Both let a homeowner or business go solar without buying the system, but they work differently. With a solar lease, you pay a set monthly amount to use the equipment, no matter how much power it produces. With a power purchase agreement (PPA), you pay for the electricity the system actually generates, usually at a per-kWh rate set in the contract. In both cases a third party owns the system...

Often, yes, but only within limits set by the California Solar Rights Act. When solar goes on a common area, including a shared roof, the Civil Code lets an HOA require the owner to take responsibility for maintenance, repair and replacement, to carry liability insurance and to indemnify the association. Some covenants go further than the law allows, for example by shifting costs that aren't...

We get this question a lot, so here's the short version. In California, the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) treats selling or negotiating home improvement contracts, including residential solar, as work that requires a contractor's license or registration as a home improvement salesperson working for a licensed contractor. A lead generator who only passes along contact information, and...

A new second story or a fast-growing tree next door can cut a solar system's output for decades. A solar easement is one way to protect your access to sunlight before shading becomes a problem. Our new post explains how solar easements work: Your Neighbor's New Addition Could Shade Your Solar: How Solar Easements Protect Your Investment Has shading from a neighbor's property affected your...

Clean energy developers and consultants often do work that sits close to contracting: choosing equipment, managing installers and overseeing construction. Cross the line without a license and your fees may become unrecoverable. Our new post explains how to stay on the right side of California licensing law: Developer, Consultant or Contractor? Staying on the Right Side of Licensing Law When...

When a homeowner needs a new roof, the solar system has to come off and go back on. These jobs look simple, but they raise real questions about pre-existing damage, warranties and who pays when something doesn't work afterward. Our new post covers what contractors should have in their remove-and-reinstall contract: Re-Roofing a Home With Solar? What Contractors Need in Their...

Commission disputes are one of the most common fights between solar companies and their sales reps. Most start when a signed deal cancels, gets redesigned or stalls in permitting. Our new post walks through how to set up clawbacks before they become a problem: Solar Sales Commission Disputes: How to Structure Clawbacks Before They Cost You We'd like to hear from both sides: Sales reps: has a...

If your solar company operates under someone else's contractor license, that person is your qualifier, either as a Responsible Managing Employee (RME) or a Responsible Managing Officer (RMO). The arrangement you choose affects who carries responsibility for your projects and what happens if your qualifier leaves. We wrote up the key differences here: RME vs. RMO: Which License Qualifier...

Hi everyone, We keep hearing from Texas homeowners and installers whose HOA rejected a solar application. Others got an “approval” that only allows panels on the back roof, where the system makes far less power. So we’ve put together two new resources: 📄 Template: Texas HOA Solar Appeal Letter 📝 Blog post: Texas HOA Said No to Your Solar Panels? Here’s How to Appeal The short version of...

Totally agree with both of you; there’s a lot of complexity behind the scenes that isn’t always obvious. It seems like better alignment between regulators and installers could prevent a lot of friction and lead to more practical outcomes.