Solar Resources · Homeowner Education & Fit · Updated for 2026
Solar Basics
Plain-English answers to the first questions homeowners ask about going solar: how it works, whether your home is a good fit, and what actually pays in 2026.
What Solar Basics covers
Solar can still lower your electric bill in 2026, but the value now depends on your utility and state, not one national number. The 30% federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) ended on December 31, 2025, so Solar Basics starts with what actually pays now: how solar works, whether your home is a good fit, and how the money adds up locally.
It is the plain-English starting point for homeowners who are new to solar. The guides below walk through how a rooftop system works, how to tell whether your roof and home are a good fit, and how to weigh cost against savings, one piece at a time.
What sets your solar number in 2026
- Your electricity rate. A higher rate means every kilowatt-hour your panels cover is worth more.
- Your utility’s net-metering rule. How much you earn for the power you export sets how fast solar pays back.
- State and local incentives. Rebates, state credits, and SRECs still cut cost in some states.
- How you pay. Cash, a loan, or a lease/PPA each change the up-front cost and the long-run return.
Your electricity rate and your utility’s net-metering rule usually move payback the most. For example, Maryland credits exported solar at the full retail rate, while California’s net billing tariff pays a lower export rate, so identical panels pay back differently in each place. (Source: DSIRE)
Start with these guides
Seven core reads for anyone weighing solar for the first time. More home-fit guides are being added to this pillar.
Start here
How home solar works, step by step →
From sunlight to a lower bill: how panels make DC power, what the inverter does, and how net metering credits the rest. A plain-English guide with a home-fit checklist.
9 questions to ask before you go solar
The checklist to run before you sign: is your roof a fit, what a fair quote looks like in 2026, and how to vet an installer without the sales hype.
How net metering credits your solar exports
When your panels make more power than you use, net metering credits the extra back on your bill. See how the credit works and why it drives most of your savings.
How long solar installation takes, step by step
The full solar installation timeline: about 2 to 6 months from contract to power-on, though the panels go up in 1 to 3 days. See each step and what quietly adds weeks.
What the federal solar tax credit change means in 2026
The 30% federal credit (Section 25D) ended December 31, 2025. Here is what that means for a homeowner buying solar in 2026, and what still helps.
The financial case for whether solar panels are worth it
Payback, long-term savings, and how to weigh the up-front cost against the return, so you can decide if solar makes sense for your home.
How MySolarFY works and how we choose installers
What MySolarFY is, how we match homeowners with licensed installers in their area, and how we handle your information.
7 signs your home is a good fit for solar
The seven signs an installer looks for, from roof direction and shade to your electric bill and net metering, so you can read your own home first. Includes a self-scoring fit checklist.
What makes a home a bad fit for solar? 8 red flags
The eight red flags that make a home a poor fit, from heavy shade and a north-facing or aging roof to low usage and weak net metering, and which ones you can work around. The honest flip side of the good-fit checklist.
Should you go solar before replacing your roof?
When to reroof first and when to go solar now, with a roof-condition decision table, the cost to remove and reinstall panels later, and how panel and roof lifespans compare.
Solar vs utility power: what each costs over 25 years
A side-by-side 25-year cost run: rising utility bills against owned solar, the year solar pulls ahead, and when staying on the grid is still cheaper. Figures are illustrative, not a quote.
9 common solar myths, fact-checked
The nine myths that stop homeowners from looking at solar, each checked against DOE, EIA, and IRS data: cold and clouds, roof damage, batteries, blackouts, panel lifespan, and cost.
How to compare solar installers before you sign
A 2026 vetting checklist for comparing installers: the licenses, warranties, equipment, and quote details to check so you can tell a solid bid from a sales pitch.
Solar for first-time homeowners: a starter guide
Just bought your first home? When it makes sense to go solar after closing, how to check your roof, buy vs finance vs lease, and the first-timer mistakes to skip. Includes a readiness checklist.
Solar for Seniors: What to Weigh Before You Sign
An honest guide for older homeowners: the payback-versus-time-horizon math, how to pay on a fixed income, backup power for medical devices, and how to avoid high-pressure sales.
Do solar panels work during a power outage?
Usually no: a standard grid-tied system shuts off in a blackout for safety. See what a battery and backup gateway actually keep running, and for how long.
How many solar panels do I need?
Your panel count comes from your electric bill, not your square footage. Use our three-step formula and 2026 panel-count tables to find your number, typically 15 to 22 panels.
Solar panel recycling and disposal
What happens to panels after 25 to 30 years, what recycling costs today versus landfill, and where to send retired panels.
Want the effect on your bill first? Start with how solar lowers your electricity bill. Ready to choose? Read the right questions to ask a solar installer.
More solar guides
Solar Basics is one of the MySolarFY resource pillars. Read our companion guide on what solar costs and how it pays back, or head back to all MySolarFY solar resources for tax credits, net metering, incentives, and state guides.
New here? See how MySolarFY works and our data and methodology for how these guides are researched.
More pillar guides on solar financing and equipment are on the way and will link in here as they publish.
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See what solar programs are available in your ZIP code
Solar incentives, net-metering credits, installer availability, and electric rates change by utility and location. Enter your ZIP and we’ll match you with licensed installers who serve your area.
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Financing note: $0-up-front lease and PPA options are not available everywhere and depend on your state, utility, and credit. Lease and PPA agreements can include an annual payment escalator, and total payments over the term may exceed the cost of buying the system with cash. The federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) ended December 31, 2025, so it does not apply to 2026 installations. MySolarFY is a free matching service, not an installer, and does not provide tax advice.
Solar basics FAQ
How does home solar actually work?
Rooftop panels turn sunlight into direct-current electricity. An inverter changes it into the alternating current your home uses. Your house draws from the panels first, and when they make more than you need, the extra flows to the grid. Through net metering, your utility credits that exported power on your bill, which you draw down at night or on cloudy days. If you add a battery, it stores daytime surplus for use later. A grid-tied system without a battery pauses during an outage for safety. The U.S. Department of Energy’s homeowner’s guide walks through each part. (Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Homeowner’s Guide to Going Solar, https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/homeowners-guide-going-solar)
How do I know if my home is a good fit for solar?
The biggest factors are your roof and your bill. A roof with decent sun exposure, enough unshaded area, and years of life left is the strongest fit, though ground mounts and community solar are options when the roof is not. A higher electric bill and a utility with solid net metering both improve the payback. If your roof needs replacing soon, it is usually cheaper to reroof before you install. Renters and homes with heavy shade are the most common poor fits. The Department of Energy’s guide covers how to assess your roof and shading. (Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Homeowner’s Guide to Going Solar, https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/homeowners-guide-going-solar)
What happened to the 30% federal solar tax credit?
The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, so a homeowner who installs solar in 2026 cannot claim that federal credit. What still helps in 2026 is local: state and local incentives, net-metering credits, and lease or PPA financing options, depending on your state and utility. MySolarFY does not provide tax advice; confirm your situation with a tax professional. (Source: IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit, https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/residential-clean-energy-credit)
Will solar really lower my electricity bill?
For most well-fit homes, yes, though how much depends on your rate, your usage, and your utility’s net-metering rules. The savings come from two places: the grid power you no longer buy because your panels cover it, and the bill credits you earn for the surplus you export. A home with a high electric rate and full net metering saves the most; a home under a reduced export rate saves less. Because the numbers are set utility by utility, the honest answer is local. Our guide on how solar lowers your electricity bill shows the math. (Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, electricity data, https://www.eia.gov/electricity/)
How much does it cost to go solar, and is it worth it?
Cost depends on system size, your roof, equipment, and how you pay, so there is no single national price. Whether it is worth it comes down to payback: the years it takes for your bill savings to cover the cost, and the savings after that. A shorter payback and a strong net-metering credit make the case stronger. You do not have to pay everything up front either, since some homeowners qualify for $0-up-front lease or PPA options where available. Our financial analysis of whether solar panels are worth it breaks down payback and long-term return. (Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Homeowner’s Guide to Going Solar, https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/homeowners-guide-going-solar)