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Solar vs Grid Calculator

Three ways to power your home for the next 25 years: keep paying the utility, buy solar with cash, or finance it. This shows the total cost of each path and when solar pulls ahead.

Assumes a system sized to offset your bill, a 3%/yr utility rate increase, 0.5%/yr panel degradation, and current federal/state incentives for the default install year. Cash and loan paths still include a small residual utility bill. Planning estimate, not a quote.

25-year savings vs staying on the grid (cash)
$0
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  • Stay on the grid — 25-yr total—
  • Solar, cash purchase — 25-yr total—
  • Solar, financed — 25-yr total—
  • Cash breakeven vs grid—
  • Financed breakeven vs grid—
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How to read this

  • Stay on the grid — you pay the full electricity bill every year, and it grows with rate inflation.
  • Cash purchase — you pay the net system cost up front, then only a small residual bill. Cheapest over 25 years, most cash needed now.
  • Financed — no big up-front cost, but loan payments plus the residual bill. Breakeven comes later; after the loan is paid off, savings accelerate.

The comparison ignores home-value gains, battery backup value and any lease/PPA option. More on solar financing →