Installing solar, battery storage, or a new roof is a major investment. Citadel helps both homeowners and businesses compare these paths and choose a structure that fits their goals, budget, and timeline.
Citadel’s Prepaid Solar Lease is a one-payment solar option where the system owner claims available tax benefits and applies that value upfront, which is why the prepaid amount is 70% of the system cost instead of 100%. The upfront amount can also be financed, if preferred.
The system is owned and maintained by a third party, so you do not have to manage maintenance or repairs.
This option is often a strong fit if you want:
With a traditional lease or PPA, you do not own the system. Instead, you pay either a fixed monthly amount or for the energy the system produces. These options typically require little to no money down and include maintenance.
Some agreements include annual escalators, which means payments can increase over time. In many cases, those increases are still much lower than typical utility rate increases, which can help protect from rising electricity costs. This structure can make sense if you want to get started with minimal upfront cost and are comfortable with a monthly payment.
This option is often a strong fit if you want:
Some homeowners still choose to own their system by financing it with a loan. This spreads the cost over time, but ownership also means you are responsible for maintenance after warranties, and you take on more long-term performance and policy risk.
Paying cash means you own the system outright with no financing terms. This can make sense for homeowners who want full control and are comfortable using capital upfront. In 2026, many homeowners instead choose prepaid or PPA structures to prioritize predictability and simplicity.
Businesses typically compare ownership against PPAs or prepaid PPAs based on cash flow, balance sheet treatment, and tax strategy.
When a business owns the system, it may be able to use federal tax credits and accelerated depreciation to improve project economics. Ownership can make sense for companies with sufficient tax appetite and a desire to own and control the asset.
With a PPA or prepaid PPA, a third party owns and maintains the system. The business pays for the energy produced or prepays for long-term use at a fixed rate.
In these structures, tax credits and depreciation are claimed by the system owner and reflected in the energy pricing. This can make PPAs attractive for businesses that want predictable energy costs without owning the asset or managing maintenance.
Commercial solar and energy storage projects may qualify for a federal tax credit that helps reduce overall project costs. While the details can change, the credit is still available for eligible businesses when projects meet current requirements.
For many commercial systems, timing matters. Projects can qualify based on when work begins and when the system is placed into service, giving businesses flexibility to plan and build over time.
In addition to the Investment Tax Credit, businesses that install solar energy systems and solar energy storage systems may also qualify for accelerated depreciation. This allows companies to recover system costs more quickly by deducting a larger portion of the investment earlier in the project’s life.
Under current rules, eligible projects may qualify for 100% bonus depreciation, allowing businesses to deduct the full cost of a solar or energy storage system in the year it is placed into service. This can help reduce tax liability upfront and improve overall project cash flow.
Depreciation benefits depend on several factors, including project timing and business structure. Citadel recommends working with a tax professional to understand how current depreciation rules apply to your specific investment.
California, battery manufacturers, and some utilities periodically offer rebates or incentives for battery storage. These programs change based on funding levels, location, and eligibility.
In some cases, incentives may cover a large portion of the battery cost, and in limited situations, they can cover up to 100%. In other cases, rebates may not be available at all. Because these programs change frequently, the best way to understand what’s available is to review your options at the time of your project.
Citadel tracks current programs and helps you understand which incentives may apply and how they fit into a broader financing strategy. You can book a free consultation with one of our experts here to review your options.
California utilities use net billing for new solar customers instead of traditional net metering. If you are with PG&E, SCE, or SDG&E, you earn credits when you send excess solar energy to the grid, and those credits are applied when you use grid power.
Under net billing, export credits are based on wholesale electricity prices. Those wholesale values change by time of day and season.
Because of this, using more of your own solar energy is more valuable than exporting it. For many customers, that makes battery storage and smart system design an important part of getting the most out of solar.
Both options let you go solar without owning the system. With a traditional lease or PPA, you typically pay a low or $0 upfront cost, and make ongoing monthly payments that may include an escalator.
With Citadel’s Prepaid Solar Lease, you make one upfront payment (which can be financed) and have no monthly solar payments and no escalators, giving you more predictable long-term energy costs. In both cases, the system is owned and maintained by a third party.
Most homes and businesses remain connected to the grid, so yes, you will usually still have a utility bill. Solar reduces how much electricity you buy from your utility, and a battery can help you use more of your own energy, but few properties eliminate their bill entirely. The goal is to lower and stabilize your energy costs.
Not everyone needs a battery, but under net billing, exporting energy is worth less because credits are based on wholesale prices. Using more of your own solar energy is more valuable, which is why battery storage and smart system design are often important for getting the most value from solar today.
No. The residential solar tax credit has ended. Many homeowners now choose options like Citadel’s Prepaid Solar Lease where the 30% savings are reflected directly in pricing and do not depend on your personal tax situation or tax filings.
It depends on your goals. Ownership can make sense if your business can use tax credits and depreciation and wants to own the asset. A PPA or prepaid PPA can make more sense if you want predictable energy costs, no maintenance responsibility, and a simpler structure without owning the system.
In these structures, the system owner claims available tax credits and depreciation. The value of those incentives is built into the energy price or upfront prepaid amount, so your business benefits through more competitive, predictable pricing rather than claiming the incentives directly.
Understanding financing and incentives is only the first step. The right structure depends on your goals, your budget, and how much predictability you want over time.
Citadel’s team stays current on financing options, incentives, and utility rules so you do not have to. We will walk you through the tradeoffs, explain what applies to your situation, and help you choose the option that fits your priorities.
Thinking about solar, batteries, or a new roof? Schedule a consultation to review your options.
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