Frequently Asked Questions

Rental Terms & Ownership

How is this different from solar leasing?

Our solar rental program offers a flexible alternative to traditional solar leases. With a lease, homeowners are usually tied to a fixed monthly payment for 25 years, which can become a major hurdle when selling a property. At Sunlarus Energy, we also provide a fixed monthly rate but you choose the contract length. Terms can be as short as one year, and the longer you commit, the longer you lock in today's rate. It's solar on your terms and what you are comfortable with.

How long are the rental terms?

Our minimum rental term is one year, but customers are free to choose any length that works for them and ultimately what they feel comfortable with. Since electricity prices typically increase about 3% annually, locking in a longer term allows you to secure today's rate for a longer period. All renewals are priced in relation to the current electricity rate.

Who owns the system?

Sunlarus Energy retains full ownership of the solar energy system throughout the entire rental term. This means customers benefit from clean energy without the responsibilities of ownership, such as maintenance, insurance, or potential future upgrades.

Can I purchase the system at the end of my contract or at any point during the term?

At this time, purchasing the system is not an option. However, we are actively exploring future pathways that may allow customers to buy out their system at the end of the term or under certain circumstances. If this becomes available or if an exception can be made based on your situation, your sales advisor will walk you through the details.

What happens if I have to move?

You are never locked in if you have to move. While most customers choose to transfer the rental agreement to the new homeowner to increase the home's appeal, you are not required to do so. If the buyer declines the transfer, you have the absolute right to cancel your Sunlarus Energy agreement with zero penalties, regardless of your remaining contract length. Our advisors will guide you through this process to ensure a seamless closing.

Does Sunlarus sell electricity?

Florida restricts power sales to utility companies, so businesses cannot sell electricity. Renting a solar system is permitted because it's an equipment lease, and our production guarantee ensures the system performs as promised.

Costs, Savings & Billing

How does Sunlarus lower your energy costs?

By leveraging our relationships with hardware providers and highly optimized installation systems, we are able to deploy solar technology at a cost significantly lower than the industry standard. This efficiency allows us to deliver a system at a price that saves you money immediately without any long-term investment required on your part.

How much money will I actually save?

Your savings depend on your average electricity usage, but our goal is to reduce whatever you're currently paying by up to 50%. For a typical homeowner, that can mean saving around $2,400 per year, or roughly $24,000 over 10 years. That's enough to cover a new roof, several years of property taxes, or even college tuition. For businesses, the savings can be even more substantial, often $25,000 or more per year.

Are there any costs to customers?

No, a significant benefit of the Sunlarus Energy rental program is that there are never any costs for the customer. This includes installation, equipment, and activation. Customers simply begin paying their monthly rental fee once the system is operational, immediately realizing savings compared to their traditional utility bill.

Will I still receive a bill from my utility company?

Yes, you will still receive a monthly statement because your home remains connected to the utility grid. All utility companies mandate a minimum connection fee (e.g., Duke Energy charges ~$30/month) that cannot be offset by solar. Additionally, if factors like limited roof space prevent us from offsetting 100% of your usage, you will simply be billed by the utility for the difference (this would be outlined in your proposal). Even with this remaining balance, your total combined cost is designed to be significantly lower than your original electric bill.

What is Net Metering and how does it work?

The amount of electricity you use and the amount of electricity your solar generates will often not match up. On sunny days your solar may produce more electricity than your home needs, while on cloudy days you might use more energy than your system provides. Additionally, in peak summer and winter months your A/C or heater might consume more energy than your solar system produces, while lower heating or cooling needs in spring and fall can result in energy surpluses.

With Net Metering, when your solar panels produce more electricity than your home needs (like during the day while you are at work), that excess power will flow back to the grid. Your utility meter will measure the amount of energy you send back, and your utility provider will either subtract the difference from your monthly power bill or give you a credit for future power usage.

In short, net metering allows you to receive the savings of every kilowatt-hour of energy your solar panels produce, even at times when your system produces more than you consume.

Installation & Eligibility

How do I know if I qualify?

Customer qualification for the Sunlarus Energy solar rental program typically involves a few key criteria: sufficient unshaded roof space with adequate sun exposure for optimal energy production, a review of their historical energy consumption, roof age and utility provider. This all is to ensure the solar system will provide meaningful financial savings and meet their energy needs.

I'm concerned about attaching this to my roof. What kind of guarantee do you have?

All work is completed by experienced, licensed professionals, and we stand behind it every step of the way. Your installation is fully covered for workmanship for as long as the system remains on your home or business. Plus, once the system is removed, we provide a 10-year roof warranty for added peace of mind.

Do I need to notify my homeowners insurance?

We recommend letting your homeowners insurance know that solar panels will be added to the home. Since this is a rental system, we fully insure the equipment and guarantee all roof-related work. There is typically no cost or coverage change. If you're unsure how your policy treats solar, feel free to check with your insurance company prior to signing. Be sure to let them know that Sunlarus Energy carries all insurance on the system.

What utility companies do you work with?

Sunlarus Energy currently partners with Duke, FP&L, Tampa Electric and Florida Public Utilities. Our experienced team manages all the necessary interconnection agreements, permits, and administrative paperwork with the local utility on behalf of the customer, ensuring a seamless transition to solar energy.

System Performance, Maintenance & Outages

What about maintenance and repairs?

One of the primary advantages of our rental program is that Sunlarus Energy is responsible for all system maintenance, monitoring, and any necessary repairs for the entire duration of the rental agreement. This includes performance monitoring, cleaning (if required), and replacement of any faulty components, all at no additional cost to the customer.

What if the system does not produce the energy you promised?

Sunlarus Energy stands behind the performance of our solar rental systems. Each agreement includes a performance guarantee. If the system underperforms, we will investigate and take corrective action, which may include repairs or adjustments. We will compensate for any shortages to ensure the customer receives the expected energy output and savings.

Will I still have power if there is an outage?

Unfortunately, no. During a power outage, solar systems without batteries must shut down for safety reasons. To keep your home powered, a battery backup system would need to be installed.

Right now, the cost of batteries makes them incompatible with our rental model, but as prices continue to come down, we expect his to become a viable option in the future.

How do you determine how much power I need?

As we work with you to design your solar system, we will determine how much electricity you need by reviewing your last 12 months of electric bills.

What if I add an EV or electric pool heater later on?

If an electric car or pool heater is added on in the future, the 50% savings remain, but the extra power needed will come from the utility and billed from them. In many cases, we can easily increase the system size to match the new usage and create a new agreement.