Most homeowners think the federal solar tax credit is gone, and their shot at affordable solar went with it. Under the Propel Energy Service Agreement, the bank claims the credit — and passes the savings straight to your monthly payment.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (619) 273-0784 — a San Diego solar specialist can answer in minutes.
An Energy Service Agreement (ESA) flips the old solar model: instead of you qualifying for tax credits, the bank claims them — and is able to offer you a permanently reduced rate because of it.
| What the bank does | What you get |
|---|---|
| Claims the 30% federal solar tax credit | A rate reduced by at least 30% — no qualifying needed |
| Claims the 5–10% domestic content credit | Additional savings stacked on top |
| Structures the ESA as a tax write-off | The lowest kilowatt charge the program can offer |
| Holds ownership of the system | The option to own it outright after 5 years |
| Bundles agreements as deductions | The same payment, every year — zero escalators |
Many solar contracts raise your rate every year. The Propel ESA locks your payment — the price you sign is the price you keep.
Because the bank monetizes the tax credits, the program can offer its lowest available kilowatt rate — savings you couldn't reach on your own.
After 5 years you can buy the system outright — or simply keep the same fixed payment. Your call.
You don't need tax liability to benefit from the credit. The bank qualifies, claims it, and passes the value through to you.
Tell us about your home and current bill using the form below. Takes 60 seconds.
Sunlight Solar — San Diego's ESA specialists — review your usage and design your system. Enphase Platinum Installer, Tesla Certified for Powerwall, and in the top 1% of California licensed contractors.
Your ESA rate is set with no escalators. Start saving from your first bill.
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A solar specialist will reach out within 1 business day to review your usage and prepare your free estimate.
No pressure, no upselling — just the numbers.
San Diego gets 266 sunny days per year, and SDG&E has some of the highest electricity rates in the country ($0.46–$0.55/kWh average) — which is why solar payback periods here, now typically 9–17 years since the 30% residential credit ended, are still among the shorter ones in the country. If you're comparing the ESA above against buying a system outright, these are the purchase ranges.
| Home Size | System Cost to Buy Outright |
|---|---|
| Small home (<1,500 sq ft) | $12,000 – $22,000 |
| Average home (1,500–2,500 sq ft) | $18,000 – $35,000 |
| Large home (2,500+ sq ft) | $28,000 – $55,000 |
| Battery storage add-on | $8,000 – $16,000 |
Comparing more than solar? See the full San Diego cost guide, HVAC costs (the other side of a high SDG&E bill), or roofing costs — installers may require a roof cert before panels go on a worn roof.