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Yes — genuinely $0 down through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Here's how it actually works: instead of buying the panels, you're buying the electricity they produce at a fixed rate that's lower than what ERCOT charges you today. Solaris owns the equipment, handles all maintenance, and you just pay a lower bill. There's no hidden upfront cost because the system pays for itself through your savings.

Your total monthly payment goes down. You'll pay a fixed solar rate that's lower than your current ERCOT rate — typically 20–35% less. The key difference is your ERCOT rate goes up every year. Your solar rate is locked in. So the savings actually grow over time as utility prices keep rising.

No installation fee, no maintenance fee, no cancellation fee within the review period. The only thing you pay is your monthly solar rate — which is lower than your current bill. Your proposal will spell out the exact rate before you sign anything.

Texas law gives you a 3-day right of rescission after signing — meaning you can cancel for any reason within 3 days, no questions asked. After that, PPA agreements are typically 20–25 year contracts, but they are transferable if you sell your home (more on that below).

Everything happens online. You answer 5 eligibility questions, our AI scans your roof using satellite imagery (the same technology used by Google Maps), and generates a custom proposal showing your panel layout, system size, and exact savings estimate. You review it on your own time, sign digitally if it makes sense, and our crew handles the physical installation. No in-person visit until install day.

Very accurate for the vast majority of homes. Aurora Solar's satellite technology measures your roof pitch, surface area, shading from trees and structures, and your local solar irradiance (sun hours). The proposals are within 5–10% of an in-person assessment for standard homes. If your roof has unusual features, your installer will confirm everything before install.

Typically 4–8 weeks from signature to panels being live. This includes permitting (2–4 weeks depending on your city), the install itself (1–2 days for most homes), and grid interconnection approval from your utility. The installation crew handles all of this — you don't have to deal with any paperwork.

Yes, someone 18+ needs to be home on install day. The crew typically takes 6–8 hours for a standard residential install. They'll work on the roof and in your attic to connect the inverter. You don't need to do anything — just let them in and they handle the rest.

Not necessarily. We've completed installs on roofs up to 20 years old. The key question is whether your roof has at least 10–12 years of life left (panel warranties are 25 years). If your roof needs replacing soon, some programs can bundle a roof replacement into the financing. Your advisor will assess this from the satellite data and let you know before anything is signed.

No — when installed correctly, solar panels actually protect the portion of your roof they cover from UV exposure and weather. All penetrations are sealed with weatherproof flashing. In the rare event of an installation-related leak, it's covered under the installer's workmanship warranty. Panels themselves are covered under a 25-year manufacturer warranty.

The satellite analysis accounts for shading from trees, chimneys, and neighboring structures. If your roof has significant shading, your proposal will reflect that — and if the savings aren't meaningful, we'll tell you honestly. Solar only makes sense if the numbers work for you.

South-facing roofs are ideal, but east and west-facing roofs work well too — especially in Texas where sun hours are high. North-facing roofs are less ideal but can still work if there's enough surface area. The satellite proposal will show exactly how many panels fit and their projected output based on your actual roof orientation.

Yes, but it'll be very small. On a PPA, you still pay your utility for any power you use beyond what your panels produce — typically just a small grid connection fee ($10–$30/mo) plus any nighttime usage. Most homeowners see their total combined bill (solar rate + utility) come out 20–35% lower than before.

Panels still produce on cloudy days — just at reduced output (typically 10–25% of peak). Texas gets around 200+ sunny days per year, which is excellent for solar. Your system is sized to produce enough annual energy to cover your usage even accounting for seasonal variation. You stay connected to the grid as a backup on low-production days.

Standard grid-tied solar systems (without a battery) do shut off during a grid outage — this is a safety requirement so repair crews aren't endangered by live lines. If backup power during outages is a priority, we can discuss battery storage options (like a Tesla Powerwall) as an add-on. This is worth flagging if it matters to you.

It depends on your current bill and usage. Texas homeowners on the Solaris PPA typically save between $80–$250/month. The only way to get your exact number is to run your proposal — which takes 2 minutes and costs nothing. Your custom proposal will show your projected savings for every year of the agreement.

For our standard PPA program, a 640+ credit score is preferred. We do work with some financing partners that go down to 600. If your credit is below that, it doesn't automatically disqualify you — your income, home value, and other factors are also considered. The credit check is a soft pull during the proposal stage, which doesn't affect your score.

Yes — go through the eligibility check and we'll let you know where you stand. You can also check your credit score for free at Credit Karma or through your bank app. Many have scores that are higher than they think.

No. The initial eligibility check and proposal stage only involves a soft pull, which is invisible to other lenders and doesn't impact your score. A hard pull only happens if you choose to proceed with financing — and you'll be told before that happens.

In most cases, yes. Texas passed the Texas Property Owner's Bill of Rights (Section 202.010 of the Texas Property Code), which prohibits HOAs from banning solar panels outright. They can regulate the placement to minimize street visibility, but they cannot prevent installation entirely. We help you navigate the HOA approval process as part of permitting.

You have two options. First, you can transfer the PPA agreement to the new buyer — most buyers accept this since they're inheriting lower electricity costs and a home with added value. Second, in some cases you can buy out the remaining contract at a pre-agreed rate. Studies show solar homes sell faster and for 3–4% more on average than comparable non-solar homes.

This is rare since buyers are inheriting a lower electric bill, which is a selling point. But if it happens, you can negotiate the buyout into the sale price. Your Solaris agreement will spell out the exact buyout terms upfront so there are no surprises when you sell.

Great news — Texas offers a 100% property tax exemption for the added value of solar installations. This means even though solar increases your home's market value, you won't pay higher property taxes because of it. It's one of the best solar incentives in the country and unique to Texas.