure and whether you experience frequent outages.

For APS customers on time-of-use rates, battery storage can provide meaningful additional savings by letting you use stored energy during peak pricing hours.

For SRP customers, the math is different, a 60% energy offset is widely considered the "sweet spot" for solar-only systems without batteries. This strategy is designed to balance the high upfront cost of solar against SRP’s specific rate structures, which significantly limit the value of excess energy sent back to the grid.

How the 60% Offset Strategy Works

Targeting Daytime Loads: A 60% offset system is sized primarily to cover your home's immediate energy needs while the sun is shining—specifically large appliances and air conditioning.

Minimizing Wasteful Exports: In SRP territory, excess solar energy sent back to the grid is credited at a very low rate (approximately 2.8¢/kWh as of 2026). By sizing the system to only 60% of your total annual use, you ensure most of the power produced is used immediately by your home rather than being "sold" to SRP at a loss.

Cost Efficiency: Without a battery to store power for the evening, any energy your panels produce beyond your immediate daytime needs provides very little ROI.

Who Is This For?

Standard Users: Ideal for homeowners who want to lower their bills without the $10,000+ added cost of batteries.

Daytime Energy Users: Best for those who are home during the day or can automate high-energy tasks to occur between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m..

Alternative Options: If you cannot install panels but want a 50-100% solar offset, SRP Solar Choice allows you to pay a small premium to support utility-scale solar without any equipment at home.