Prepaid Solar Lease FAQ

Participate Energy is the financing partner that owns the solar (and optional battery) system on your roof during the prepaid lease term. They structure the lease, hold the equipment ownership, and administer the up-to-30% discount mechanism. Sunergy Systems remains your installer and primary local point of contact — handling design, install, service, and warranty support — while Participate Energy holds the lease.

Sunergy Systems chose Participate Energy because their prepaid lease is the cleanest, most homeowner-friendly leasing product on the market: a single upfront payment, no monthly bills, no escalators, freely assignable on home sale with no credit check, and a transparent buyout schedule. It pairs Sunergy's installation quality with the financial advantages of a third-party-owned system.

Traditional solar leases and PPAs charge a monthly fee or per-kWh rate that escalates over time, and transferring the lease at home sale typically requires the buyer to qualify financially. The Sunergy/Participate Energy prepaid lease is fundamentally different: one upfront payment, no monthly bills, no escalators, and a freely-assignable transfer with no buyer credit check or qualification.

Sunergy Systems offers a prepaid solar lease that delivers up to a 30% discount off the cash purchase price of your solar system. The lease is paid in full in one upfront payment — there are no monthly lease payments — and the discount is applied at the start. You receive the savings immediately rather than waiting for tax season, and there's no IRS form to file. This is the primary way Washington homeowners can capture a 30% reduction on solar in 2026.

Through the prepaid solar lease offered by Sunergy Systems, the financing structure passes value to homeowners that reduces the effective price of their system by up to 30% off the cash purchase price. The lease is a single upfront payment with no monthly payments. Unlike the previous federal Investment Tax Credit, which required the homeowner to claim it on a tax return, this discount is built into the lease and applied upfront — no tax filing required.

Yes. With the Sunergy Systems prepaid solar lease, the up-to-30% discount off the cash purchase price is applied at the very start. You make a single upfront payment, with no monthly payments after that. You don't need to file any IRS forms, you don't need to wait for tax season, and you don't need a specific tax liability to benefit. The savings are baked into your lease terms from day one.

The up-to-30% discount on the Sunergy Systems prepaid solar lease is applied at the very start — it's reflected directly in the single upfront payment you make. There's no waiting period, no need to file a tax return, and no need to claim the savings later. You see the reduced price in your lease agreement immediately.

No. Sunergy Systems offers a prepaid solar lease, which means the full lease is paid in one upfront payment at the start of the project. There are no monthly lease payments at any point during the lease term, and no future bills from the lease provider. Your only ongoing solar-related costs are your standard utility connection charges and any optional service items.

The Sunergy Systems prepaid solar lease through Participate Energy runs 25 years, matching the warranty period of the solar equipment. If you also lease a battery, the prepaid battery lease runs 10 years. Both leases are paid in full at the start in a single upfront payment — there are no monthly payments during either term. You benefit from 100% of the energy production and battery storage for the full lease length, and both leases are freely assignable to a new homeowner if you sell.

The Sunergy Systems prepaid solar lease is a single upfront payment with no monthly payments. The exact amount depends on system size and the specifics of your design — but because the lease delivers an up-to-30% discount off the cash purchase price, the upfront payment is meaningfully lower than buying the equivalent system outright in cash. Your free Sunergy Systems proposal includes the exact upfront figure for your home.

All at once. The Sunergy Systems solar lease is structured as a prepaid lease — you make a single upfront payment that covers the full lease term, then there are no monthly payments after that. Because it's prepaid in full, there's no future balance to pay off. The system stays in place for the full lease length, and the lease is freely assignable to a new homeowner if you sell.

No. The Sunergy Systems prepaid solar lease is a single upfront payment that covers the entire term. There are no annual fees, no service charges, and no recurring lease bills from Participate Energy at any point during the lease.

Absolutely. We encourage prospective customers to review the lease agreement with their attorney, financial advisor, or anyone else they trust. The contract is plain-language and is provided well in advance of signing. Sunergy Systems and Participate Energy will answer any questions your reviewer raises.

From signed contract to a fully operational system, the typical timeline is 8 to 14 weeks: 1–2 weeks for design, 2–6 weeks for permits and approvals, 1–3 weeks for equipment procurement, and 1–2 days for the physical install. Utility interconnection approval can add additional time afterward. Sunergy Systems manages the full process and keeps you updated throughout.

The Sunergy Systems prepaid solar lease is freely assignable to a new homeowner if you sell your home. There is no credit check and no approval process for the buyer. The buyer and seller simply sign a simple transfer document, and the new homeowner takes over the lease with the same terms and conditions — including the existing solar system, the production it generates, and the original lease length. Because it's a prepaid lease, there are no remaining payments for the buyer to assume.

Yes — the prepaid lease is well-suited for homeowners who may sell their home. Because the lease is freely assignable with no credit check or buyer approval, transferring it to a new owner is just a signed form. Solar typically adds resale value, and the prepaid structure means there are no remaining payments for the buyer to assume.

The Sunergy Systems prepaid solar lease is paid in a single upfront payment, so refinancing in the traditional sense doesn't apply — there are no monthly payments to refinance and no outstanding balance to repay. If you have questions about ownership conversion or the lease structure, your Sunergy Systems consultant can walk you through the details.

The prepaid lease does not appear on your property title. Participate Energy may file a UCC-1 fixture filing to document ownership of the solar equipment on your roof, but this is not a lien on the home itself and does not affect title or your ability to sell, refinance, or pass the home through your estate.

Participate Energy typically files a UCC-1 fixture filing to document their ownership of the solar equipment installed on your roof. This is standard for third-party-owned solar — it identifies the panels and inverter as their property and is not a lien on your home itself. It does not affect your title or your ability to sell, refinance, or pass the home through your estate.

Yes. The prepaid solar lease through Participate Energy includes a voluntary Early Purchase Option that lets you take full ownership of your solar system before the lease term ends. Customers can exercise this option starting on the 6th anniversary of the System Installation Date and on any anniversary after that. To request a buyout, you provide Participate Energy with 30 to 90 days' notice.

The Early Purchase Option becomes available on the 6-year anniversary of your lease term and on any anniversary after that. You can also exercise it any time after year 6 if you're selling your home — though a home sale never requires a buyout, since the prepaid lease is freely assignable to the new owner with no credit check or approval. To start the buyout process, provide Participate Energy with a minimum 30 days' and maximum 90 days' notice.

At the time of your inquiry, the system is assessed to determine its current Fair Market Value (FMV). The FMV is then offset by the value of any remaining offsetting obligations Participate Energy owes you. In many cases, the resulting balance is zero or a small incremental amount — meaning you can take full ownership at little to no additional cost. The balance will never be less than $0; the most common outcome at year 6 or beyond is a low or zero buyout figure.

You have two options if you disagree with Participate Energy's FMV assessment. You can request a third-party appraisal at Participate Energy's cost, and the result of that appraisal will be used to set the buyout price. Or you can continue with the lease as-is and revisit a buyout in a future year. Because the lease is fully prepaid, there's no financial downside to waiting — you owe no future payments either way.

Many homeowners choose to remain in the prepaid lease even when they're eligible to buy out — because the lease itself has no future payments and includes meaningful long-term benefits. Equipment warranty coverage continues to be routed through Participate Energy, and at the end of the 25-year lease term Participate Energy covers the cost of removing the system if you'd like it removed. Exercising an Early Purchase transfers those responsibilities to you, so staying in the lease is often the more cost-effective choice.

Once the Early Purchase is complete, you own the solar system outright and Participate Energy's responsibilities under the lease terminate. Any remaining workmanship warranties from the original installer (Sunergy Systems) remain in place and transfer to you as the new owner of the system. From that point forward you handle any future maintenance, monitoring, and end-of-life decisions for the system.

At the end of the 25-year prepaid solar lease, you have three options: (1) extend the lease with Participate Energy, (2) purchase the system at fair market value (typically minimal at that point), or (3) request that Participate Energy remove the system at no cost to you. Most homeowners choose ownership or extension to keep the system producing free electricity for years to come.

Yes. At the end of the 25-year term, customers can request a lease extension with Participate Energy. Specific terms — length, fees, equipment refurbishment requirements — are determined at the time of extension based on the system's then-current condition. Many homeowners find extension is the most cost-effective choice once a system has fully paid for itself.

Sunergy Systems is your primary point of contact for any service or maintenance needs throughout the lease term. We handle warranty claims with manufacturers, dispatch service techs when needed, and coordinate with Participate Energy on any equipment-related decisions. You don't manage multiple vendors — Sunergy is the single point of contact.

You — the homeowner — are the primary monitor of your system's performance. Real-time and historical production are visible through the manufacturer's app (Enphase Enlighten, Tesla App, etc.), and we recommend checking it regularly. If you notice production that's lower than expected or a panel that has dropped offline, contact Sunergy Systems and we'll investigate. Sunergy Systems and Participate Energy do not proactively monitor your system on your behalf — reporting underproduction is the customer's responsibility.

Routine panel cleaning is generally not needed in the Pacific Northwest — Seattle's regular rainfall keeps panels clean. The prepaid lease does not include scheduled cleaning service. If a specific cleaning is needed (heavy tree sap, post-construction dust, etc.), it can be arranged through Sunergy Systems for a service charge.

Yes. Equipment repairs covered by manufacturer warranties (panels, inverters, batteries) are handled by Sunergy Systems at no cost to you — Sunergy manages the warranty claim and dispatches the repair tech. The Sunergy SolarClad workmanship warranty also covers installation-related issues. Issues outside warranty (like physical damage you cause) are quoted as service work.

The Sunergy Systems 10-year production guarantee — available to both prepaid lease and cash purchase customers — compares actual production to the modeled production from your proposal. If the system underproduces by more than the guarantee allowance, Sunergy compensates you for the shortfall as defined in the warranty. Customers are solely responsible for reviewing their monitoring data and reporting any underperformance to Sunergy so a claim can be filed. Participate Energy does not offer a production guarantee directly.

Yes — adding panels to an existing prepaid-leased system is possible, though it requires a contract amendment with Participate Energy and a new design from Sunergy Systems. Most homeowners avoid this by sizing their initial system for current and anticipated future loads (EVs, heat pumps, etc.). Talk to your Sunergy consultant about future-proofing during the design phase.

Yes. Adding a Tesla Powerwall 3 or Franklin aPower-S battery to an existing solar system can typically be done in a few weeks. The battery has its own separate 10-year prepaid lease (or can be purchased outright), and integrates cleanly with most existing solar systems. Sunergy Systems handles the design, install, and the necessary backup gateway.

Absolutely. Sunergy Systems installs Level 2 EV chargers — including the Tesla Wall Connector — as part of the same project or as standalone installations. Adding the EV charger during the solar install is often the most cost-effective approach, since the panel work and electrical labor can be combined.

If your roof needs significant repair or replacement during the lease term, Sunergy Systems handles temporary removal and reinstallation of the solar panels. The cost depends on the scope of the roof work and the size of the system. We coordinate with your roofer to minimize downtime and protect both the roof and the solar equipment.

Typically the homeowner pays the cost of removing and reinstalling the panels for re-roofing, since the roof work is not related to the solar equipment itself. To avoid this expense, Sunergy Systems recommends that your roof have at least 10 years of remaining life at the time of solar installation. Many customers with older roofs re-roof first, then install solar.

Major home damage during the lease is handled through your homeowners insurance for the home and equipment. Because Participate Energy is listed as a loss-payee on your policy, they receive notifications and any equipment-related insurance proceeds directly. If the home is uninhabitable or destroyed, the lease has provisions for early termination or system relocation. Sunergy Systems coordinates with your insurance adjuster and Participate Energy to handle the situation.

You should notify your insurance company when solar is installed on your home. As part of the lease agreement, Participate Energy requires lease customers to list Participate Energy as a loss-payee on their homeowner's insurance policy. Adding a loss-payee typically does not increase your insurance premium. Most insurers cover the panels as part of your home's structure with little or no premium change. Sunergy Systems provides the documentation your insurer needs.

In the unlikely event Participate Energy ceased operations, the lease and the underlying equipment ownership would typically be transferred to a successor entity. The lease terms — including no monthly payments and the freely-assignable home transfer — would survive the transition. Sunergy Systems remains your local installer regardless and continues to support service and warranty work.

Yes. The Sunergy Systems prepaid solar lease is available throughout the Puget Sound area, including PSE, Seattle City Light, Snohomish PUD, and Tacoma Power territories. Specific equipment options or sizing may vary slightly based on each utility's net-metering rules and interconnection requirements, all of which Sunergy Systems handles for you during the design phase.