Rising Electric Bills? Solar Leasing Offers Protection Without the Price Tag

Electricity rates are climbing faster than ever before. Duke Energy Progress customers saw their rates jump by 10% on October 8th, 2025, and Duke Energy Carolinas customers are bracing for increases starting January 1st, 2026. Across the United States, the average price per kilowatt-hour has climbed to nearly 15 cents, with no signs of slowing down.

The culprit? Unprecedented demand for electricity. Artificial intelligence, data centers, electric vehicles, and intense summers are pushing the power grid to its limits. Utility companies are scrambling to keep up, and homeowners are footing the bill through higher monthly costs.

Understanding the Rising Cost of Electricity

Electricity prices vary across the country, but the trend is unmistakably upward. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission tracks real-time energy prices, revealing dramatic differences between regions and highlighting the volatility homeowners face.

These regional differences matter because they determine how much you can save by switching to solar. In high-cost regions like the Northeast and West Coast, solar provides even greater value by offsetting expensive grid electricity with predictable solar power. 

But there’s a solution that doesn’t require draining your savings account or taking out a hefty loan. Solar leasing offers a path to energy independence with zero money down, letting you capture the benefits of solar power and battery backup without the traditional barrier to entry (upfront cost).

What Is Solar Leasing?

Solar leasing works similarly to leasing a car. Instead of purchasing the solar system outright, a financial institution or solar installer owns and operates the equipment on your roof. In exchange, you receive lower electricity bills, protection from rising rates, backup power during outages, and freedom from maintenance responsibilities.

This arrangement is called “Third Party Ownership” or TPO. The third party handles everything—purchasing the equipment, managing the installation, monitoring performance, and maintaining the system. Your job is simple: enjoy the benefits.

For homeowners who want solar power but can’t or don’t want to make a large upfront investment, leasing removes the biggest barrier to entry. You get clean energy, reduced costs, and energy security without the traditional financial commitment.

How Solar Leasing Compares to Other Options

Understanding your solar financing options helps you make the best decision for you. Here’s how leasing stacks up against cash purchases and solar loans:

Cash Purchase

Paying cash for a solar system means covering the full cost upfront, usually $15,000 to $30,000 or more, depending on your system size. Once installed, you own the system outright with no monthly payments. Your electricity bills drop immediately, and you capture the full value of any incentives (such as tax incentives, utility rebates, etc.). 

The drawback is obvious – the large initial expenditure. While cash purchases offer the best long-term return on investment, they require liquid capital that many homeowners prefer to allocate elsewhere.

Solar Loan

Solar loans offer a middle ground with minimal or zero down payment. You finance the system over 10-25 years, at APRs ranging from 1.99% to 8.99%. Monthly loan payments replace your upfront cost, and you still own the system, qualifying for tax credits and incentives.

The challenge with loans is that monthly payments often exceed your initial electricity savings, especially in the early years. You’re also responsible for maintenance and repairs. For homeowners who want ownership without the cash outlay, loans provide a path forward, but they require careful budgeting and long-term planning.

Solar Leasing

Solar leasing requires zero upfront costs. You make monthly lease payments, but you also capture immediate benefits like savings on your electricity bills, protection from rate increases, and battery backup power. The leasing company handles all maintenance, monitoring, and system performance guarantees.

Your monthly lease payment is designed to be lower than your electricity savings, putting money back in your pocket from day one. As utility rates continue climbing, your locked-in lease payment (with modest annual escalators) becomes increasingly valuable.

The Solar System Itself: Why Quality Matters

Not all solar leases are created equal. The most important factor in determining whether a lease provides value, other than the obvious savings vs. lease payments, is the quality of the solar system and the reputation of the installer.

Premium Solar Panels and Components

In 2025, homeowners expect more than functional solar panels, they want systems that enhance their property’s appearance while delivering maximum performance. Blue polycrystalline panels are a thing of the past. Today’s installations feature sleek, all-black monocrystalline panels that blend seamlessly with your roof.

The panels should come with strong warranties—typically 25 to 30 years for performance and product coverage. Top manufacturers like Canadian Solar, Q Cells, REC Group, and Maxeon deliver high wattage panels with efficiency ratings exceeding 20%, ensuring maximum energy production from every square foot of your roof.

But panels are just the beginning. If installing battery storage for backup power during power outages; reputable brands and options such as the Tesla Powerwall 3, Enphase IQ5p and 10C, as well as the Franklin aPower2 all provide reliable batteries backed by strong warranties and manufacturers. 

Professional Installation and Aesthetics

A premium solar system requires professional installation. Conduits and wiring should be hidden or neatly organized, not running haphazardly across your roof. Mounting systems should be secure and properly flashed to prevent leaks. The finished installation should look like it was always meant to be there.

This level of craftsmanship requires experienced installers with deep knowledge of engineering and construction. At 8MSolar, every installation is managed by local project managers with backgrounds in both disciplines, guaranteeing that your system is installed right the first time.

Whole-Home Battery Backup

Battery backup transforms your solar system from a cost-saving measure into a complete energy independence solution. During power outages, your battery keeps your whole home running, not just emergency circuits.

The best battery systems, like the Tesla Powerwall or Enphase IQ Battery, offer monitoring apps that let you track energy production, consumption, and storage in real-time from your phone. You can see exactly how much energy you’re generating, how much you’re using, and how much you’re storing for later.

For homeowners in areas with frequent power outages or unreliable grid infrastructure, battery backup is a necessity. Your solar lease should include premium battery storage that works when you need it most.

Factors When Comparing Lease Providers

The solar leasing market can be confusing, with multiple providers offering seemingly similar terms. Here are the factors that separate excellent lease agreements from mediocre ones:

Reputation and Reviews: Will You Actually Save Money?

Before allowing any company to install equipment on your roof, research their reputation thoroughly. Solar leasing can be a “Wild West” if not presented accurately. You want to make sure that partnering with a leasing provider is worthwhile.

8MSolar’s leasing providers offer production guarantees and rigorous approval processes. Before any lease is approved, the leasing company reviews the proposed system, verifies the energy savings projections, and ensures the homeowner will benefit from the arrangement. This protects you from aggressive sales tactics or unrealistic promises.

Annual Escalators

Every solar lease includes annual escalators(the percentage by which your lease payment increases each year). This is one of the most important factors when comparing lease options.

Some lease providers charge escalators of 3-4% annually. While this might provide savings if utility rates increase by 5% per year, it reduces your long-term benefit. Our main lease providers at 8MSolar offer escalators between 1-1.5% annually, well below historical utility rate increases of 3-5% per year.

Over a 20-year lease term, this difference is huge. A 1% escalator means your lease payment grows much more slowly than utility rates, maximizing your savings over time.

Lease Terms

Solar lease terms range from 10 to 25 years, with 20-year terms being most common. Longer terms usually mean lower monthly payments, but you’re committed to the arrangement for a longer period. Shorter terms result in higher monthly payments but give you more flexibility.

Consider your plans for the property. If you’re planning to sell within five years, a shorter lease term might make more sense. If you’re settling in for the long haul, a 20-year lease maximizes your monthly savings.

Maintenance and Monitoring

One of the biggest advantages of solar leasing is that maintenance isn’t your responsibility. The leasing company should handle all system monitoring, repairs, and maintenance at no cost to you.

Verify that your lease agreement explicitly includes these services. Some providers charge fees for maintenance or monitoring, which can erode your savings over time. The best lease agreements include comprehensive coverage with no hidden costs.

Buy-Out Terms

Most solar leases include a buy-out clause that allows you to purchase the system after a specified period—usually seven years. Understanding these terms is important for long-term planning.

If you decide to purchase the system, you’ll pay the remaining value based on the lease agreement’s depreciation schedule. This gives you flexibility: start with a lease to avoid upfront costs, then transition to ownership if your financial situation changes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Solar Leasing

Will a lease agreement save me money on my bills?

Yes. All lease agreements we offer are designed to save you money on your bills. The third party that owns the equipment has checks in place to ensure savings to the homeowner, production guarantees, and thorough vetting. They review and approve all proposed systems before proceeding with installation.

Is there any money out of pocket for a homeowner when leasing a system?

No. There is zero money down with solar leasing.

What happens if I need to sell my home?

You have two options. The lease can be transferred to the new homeowner (subject to credit approval), or you can terminate the lease by paying the remaining balance. Many homeowners increase their home’s sale price to cover this cost, passing the solar system’s value to the buyer.

Homes with solar systems sell faster and at higher prices than comparable homes without solar. The combination of lower utility costs and energy independence appeals to today’s environmentally conscious buyers.

Why 8MSolar Stands Out in Solar Leasing

The residential solar leasing market is growing, but not all providers deliver the same value. Here’s what sets 8MSolar apart:

Uncompromising Quality

We don’t cut corners on system components. Every solar panel installation features premium all-black panels from top manufacturers, high-efficiency inverters, and professional-grade battery backup systems. Our installations are designed to look beautiful while delivering maximum performance for decades.

Do your due diligence as a homeowner and understand what components are being presented by the leasing company and solar installer. Is this a reputable solar installer with a track record of good reviews? What type of solar panel and battery backup system is being recommended? Are these premium panels with long-term warranties?

In 2025, no homeowner wants blue solar panels installed on their roof. Will the solar installer be hiding conduits and wiring to guarantee an aesthetically pleasing system? Will your battery system back up your entire home during a power outage, and does it have a monitoring app so you can track everything on your phone?

These details matter, and at 8MSolar, we answer “yes” to all of them.

Local Expertise

Each 8MSolar customer is assigned a local project manager with expertise in construction and engineering. These professionals guide you through every step of the process with clear communication and quality installation. You’re not dealing with a distant call center, you’re working with local experts who understand your needs.

Transparent Partnerships

Our leasing partnerships feature some of the lowest annual escalators in the industry— 1-1.5% compared to 3-4% from other providers. We also require rigorous approval processes to make sure every proposed lease will save the homeowner money. No inflated projections or unrealistic promises, just honest assessments backed by production guarantees.

Whole-Home Solutions

When we install a battery backup system, we typically design it to power your entire home during outages—not just a few circuits. You get protection along with intuitive monitoring apps that put complete control at your fingertips.

Proven Track Record

With over two decades of experience in North Carolina, we’ve built a reputation on integrity, quality, and customer satisfaction. As a Premier Certified Tesla Installer, we install more Powerwall 3 systems than anyone in the Southeast. Our certifications from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) and the Licensing Board for General Contractors of North Carolina demonstrate our commitment to excellence.

Take Control of Your Energy Future

Rising electricity rates aren’t going away. As demand climbs and utility infrastructure struggles to keep pace, homeowners will face increasingly expensive power bills. Solar leasing offers a way to protect yourself from these increases without the traditional barriers of high upfront costs.

With zero money down, immediate savings, professional maintenance, and premium equipment, solar leasing makes energy independence accessible to more homeowners than ever before. The key is choosing a partner who prioritizes your long-term success over short-term profits.

At 8MSolar, we’re leading the residential solar leasing revolution by combining best-in-class equipment with transparent pricing and local expertise. We believe every homeowner deserves access to clean, affordable, reliable energy—and we’re here to make that vision a reality.

The future of residential energy is solar leasing, and 8MSolar is at the forefront of this transformation. We’re installing solar systems and creating partnerships that empower homeowners to take control of their energy costs while contributing to a more sustainable future.

Contact 8MSolar today to learn more about our solar leasing options and discover how you can save money while taking control of your energy future. The path to energy independence starts here.