Solar PPA, loan or cash — priced the same, modeled honestly.
A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) lets you go solar with $0 down and pay only for the electricity the system produces — often at a rate 20–30% below what SDG&E currently charges. Nuon Energy underwrites PPAs, $0-down solar loans and cash purchases through vetted lenders, then hands you the side-by-side math so you can pick what actually pencils for your household or business.
What is a solar PPA?
A Power Purchase Agreement is a long-term contract (typically 20–25 years) where a third-party solar owner installs the system on your roof at no upfront cost, then sells you the electricity it generates at a fixed per-kWh rate. You don't own the equipment, but you also don't carry the maintenance, monitoring or warranty risk — the PPA provider does.
For businesses, PPAs are often the fastest way to deploy solar without impacting the capital budget. For homeowners under NEM 3.0, PPAs have re-entered the conversation because they eliminate the payback-period math entirely: you're just swapping a higher SDG&E bill for a lower solar bill on day one.
PPA vs Loan vs Cash — which pencils best?
| Path | Upfront | Ownership | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash purchase | Full system cost | You own it | Fastest payback, highest lifetime savings, claims the full 30% ITC. |
| $0-down loan | $0 | You own it | Most homeowners — keeps ITC, monthly payment often less than SDG&E bill. |
| PPA | $0 | Third party owns | Businesses, renters-of-roof, anyone who doesn't want ownership risk. |
No out-of-pocket cost at signing.
Fixed escalator, immune to SDG&E hikes.
Monitoring, repair and warranty on the PPA provider.
With buyout options at year 6, 10 and 15.
When a PPA doesn't make sense
- You have the cash and want the fastest payback — cash purchase almost always wins.
- You have tax appetite to absorb the full 30% ITC — a loan lets you keep it.
- You plan to sell the home within 3–5 years — PPA transfer paperwork can slow closing.
- You want maximum long-term savings — you own the panels but not the electricity in a PPA.
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