TOP 10 Solar Myths
August 30, 2024Solar Lease vs Buy — The $17,000 Difference Nobody Tells You
May 9, 2026Most homeowners who regret going solar didn’t make a bad decision about solar itself — they made a bad decision about who they hired and what they signed. After 15 years and 1,675+ installations, Jon has seen every mistake in the book. Here’s what to know before you write a single check.
For New Jersey homeowners: If you’re a New Jersey homeowner evaluating solar, this decision carries more financial weight than in most states — because NJ’s full net metering and SREC program mean a properly designed and correctly permitted system earns you significantly more over its lifetime. The guidance below applies nationally but is especially important in NJ, where the upside of getting it right — and the downside of getting it wrong — are both substantial.
Get Multiple Quotes — But Read Them Carefully
Solar quotes vary wildly, and not just on price. Some quotes use cheap panels with short warranties. Some bury an escalator clause in the financing. Some show you a system that’s undersized because a bigger one would make the price comparison harder. Get at least three quotes, compare the panel brands, warranty terms, and production estimates — not just the monthly payment.
When comparing quotes, normalize by price per watt — divide the total system cost by the system size in watts. In NJ right now, fair market rate for a quality installation with REC or QCell panels and Enphase microinverters runs $2.60–$3.00 per watt. Above $3.20, ask what you’re paying for. Below $2.40, ask what’s been left out.
Own, Don’t Lease
Leases and PPAs transfer the SREC income, the tax benefits, and the home resale value to the solar company — not to you. Ownership is almost always the better financial outcome. If you can’t pay cash, a solar loan still gets you ownership. The math on leasing rarely favors the homeowner.
In New Jersey this matters more than almost anywhere else. The NJ SuSI program pays system owners $85 per SREC-II for 15 years. A typical 10 kW NJ system generates 10–11 SRECs a year — $850–$935 annually, locked in for the program term. Over 15 years that’s $12,750–$14,025 in income that flows to whoever owns the system. With a lease, every dollar of that goes to the solar company. With ownership, it’s yours.
Check the Installer’s Track Record
Ask how long they’ve been in business. Ask for references from installs done 3–5 years ago — not last month. Check their reviews on Google, not just the ones on their own website. A company that’s been around for five years with 200+ Google reviews is a different animal from one that launched eighteen months ago. The solar industry has had a lot of companies come and go — you want a contractor who’ll still be there when your warranty matters.
In New Jersey, also verify licenses. Your installer needs a valid NJ Home Improvement Contractor license from the Division of Consumer Affairs, an electrical contractor license, and adequate liability and workers comp insurance. Ask for the license numbers. A legitimate installer provides them without hesitation.
Understand What You’re Actually Buying
Your system has four key components: panels, inverters, racking, and monitoring. Ask the installer what brand each one is. Look them up. REC, QCell, Silfab — these are solid panel choices. Enphase microinverters are the gold standard for most residential installs. If a quote doesn’t specify brands, ask why.
Panel warranties come in three parts: a product warranty (covering defects — minimum 25 years), a linear power warranty (guaranteeing at least 80–92% of rated output at year 25), and a workmanship warranty from your installer covering the roof penetrations and mounting. All three should be in writing before you sign. Missing any one of them is a gap.
Warning Signs in a Solar Contract
Most homeowners sign a solar contract without reading it closely. Here are the sections that matter.
In leases and PPAs: look for the escalator clause. The monthly payment typically rises 2–3% per year. A $150 payment at 2.9% annual escalation is $313 in year 25. It’s disclosed in the contract — you just have to find it. Also look for the assignment clause, which determines what happens to the lease when you sell. Some NJ buyers’ lenders refuse to close on homes with solar leases — know how your installer’s contracts have handled past sales before you sign.
In financed deals: ask the installer what the all-in cash price is, then compare it to the financed price. If the gap is $5,000–$8,000, that’s a dealer fee embedded in the loan that the lender charges the installer — and the installer is passing it to you. This is legal. It’s also rarely disclosed unless you ask.
SREC Registration — Confirm Before You Sign
Ask every NJ installer: “Will you register my system in PJM GATS for SREC-II income, and is that in our contract?” It should be in writing. GATS registration is what makes your system eligible to generate SRECs under the NJ SuSI program — and it has to be done before your system generates its first 1,000 kWh, or you lose early SRECs that can’t be recovered. An installer who’s vague about GATS registration is either inexperienced with NJ requirements or not planning to do it as part of the job.
Don’t Rush
Any salesperson who tells you this offer expires at midnight is using pressure tactics. Solar prices don’t work that way. A good installer will give you time to review the contract, ask questions, and compare. If they’re rushing you, that’s your answer.
Take at least a week after getting three quotes before signing with anyone. Use that time to verify licenses, call two references, and read the full contract. The NJ solar market has plenty of good installers who will hold a quote for several weeks. If one won’t, that tells you something about how they’ll treat you after the sale too.
What to Expect After You Sign
A lot of homeowners sign a solar contract and then have no idea what’s supposed to happen next. Here’s a realistic timeline for a typical NJ installation. After signing: your installer pulls permits (2–6 weeks depending on your municipality), schedules the install (usually 1–2 days for a residential system), then submits the utility interconnection application. PSE&G and JCP&L typically process interconnection in 4–8 weeks. You can’t turn the system on until you get permission to operate (PTO) from your utility.
Total time from signed contract to first power: typically 2–4 months for a straightforward NJ installation. Projects that run longer usually do so because of permit delays, utility backlog, or complications found during the site survey. Ask your installer for a realistic timeline in writing, with the milestones spelled out, before you sign.
Questions to Ask References
Calling references is something most homeowners do as a formality. Do it seriously. Ask the homeowner specifically: Did the crew show up when they said they would? Were there any surprises in the cost that weren’t in the original contract? Did the system produce close to what was estimated in the first year? Did you have any issues after install, and how did the company respond? What would you do differently if you were starting over?
That last question is the most revealing. Satisfied customers usually can’t think of anything. Customers who had problems — but were still treated well — will tell you exactly what the issue was and how it was resolved. Either answer gives you real information. The homeowner who gives a vague three-sentence positive answer without any specifics is probably just reading from a script they were coached on. Ask follow-up questions until you get concrete details.
Why the First Installer Who Calls Isn’t Your Best Option
Solar leads get sold. When you fill out a form on a solar comparison site or click an ad, your contact information is often sold to 3–6 installers who will call you within minutes. The first one to get you on the phone has a financial incentive to close you fast, before competitors get a chance to present. This is not the right environment for a $25,000–$35,000 decision. Take control of the process: choose who you want to get quotes from, reach out to them on your terms, and don’t let urgency — real or manufactured — push you into a decision you haven’t fully evaluated.
Find Out What Solar Saves You in Your Home
Every home is different — roof angle, usage, utility rate, and local incentives all affect your numbers. Enter your monthly electric bill below for a free savings estimate. Jon reviews every submission personally and follows up within 2 hours.
Ready to Make the Right Call in New Jersey?
Jon has been installing solar across New Jersey for over 15 years — 1,675+ completed projects. If you want a straight answer on which installer questions to ask, what red flags to watch for in a contract, and what your home would actually save, book a free call. No salespeople, no pressure — Jon reviews every estimate personally.
