The leasing companies might post their interest rates, but what good is a low interest rate if you're paying nearly twice the price that you would pay if you purchased the same system from a fair market priced solar dealer?

Unfortunately for consumers across the country, low interest rate solar leasing company loans, power purchase agreements and solar leases are three of the most expensive ways to have solar on your roof. Up to three times the cost of a purchased system from a local or regional dealer using the same name high quality, reliable equipment.

The low interest rate loans offered by the Nevada solar leasing companies may appear enticing at first glance but these low interest rate programs are very expensive for the leasing companies and in the end for the system purchaser. They are known as "buy down loans" and can cost the leasing company thousands of dollars in fees which are simply padded into the price of the system.

While many fair market priced solar dealers are installing systems for less than $2.70 per Watt, the solar lease companies that are selling low interest rate loan programs are pricing their systems between $4.50 to well over $5.00 per Watt, completely wiping out any savings that a low interest rate loan might yield.

To put this into perspective, a typical 5 kW grid tied solar system from a fair market priced solar dealer would cost you less than $13,500 before incentives while the same 5 kW grid tie solar system from a solar leasing company will cost you up to $30,000 before the same incentives!

You'll have to forfeit the 30% federal tax credit and any applicable cash rebate to your Nevada solar leasing company and you won't get tax deductible interest on your lease payments. By purchasing your system with a $0 down FHA solar loan or PACE financing instead, you may qualify for tax deductible interest. Solar leasing company loans, leases and power purchase agreements don't offer tax deductible interest.

Not only are you forfeiting the lucrative 30% federal tax credit worth thousands of dollars but to make matters worse, most if not all $0 down solar leases include an annual payment escalator that will increase your monthly payment by up to 2.9% per year, every year for 20 years. A lease payment that may start at $80 per month can run into the hundreds of dollars toward the end of a lease contract.

You'll typically pay so much more to purchase or rent a system from a Nevada solar leasing dealer than a purchase from a local or regional non-leasing dealer, that's it's actually you who will be over-paying to maintain, monitor and insure the leasing company's equipment.

You'll probably have problems selling your Nevada home with a solar lease or power purchase agreement attached to it. What home buyer will want to assume your remaining lease payments on a used, outdated solar system when they can own a brand new system with the latest technology and keep the 30% federal tax credit for thousands less.