Solar PPA · San Jose & the Bay Area
Go Solar With $0 Upfront Through a PPA (Power Purchase Agreement)
Starlight Energy designs and installs your system. You do not buy the equipment. Instead, you pay a predictable monthly amount for the power, with monitoring and maintenance included.
How a PPA (power purchase agreement) works
With a PPA, you do not buy the solar system on your roof. You get the electricity it produces without the cost of buying it.
1. We design and install it
Starlight Energy reviews your PG&E bill and roof, designs the system, pulls the permits, and installs it with our own crew.
2. Service is included
Your plan covers maintenance, warranties, and 24/7 production monitoring for the life of the agreement.
3. You pay for the power
You make one predictable monthly plan payment. You will still get a PG&E bill for any electricity you use beyond what your solar produces.
Why a PPA makes sense for so many California homes
The rules changed in 2026. For many households, a PPA is now the simplest way to go solar.
The homeowner tax credit ended
The 30% federal residential credit (Section 25D) ended for systems completed after December 31, 2025. With a PPA, you do not own the system, so there are no tax forms for you to file and you do not need a tax bill to benefit.
PG&E rates keep climbing
PG&E residential electric rates rose about 39% from January 2021 to March 2026, according to the CPUC’s Public Advocates Office. A PPA sets your rate and its annual increase in writing before you sign.
Batteries matter under Net Billing
Under California’s Net Billing Tariff (often called NEM 3.0), solar you send to the grid earns less than before. In PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E territory, a PPA can include a home battery that stores daytime solar for the evening and, when set up for backup, can power your home during an outage.
$0 upfront
There is no down payment and no equipment to buy. Checking whether you qualify uses a soft credit check, which does not affect your credit score.
Service is included
Plans include a 25-year panel and inverter warranty, a 25-year workmanship warranty, a 10-year roof penetration warranty, and a 25-year, 90% production guarantee.
Contracts in Spanish
Plan agreements are available in Spanish in California, and our team explains every page in English or Spanish before you sign.
Buying vs. a PPA
Both are good options. The right one depends on your budget, your taxes, and how hands-on you want to be.
| Buy (cash or loan) | PPA (power purchase agreement) | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Full system price, or financed with a loan | $0 |
| Who owns the system | You | The plan provider. You pay for the power |
| Federal tax credit | Homeowner credit ended after 2025 | No tax forms for you |
| Maintenance and repairs | Your responsibility after warranties | Included for the life of the agreement |
| Monthly costs | Loan payment (if financed) plus PG&E bill | Plan payment plus PG&E bill |
| Best for | Homeowners who want to own the equipment | Homeowners who want a predictable payment with service included |
What you pay with a PPA
You pay a set rate for each kilowatt-hour your system produces. Any annual increase applies to that per-kWh rate, and it is written in your agreement before you sign.
Is a PPA a good fit for you?
Often a strong fit if you
- Want solar without a down payment or a loan
- Do not want to depend on a tax credit
- Want maintenance and monitoring handled for you
- Want a battery for evening use and outages
- Plan to stay in your home, or are comfortable transferring the plan when you sell
Worth a closer look if you
- Are on a discounted rate such as CARE or FERA, since solar may save less or not at all
- Have a roof that needs replacing soon
- Would rather own the equipment outright
We will tell you honestly if buying, a plan, or waiting makes more sense.
How it works with Starlight Energy
- Bill and roof reviewWe look at 12 months of PG&E usage and your roof, panel, and shading.
- Design and proposalWe design the system and walk you through your plan proposal line by line.
- Sign and confirmYou review the agreement, then confirm the system, payment, and terms on a welcome call.
- Permit and installWe pull permits, install, and pass city inspection.
- PG&E approvalWe handle interconnection. Once PG&E approves, your system turns on and monitoring begins.
Questions we get asked
Will I still get a PG&E bill?
Yes. You will get a monthly plan bill and a bill from PG&E. The PG&E bill covers electricity you use beyond what your solar produces, plus utility charges, and it will vary from month to month.
Is a PPA free solar?
No. There is no upfront cost, but you make a payment every month for the power or the system. Be careful with anyone who calls solar free.
How long is the agreement?
Plans are typically 25 years. Your exact term, starting payment, and annual increase are written in your agreement before you sign.
Do I get the federal tax credit?
No. You do not own the system, so you do not claim a tax credit and there are no incentive or tax forms for you to file. We do not promise any specific tax credit, rebate, or incentive.
Will it hurt my credit?
We use a soft credit check to see if you qualify, which does not affect your credit score.
What if I sell my home?
You can transfer the plan to the buyer, or purchase the system at its appraised fair market value. Pre-paying the remaining payments is also an option.
Who fixes it if something breaks?
Maintenance and repairs are covered for the life of the agreement, and we monitor your system’s production around the clock. Starlight Energy is your local installer and point of contact.
What happens at the end of the term?
Your agreement lays out the options: the system can be removed at no cost, you can purchase it at fair market value, or you can extend at a new rate.
Can I add a battery?
Yes, in PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E territory a PPA can include a home battery. It becomes part of the same plan and is covered the same way as the solar.
See if a PPA fits your home
Send us your PG&E bill and we will show you buying and plan options side by side, in English or Spanish.
PPA plans are subject to credit approval and availability. Savings are not guaranteed and depend on your usage, your utility rates, and your agreement’s terms. You will continue to receive a utility bill.