Lease and PPA worksheet
Solar Lease and PPA Quote Checklist
Use this checklist when a solar proposal is structured as a lease or PPA. Compare payment escalation, ownership, transfer rules, buyout language, removal obligations, and service responsibility before signing.
Monthly payment and escalator
- What is the starting monthly payment, and does it increase every year?
- Is the escalator fixed, tied to inflation, or described in another way?
- What is the total payment over the full contract term if the escalator applies?
- Does the proposal compare the lease or PPA against a cash purchase baseline for the same system?
Ownership, incentives, and production
- Who owns the system, renewable credits, monitoring account, and any incentive eligibility?
- Is the production guarantee written in kWh, percentage, or another formula?
- What happens if actual production is below the proposal estimate?
- Are tax-credit or incentive references written as provider benefits, homeowner assumptions, or marketing examples?
Transfer, buyout, and removal
- What happens if you sell the home before the contract ends?
- Can the buyer assume the agreement, and what approval process is required?
- What are the buyout rules, timing windows, and pricing formula?
- Who pays for panel removal and reinstallation if the roof needs work?
Service and end-of-term questions
- Who handles monitoring, inverter replacement, roof leak claims, and workmanship issues?
- What happens if the provider, installer, or service company changes ownership?
- What are the options at the end of the contract: renewal, purchase, removal, or transfer?
- Can you get the contract language in writing before treating monthly savings as reliable?
Pair the checklist with scenario math
Run the lease-vs-buy calculator beside this checklist. Monthly payment can look simple, but contract transfer, buyout, service, and removal terms decide much of the long-run risk.