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2026 Side-by-Side Comparison
Sunrun is pushing spring 2026 lease offers. Before you sign, see how their escalating payments, 25-year lock-in, and opaque ITC terms compare to NuWatt Propel's fixed payments, 5-year ownership, and transparent Section 48 pass-through.
The federal residential ITC (Section 25D) expired on December 31, 2025. Homeowners who buy solar with cash or a loan get zero federal tax credit. Both NuWatt and Sunrun now use Section 48/48E through third-party system ownership -- the financing company claims the commercial ITC. The difference? How transparently that benefit reaches you, and how long you pay before you own.
Since the residential ITC (Section 25D) expired, the only way homeowners can benefit from a federal solar tax credit is through third-party ownership. A financing company -- not the homeowner, not the installer -- owns the system and claims the Section 48/48E commercial ITC (up to 30% + bonus adders). That company then passes the savings to the homeowner through lower payments. Both Sunrun and NuWatt's Propel partner (Concert Finance) use this structure.
Key takeaway: Both companies use the same Section 48/48E tax credit. The difference is transparency (can you see how much ITC savings reach you?), ownership (when do you own the panels?), and payment structure (fixed vs escalating). The financing company claims the credit in both cases -- not the homeowner, not the installer.
Every term that matters, compared line by line. Spring 2026 contract terms based on publicly available data.
| Contract Term | NuWatt Propel | Sunrun Lease |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly payment structure | Fixed monthly loan payment through Concert Finance. Payment never changes. | Monthly lease/PPA payment. Often starts lower but escalates annually. |
| Escalator clause | None. $0 annual increase. Your payment in year 1 = your payment in year 5. | Typically 1.9%--2.9% annual escalator. Compounds every year for 20--25 years. |
| Contract length | 5, 6.5, or 8 year payoff terms. System owned after final payment. | 20--25 year lease. Renewal or buyout at end of term. |
| Buyout options | Pay off anytime with $0 prepayment penalty. 3 reamortization dates (months 12, 24, 36). | Fair market value buyout after ~6 years. Full buyout at end of term. |
| Equipment | Silfab 440W panels (American-made, FEOC-compliant). 25-yr product, 30-yr performance warranty. | Varies by market. May include proprietary panels. Warranty covered by Sunrun during lease. |
| System monitoring | 25-year real-time monitoring included with all plans. | Monitoring included during lease term via Sunrun app. |
| Transfer at home sale | Transfer to buyer or pay off remaining balance at closing. If already owned (yr 5+), no strings. | Transfer requires buyer credit approval. Remaining escalating payments may concern buyers. |
| Performance guarantee | 5-year performance guarantee. If panels underperform, the difference is covered. | Performance guarantee during lease term (20--25 years). |
| Roof penetration warranty | 10-year roof warranty against leaks from installation. | Roof warranty during lease term. Terms vary by market. |
Data current as of March 2026. Sunrun terms vary by market and contract. NuWatt Propel available in ME and TX. Ask for the specific contract before signing with any provider.
How NuWatt Propel and Sunrun's solar lease stack up on the things that matter most to homeowners in 2026.
| Feature | NuWatt Propel | Sunrun Lease |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Prepaid ESA + loan (Concert Finance) | Traditional lease or PPA |
| Upfront cost | $0 | $0 |
| Payment escalator | Fixed payment -- no escalator, ever | Often 1.9--2.9% annual escalator |
| Ownership timeline | Own as early as year 5 | 20--25 year lease, buyout at end |
| Section 48 ITC benefit | ~30% passed through via lower payment | Built into lease pricing (less transparent) |
| Solar panels | Silfab 440W (American-made, FEOC-qualified) | Varies -- often proprietary or unspecified |
| System monitoring | 25-year monitoring included | Included during lease term |
| O&M coverage | Full coverage years 1--5, optional after | Included during lease term |
| Transferable at sale | Yes, or pay off balance at closing | Yes, with buyer credit check required |
| Available states | ME, TX (expanding 2026) | 22+ states |
Many Sunrun leases include an annual payment escalator of 1.9%–2.9%. That sounds small, but compound growth is relentless. Here is what happens to a $150/month payment with a 2.9% annual escalator:
Year 1: $150/mo ($1,800/yr)
Year 10: $195/mo ($2,335/yr)
Year 15: $225/mo ($2,694/yr)
Year 20: $259/mo ($3,108/yr)
Year 25: $299/mo ($3,586/yr)
Over 25 years with a 2.9% escalator, you pay $65,640 total -- and you still do not own the panels. With NuWatt Propel at a fixed $150/mo for 5 years, you pay $9,000 total, then own the system and pay $0/mo for the next 20+ years. That is a $56,640 difference.
| Year | Sunrun (2.9%) | NuWatt Propel |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $1,800/yr | $1,800/yr |
| Year 5 | $2,024/yr | $1,800/yr |
| Year 10 | $2,335/yr | $0/yr (owned) |
| Year 15 | $2,694/yr | $0/yr (owned) |
| Year 20 | $3,108/yr | $0/yr (owned) |
| Year 25 | $3,586/yr | $0/yr (owned) |
| 25-yr total | $65,640 | ~$9,000* |
*NuWatt total assumes 5-year payoff at $150/mo. After payoff, $0/mo for remaining 20 years. Actual payment depends on system size and state. Sunrun total calculated with 2.9% annual compounding on $150/mo base.
Adjust the starting payment, escalator rate, and contract length to see exactly what a solar lease costs over time -- and how it compares to owning with Propel.
See how escalating payments add up over your contract
Sunrun Total
$64,773
avg $216/mo
Propel Total
$9,000
then $0/mo (owned)
You Save
$55,773
with Propel
Cash Purchase
$24,480
8 kW @ $3.06/W
Effective cost of electricity: Sunrun lease = ~24.9c/kWh over 25 years | Propel = ~17.3c/kWh for 5 years, then free | Cash purchase = ~9.4c/kWh over 25 years (but no ITC in 2026)
Based on 8 kW system producing ~10,400 kWh/yr. Actual production varies by location and roof orientation.
Not meant to be confrontational -- just facts homeowners should understand before committing to a 25-year contract.
A 2.9% annual escalator does not add $4.35/month each year. It compounds. Year 1's increase is $4.35, but year 20's increase is $7.50. By year 25, your $150 payment has nearly doubled to $299/month. Over the full 25-year term, you pay $65,640 -- compared to $45,000 if the payment stayed flat. The escalator adds more than $20,000.
With a Sunrun lease, Sunrun owns the panels on your roof for the entire 20--25 year term. You are renting their equipment. At the end, you can buy at fair market value, renew, or have them removed. With NuWatt Propel, Concert Finance owns the system for 5 years (to claim the ITC), then full ownership transfers to you.
Sunrun files a UCC-1 financing statement on your property. While not technically a lien, it appears on your title and can complicate home sales and refinancing. Some buyers and lenders are wary of properties with 20+ year solar agreements attached. Real estate agents report that homes with solar leases can take longer to sell or require negotiation around the lease transfer.
Sunrun serves millions of customers nationwide. That scale means customer service can be impersonal. BBB reviews and public consumer forums show common complaints around response times, billing disputes, and service scheduling. As a local installer, NuWatt handles fewer customers per crew, which means faster response times and a direct line to your project manager.
Both Sunrun and NuWatt Propel benefit from the Section 48 commercial ITC. But with Sunrun, the ITC savings are baked into the lease rate -- you cannot independently verify how much of the 30% credit actually reaches you. With Propel, the ITC reduction is shown as a line item in your financing agreement. You see exactly how much the tax credit lowered your total cost.
Ownership is the single biggest differentiator. Once you own your system, every kilowatt-hour it produces is pure savings -- no monthly payment, no escalator, no strings.
Year 1–5: Fixed monthly payments through Concert Finance loan
Year 5 (or 6.5 / 8): Loan paid off -- you own the system outright
Year 5–25+: $0 monthly payment. Free electricity. Full home value add.
Total ownership cost: ~$9,000–$16,000 depending on system size and payoff term
Year 1–20: Monthly lease payments (often with annual escalator)
Year 20–25: Option to renew lease, buy at FMV, or have panels removed
Ownership: Only after 20+ years, at fair market value (additional cost)
Total lease cost: ~$57,000–$65,000+ over 25 years (with 1.9–2.9% escalator on $150/mo base)
We believe in honesty. A Sunrun lease is not always the wrong choice. Here are scenarios where it could make sense for you.
The panels installed on your home determine energy production, warranty coverage, and eligibility for ITC bonus adders.
Under Section 48, systems using components from a Foreign Entity of Concern (China, Russia, etc.) may lose eligibility for the domestic content bonus adder worth an additional 10% ITC. NuWatt's Silfab panels are FEOC-compliant by design. With Sunrun, panel sourcing varies -- ask specifically about FEOC compliance before signing. Projects must begin construction before July 4, 2026.
Solar can add value to your home -- or create a headache for buyers. The structure of your solar agreement makes all the difference.
NuWatt operates in 9 states with cash and loan options. Propel (the $0-down TPO product) is currently available in Maine and Texas. Sunrun covers 22+ states with leases and PPAs.
| State | NuWatt Options | Propel ($0 Down) | Sunrun Available |
|---|---|---|---|
Massachusetts | Cash, Loan | Coming soon | |
Connecticut | Cash, Loan | Coming soon | |
Rhode Island | Cash, Loan | Coming soon | |
New Hampshire | Cash, Loan | Coming soon | |
New Jersey | Cash, Loan | Coming soon | |
Maine | Cash, Loan, Propel | ||
Texas | Cash, Loan, Propel | ||
Pennsylvania | Cash, Loan | Coming soon | |
Vermont | Cash, Loan | Coming soon |
Not in Maine or Texas? NuWatt offers cash and loan installations in MA, CT, RI, NH, NJ, PA, and VT. While Propel is not yet available in these states, you can still go solar with us. If you are outside our service area entirely, a Sunrun lease may be your best $0-down option -- just understand the escalator and ownership terms before signing.
Common questions about Sunrun leases, NuWatt Propel, and solar financing in 2026.
No. Propel is a hybrid financing structure -- a prepaid Energy Services Agreement (ESA) combined with a fixed-rate loan through Concert Finance. You own the system outright as early as year 5, unlike a traditional lease where the company owns the panels for the entire 20--25 year term.
Many Sunrun leases include an annual payment escalator of 1.9% to 2.9%. This means your monthly payment increases every year. Over 25 years, a $150/month payment with a 2.9% escalator becomes roughly $299/month by year 25. NuWatt Propel has zero escalator -- your payment stays the same from year 1 through payoff.
Both NuWatt Propel and Sunrun use Section 48/48E through third-party ownership -- the financing company (not the installer or homeowner) claims the commercial ITC. NuWatt transparently passes approximately 30% of savings through to you via a lower payment. Sunrun folds the ITC into their lease pricing, making it harder to verify how much benefit reaches you.
With a Sunrun lease, you can purchase the system at the end of the 20--25 year term at fair market value. Some contracts allow a buyout after 6 years, also at fair market value. With NuWatt Propel, you own the system after paying off the loan -- as early as year 5. After ownership, your electricity is essentially free.
Both are transferable, but with different implications. A Sunrun lease requires the buyer to pass a credit check and assume the remaining lease payments (which may still be escalating). NuWatt Propel can be transferred or paid off at closing. If you already own the system outright (after year 5+), it simply adds value to your home with no strings attached.
NuWatt uses Silfab 440W panels, which are American-made and FEOC (Foreign Entity of Concern) compliant -- a requirement for maximum Section 48 ITC adders. Sunrun panel selection varies by market and may include proprietary or lower-tier equipment. FEOC compliance matters because it qualifies the system for domestic content bonus adders under Section 48.
It depends on your situation. If you live in a state where NuWatt Propel is not available and you want $0 down solar, a Sunrun lease can still save you money compared to your utility bill. However, you should understand the escalator clause, know that you will not own the panels for 20+ years, and compare the total cost to other options. Use the escalator calculator on this page to see your true total cost.
If Sunrun were to experience financial difficulties, your lease agreement would likely be transferred to another entity. However, since Sunrun owns the panels, you would not automatically gain ownership. Warranty service could be disrupted. With NuWatt Propel, you own the system by year 5, so your equipment and warranty are not tied to the financing company long-term.
Sunrun files a UCC-1 financing statement (fixture filing), which is not technically a lien but appears on your title and can complicate a home sale or refinance. Some buyers and lenders view it similarly to a lien. With NuWatt Propel, the Concert Finance loan is secured but is paid off within 5--8 years, after which there are no encumbrances on your property.
NuWatt Propel (the $0-down TPO financing option) is currently available in Maine and Texas. NuWatt also offers cash and loan installations in MA, CT, RI, NH, NJ, PA, and VT. If Propel is not available in your state yet, join our waitlist -- we are expanding to additional markets in 2026.
The residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) expired on December 31, 2025. If you buy solar with cash or a loan in 2026, you receive $0 back from the IRS. The only way to benefit from a federal solar tax credit in 2026 is through third-party ownership (like Propel or a Sunrun lease), where the financing company claims the commercial ITC (Section 48/48E) and passes savings to you.
A Sunrun lease starting at $150/month with a 2.9% annual escalator costs approximately $65,640 over 25 years -- and you still do not own the panels. With a 1.9% escalator, the total is approximately $57,366. Use the interactive calculator on this page to model your specific starting payment and escalator rate.
Spring 2026 Propel Offer
$0 down, fixed payments, own by year 5
The Solar Escalator Trap
Deep dive into how escalators compound
Why Lease/PPA Wins in 2026
Post-ITC landscape explained
Maine Propel Details
State-specific pricing and terms
Texas Propel Details
State-specific pricing and terms
Propel vs Solar Loan
Which financing option is better for you?
FEOC deadline: July 4, 2026 -- construction must begin before this date
See how NuWatt Propel works in your state. Get a personalized quote with transparent pricing -- no escalator, no surprises, ownership by year 5.
Section 48/48E available for projects beginning construction before July 4, 2026. The financing company claims the credit, not the homeowner.