When I was looking into solar I reviewed the differences between a lease and a purchase.
With the lease you do not own the system. The lease, (say Solar City) owns the system and you purchase electricity from the lease company.
What I found was that the lease company was making a TON of money in credits and also making money on the electricity generated. To me - they should GIVE you the electricity free of charge.
1) They are using YOUR roof. RENT FREE
2) They get 4-5 credits just for being a generator of green energy.
3) They charge you for electricity being generated on YOUR roof.
I decided to BUY, my system - not lease.
1) I own it
2) I got the 30% Federal tax credit
3) I got the $1000 Mass Tax Credit
4) I get the SRECS for 10 years
5) The SRECS pay out 4 times per year. I just got my 4-th check this year, it was for $850 These checks are varying between 500-900 so far.
6) NOW - when I generate electricity it is MINE. I use what I need and the rest goes into the grid. I get a credit on my bill and when I use more than I generate I use the credits.
7) My electric bill is ZERO
Based on the math in #2, #3, #4&5 -- there IS a payback. This does not even include the FREE electricity monthly cost
Over 10 years with a conservative SREC the savings and credits add up to $31500 on my $35,000 solar system. Add in the saved money with FREE electricity of about 12000 conservatively - that is $43,500 putting me at a profit of $8500 over 10 years. In reality - it is better than that.
After 10 years I continue getting FREE electricity.
The company I bought my system from said that a LOT of their customers are Doctors, Engineers and Scientists. All very analytical people.
Personally, I would not buy a house with a leased system on it. Rather, I would buy a house with no system and finance a little more to add on a system. But, that's just my opinion. That plus $5.00 can get you a decent cup of coffee.