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Are Solar Panels Worth It?
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You've probably heard neighbors talking about generating their own power with solar panels, or maybe you've seen those sleek panels popping up on rooftops around your neighborhood.
The big question on every homeowner's mind is, are solar panels worth it?
Here's the straight answer: For most homeowners, solar panels are absolutely worth the investment. They can provide significant long-term value, offering a way to generate your own electricity and gain predictability over your energy costs.
With electricity rates climbing year after year and solar panels becoming more affordable and efficient, going solar has shifted from a nice-to-have luxury to a strategic decision.
The real cost of going solar (and why it's more affordable than you think)
Let's address the elephant in the room: Solar panel installation isn't pocket change. Here, we breakdown the full cost of a solar system.
The solar industry has come a long way since 2010. The cost of solar panels for residential use has dropped by 64%3 , making solar more accessible than ever. More importantly, you don't need to write a massive check to get started.
Multiple ways to go solar without a massive upfront cost
At Sunrun, we've designed our payment options around a simple principle: every homeowner's financial situation is unique. Here's how we make solar panels work for your budget:
As little as $0 down solar subscriptions let you start generating power without an upfront investment. You simply pay a predictable monthly rate for the power your solar panels generate—often providing a more consistent monthly energy cost than your traditional utility bill.
Full purchase options give you maximum long-term value if you prefer to buy your system outright and capture any available tax benefits or incentives.
Next steps: Now that you understand the different ways to go solar, discover which financing plan works best for your budget. Compare Sunrun's flexible solar plans and find your perfect match.
What determines your solar's value
Your current energy usage
Your local utility rates
Your roof’s solar potential
Your current energy usage plays the biggest role. If you're already spending $145-300+ monthly on electricity6 (which is typical for most families), you have the most potential to gain financial predictability with solar panels.
Your local utility rates matter just as much. In states like California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts, where residential electricity costs about 30-41 cents per kilowatt-hour7, the value of generating your own power adds up fast. Even in areas with lower utility rates, locking in predictable pricing with solar panels protects you as rates inevitably rise.
Your roof's solar potential determines how much clean energy the system on your roof can generate. South-facing roofs with minimal shading typically produce the most power.
Many of our customers’ systems produce more solar energy than their home uses during sunny months, especially in spring and fall when air conditioning demands are lower.
This excess energy often earns credits with your utility company through net metering8, creating a bank of energy credits for cloudier periods.
Reach out to us to ascertain how much value your system can provide over its 25-year life. That's money you get to keep—money you can spend on family vacations, home improvements, or simply building your financial security.
Peace of mind: What's covered and what's not
One of the biggest concerns homeowners have about installing solar panels is: "What happens if something breaks?" The short answer is you don't need to worry about it.
When you choose the Sunrun Subscription Plan, we handle all maintenance, repairs, and monitoring for the entire 25-year agreement period.
Complete system care included
24/7 monitoring means our team watches the performance of your solar panels in real-time. Your Sunrun meter sends production data to our monitoring center four times daily, where we compare your actual generation to expected performance. If something's not working properly, we'll often know about it before you do.
Free repairs and replacements for your solar panels are covered throughout your agreement. Solar panels are built to last, but if any component fails or underperforms, we'll fix or replace it at no cost to you. This includes panels, inverters, wiring, and monitoring equipment.
Performance guarantees that protect your investment
Here's something most solar companies don't offer: we guarantee your system's energy production.*
If your solar panels don't generate the amount of power promised in your agreement, we'll refund you the difference.
This performance guarantee is coupled with our 25-year comprehensive warranty, one of the strongest in the solar industry. While other companies might offer separate warranties for different components, Sunrun covers everything under one comprehensive agreement.*
Tech highlight: Modern solar panels can generate electricity even on cloudy days, producing about 25% of their normal output on extremely overcast days and 80% on partly cloudy ones.10 |
*Only available with solar subscription. Not available in FL or HI. See customer agreement for details.**See customer agreement for details. IL 15-year customer agreement contains 10 to 15-year warranty.
Minimal homeowner maintenance required
Solar panels are remarkably low-maintenance. To optimize performance, you can trim nearby trees to minimize shading and occasionally hose off solar panels if you live in a particularly dusty area (always from the ground for safety).
Don't worry about removing snow from your solar panels during winter. It will slide off naturally, and attempting to clear it yourself can be dangerous and potentially damage the equipment.
Support when you need it
Our customer care team is available during business hours at 855-478-6786 to answer questions or address concerns about your solar panels. You can also reach support through the Sunrun mobile app, where you can chat with agents and monitor your system's performance.
The value here is clear: you get decades of worry-free solar ownership without the stress of managing repairs, performance issues, or maintenance schedules. This comprehensive coverage is built into your solar subscription, providing genuine peace of mind that protects your investment.
What happens if you move?
One of the most common concerns we hear is, "What if I need to sell my house?" The reality is that Sunrun makes transferring your solar agreement straightforward, and solar rarely creates obstacles in the selling process.
Simple transfer process
We guarantee a successful transfer of your Sunrun agreement. Our service transfer specialists handle everything through our online Service Transfer Portal—from educating realtors to working with escrow officers.
The process involves three simple steps: gathering contact info, verifying details online, and completing digital signatures with a soft credit check for the new homeowner.
Flexible options
If you purchased your system outright, you can sell it with your home and include the system's value in your sale price.
If buyers don't want to transfer the agreement (which is rare), you can prepay the remainder of your service and bundle it into your home's price. The new owners get free solar power for the remaining term.
Sunrun doesn't place liens on your property, and we temporarily remove any required state notices during the transfer process at no cost to you.
The key insight is that solar isn't just an investment in your current home; it adds lasting value whether you stay or move.
Grid independence advantage: With battery storage add-ons, solar panels can provide backup power during outages, keeping essential appliances running when the grid goes down. |
Making the smart choice for your home and future
The question isn't really “are solar panels worth it?” With immediate value, decades of predictable energy costs, and significant environmental benefits, solar has evolved from an experimental technology to a proven investment that delivers both financial stability and peace of mind.
Take the next step toward energy independence today. Get a free solar quote with Sunrun and discover exactly how much you could save with America's #1 home solar company.
With over 1 million customers and 25-year comprehensive warranties, we'll help you determine if installing solar panels is right for your home.
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Sources
1. Benefits of rooftop solar energy. (n.d.). Energy.gov. https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/benefits-rooftop-solar-energy
2. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). (2009). A Consumer Guide to Solar Electricity for the Home. U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy.
3. Documenting a decade of cost declines for PV systems | NREL. (n.d.). https://www.nrel.gov/news/detail/program/2021/documenting-a-decade-of-cost-declines-for-pv-systems4. U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, Solar Energy Technologies Office. (2022, September). Homeowners Guide to the Federal Tax Credit for Solar PV. U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, Solar Energy Technologies Office.
5. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). (2008, December). A Homebuilder’s Guide to going Solar. Washington, D.C.; National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
6. U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). (2025, May). Residential Electric Bills in Hawaii and Connecticut are twice those in New Mexico, Utah - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Residential electric bills in Hawaii and Connecticut are twice those in New Mexico, Utah - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=65244
7. U.S. Energy Information Administration. (n.d.). Electric Power Monthly - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_5_6_a
8. Homeowner’s guide to going solar. (2021, July 29). Energy.gov. https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/homeowners-guide-going-solar
9. U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2023, May). U.S. residential electricity bills increased 5% in 2022, after adjusting for inflation - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=56660
10. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). (1997). Electricity When and Where You Need It: From the Sun. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
11. Jonweiner. (2015, November 12). Team of appraisers across six states find home buyers will pay premium for solar homes. Berkeley Lab News Center. https://newscenter.lbl.gov/2015/11/12/premium-for-solar-homes/
12. Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator - Calculations and References | US EPA. (2025, April 24). US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator-calculations-and-references
13. Greenhouse Gas Emissions from a Typical Passenger Vehicle | US EPA. (2025, March 31). US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/greenhouse-gas-emissions-typical-passenger-vehicle