A purchased system typically pays for itself in 6 to 9 years . After that, the electricity generated is essentially free for the remainder of the system's life (25+ years).
While you save money from day one, those savings are smaller. Most leases include an annual price escalator (often 1–3%), meaning your monthly payment increases over time, which can erode savings if utility rates don't rise as quickly. 4. Impact on Home Resale solar power lease vs buy
Studies by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory show that buyers are willing to pay a premium (roughly $15,000 on average) for homes with owned solar. A purchased system typically pays for itself in 6 to 9 years