Pay for solar without the runaround
The cost is the reason most people stall on solar, and it's also the part that surprises them. With $0-down financing, you're not adding a new bill, you're swapping a rising APS or SRP payment for a fixed one. We walk you through loans, $0-down options, and lease versus buy in plain language, then let you pick. No pressure to take the option that pays us the most.
Reviewed July 2026 · Figures cited in the FAQ below.
Solar financing in Arizona: the bottom line
- $0-down loans are common. The loan payment replaces most of what you were paying the utility.
- Owning beats leasing for most Arizona homes, because you keep the long-term savings and the Arizona state tax credit.
- The Arizona state credit is a flat $1,000 (25% of cost, capped at $1,000 lifetime, Form 310) when you own the system.
- The 30% federal residential credit ended December 31, 2025, so a system you buy and own in 2026 does not earn it.
Why financing trips people up
Solar financing is where a lot of homeowners get a bad deal without realizing it. A low monthly payment can hide a high total cost. A lease can feel easy while quietly handing the long-term savings and the Arizona state credit to someone else. The fix isn't a special trick, it's seeing the whole number before you sign.
Your options, in plain terms
Short answer: A solar loan means you own the system: the payment replaces most of your utility bill, stays fixed while the utility's keeps climbing, and you keep the Arizona state credit. Many loans allow $0 down. A lease means a company owns the panels, which gives up the state credit and most of the long-term savings. For most Arizona homes, owning wins.
With a solar loan, you own the system. The loan payment replaces most of your utility bill, it stays fixed while the utility's keeps climbing, and you keep the Arizona state credit. Many loans allow $0 down, so there's no big check up front. With a lease, a company owns the panels and you pay to use them, which keeps things simple but gives up the state credit and most of the savings. For most Arizona homes, owning wins. We show you the comparison side by side.
How we handle the money side
- Start with your bill. What you pay now is the baseline every option is measured against.
- See the real total. Not just the monthly payment, the full cost over the life of the financing.
- Compare lease versus buy. Side by side, with the Arizona state credit counted where it actually goes.
- You choose. We don't push the option that pays us most. You pick what fits.
Keep going
- Lower your net cost: the Arizona solar incentives and tax credit.
- Estimate your savings to see what a payment could replace.
- What you are financing: panel installation and battery storage.
- Why the math works now: the APS rate increase.
- Financing a system in Phoenix or anywhere in Arizona.
About paying for solar
Can I really get solar with $0 down in Arizona?
Yes, $0-down financing is common. You take a loan that covers the system, and the loan payment replaces most of what you were paying the utility. The thing to watch is the total cost over the life of the loan, including any fees, which we lay out plainly before you sign.
Is it better to lease solar or buy it?
For most Arizona homeowners, financing to own comes out ahead, because you keep the long-term savings and the Arizona state tax credit instead of handing them to someone else. A lease can make sense in narrow cases. We will tell you which one you are in honestly, even when owning means we get paid later.
Are there incentives that lower what I finance?
When you own your system, the Arizona state tax credit gives you a flat $1,000 on your state return (technically 25% of the cost, capped at $1,000 lifetime). The 30% federal residential credit ended on December 31, 2025, so an owned system in 2026 does not earn it; we build your numbers on that reality, not an outdated figure. See the incentives page for the current picture.
What credit score do I need for a solar loan?
Lenders set their own bars, and there are options across a range of credit profiles. Rather than guess, we run your situation against the available programs during the free review so you see real numbers, not a generic answer.
See your real numbers, all of them.
Bring a recent bill and we'll run the financing options for your home so you see total cost, not just a monthly payment. About 15 minutes. It's your call from there.