Rooftop Solar Quotes Got More Expensive This Year
Here's Why More Homeowners Are Skipping the Purchase

If a solar quote made you wince lately, you are not imagining things.
The problem: the sticker price keeps creeping up

EnergySage's marketplace report, covered by pv magazine USA on October 23, 2026, found that the median quoted price for residential solar rose 3.2%, from $2.49 per watt to $2.57 per watt, comparing the second half of 2025 with the first half of 2026. For a typical 12 kW system, that works out to roughly $30,700 before incentives. Battery storage moved the same direction. The report puts the median battery price up 5%, to about $1,130 per kWh.

The financing squeeze

Paying cash is a stretch for many families, and borrowing is not cheap either. The same report shows median solar loan rates holding at 7.5%. So the choice many homeowners face is a big upfront check, or years of loan payments on top of their utility bill.

What installers are doing about it

Here is the shift worth noticing. The share of installers quoting third-party ownership products on EnergySage climbed from about 14% in January to 41% by the end of June 2026. EnergySage notes part of that jump reflects those products being added to the marketplace in mid-2025, so treat it as a trend, not a precise measure of the whole market. Still, it tells us where the industry is heading: toward ways to go solar that do not start with a $30,000 purchase.

How third-party ownership (TPO) works

In a TPO program, a company installs, owns and maintains the solar and battery system at your home. You pay for the power it produces without buying, leasing, or financing equipment. Many programs are designed to come in below utility rates, with savings of up to 40% depending on your home and program.

Here is what a TPO solar and battery program can offer:

-No large upfront equipment purchase, since the provider owns the system

-A battery paired with solar for backup power and evening use

-Maintenance handled by the provider for the term of the program

-Terms differ by provider, so read the details closely and ask how the rate is set and whether it changes over time. See what fits your home before you compare.

Why it matters to you

When prices rise and loans stay near 7.5%, the question stops being "can I afford solar?" and becomes "which way of going solar fits my budget?"
To find out if your home qualifies for a TPO solar and battery program, visit myhomesolution.org

pv magazine USA, Residential solar prices rise 3.2% as third-party ownership gains ground (Oct. 23, 2026): https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2026/10/23/residential-solar-prices-rise-3-2-as-third-party-ownership-gains-ground/

NRG Clean Power, California solar incentives (Oct. 7, 2026): https://nrgcleanpower.com/learning-center/california-solar-incentives/