Before choosing a prepaid solar PPA, ask for the gross system price, every incentive as a separate line item, the transfer terms, warranty coverage, utility eligibility and the exact responsibilities of each party. Ask Solar Mike uses a structure in which the PPA provider applies the tax benefits and passes a 30% rebate into the day-one system price . Start with the broader PPA, financing or cash comparison for Utah solar buyers, then use the questions below to review the actual proposal .
Ask Solar Mike is a Utah Tesla solar and Powerwall 3 specialist focused on correctly sized backup for larger homes .
What does “prepaid” mean in this PPA ?
In Ask Solar Mike’s current prepaid PPA structure, a PPA provider uses the available business tax credit and depreciation, then passes a 30% instant rebate to the customer on day one . The rebate is taken off the price rather than requiring the homeowner to wait for a later tax season .
Ask for a written explanation of what is prepaid, who owns the system during the initial term and which obligations continue after signing . Do not rely on the word “prepaid” by itself. The agreement, proposal and transfer documents should describe the same arrangement .
What gross price should appear before incentives ?
Begin with the installed price before subtracting anything . Ask Solar Mike’s current Tesla solar price is $3.35 per watt installed, followed by a rounded price of $2.35 per watt after the current PPA incentive . A site-specific quote is still required .
If Powerwall 3 is included, its current installed price is $16,000 before incentives, then $11,200 after the 30% prepaid PPA rebate . A qualifying Rocky Mountain Power customer may reach $9,200 after the separate $2,000 Wattsmart Battery incentive .
Read the proposal in this order:
- What is the gross installed system price before any rebate or credit ?
- How much does the 30% prepaid PPA rebate subtract ?
- Does the proposal include a $2,000 same-day decision credit, and does it clearly say that the agreement must be signed at the first appointment ?
- Is any utility rebate shown only after the serving utility and program eligibility have been confirmed ?
- What final amount remains after each item is shown separately ?
No offer deadline has been announced, so a proposal should not use an invented countdown, capacity limit or expiration date .
Does the homeowner receive a federal residential tax credit ?
The federal Section 25D residential credit is not available for expenditures made after December 31, 2025 . A 2026 proposal should not tell a homeowner to expect that residential credit .
The prepaid PPA offer is a different arrangement: the PPA provider uses the applicable business tax benefits and passes the stated value to the customer as an instant rebate . Ask the proposal reviewer to identify that rebate by name and show it as a reduction from the gross price rather than presenting the reduced number as the original installed price .
When can the system transfer to me, and what can the transfer cost ?
Under the current structure, the system is scheduled to transfer to the homeowner around year six . Ask Solar Mike provides a written $0 Transfer Guarantee: the customer’s cost at the scheduled transfer is $0, and if the PPA provider charges more than $0, Ask Solar Mike covers the difference .
Before signing, locate the transfer language in the customer agreement and Ask Solar Mike’s written $0 Transfer Guarantee . The written documents—not a verbal summary—should control your decision.
Which warranties and service records should I receive ?
The current warranty stack includes a 30-year workmanship warranty, a 10-year bumper-to-bumper warranty and 10-year roof-penetration coverage . It also includes no-cost labor for manufacturer-warranty repairs during the applicable program term, which is 25 years for solar and 10 years for the battery .
The manufacturer terms include a 25-year solar-panel warranty and a 10-year Tesla Powerwall 3 warranty . Because Powerwall 3 integrates its inverter, its inverter is covered under the Powerwall’s 10-year warranty rather than a separate 25-year inverter term .
Ask who receives a warranty request, what documentation is required and how service is escalated . After installation, Ask Solar Mike provides a commissioning receipt, system-registration proof, Tesla app monitoring handoff, a homeowner ownership record, a named service-escalation path and written change-order control .
How does my Utah utility affect the proposal ?
Utility service can vary by address, including within south Utah County, so Ask Solar Mike confirms the serving utility as the first step . Do not assume that a neighbor’s utility program, export arrangement or battery incentive applies to your property .
The Wattsmart Battery incentive is limited to Rocky Mountain Power customers . A qualifying new Powerwall 3 can receive a $2,000 enrollment incentive under a four-year commitment, and the battery must be submitted through the required customer-generation application before installation . Confirm that the address, equipment and application timing satisfy the current program requirements before counting that amount in the decision .
What should I compare against cash or financing ?
Compare the complete written paths rather than one highlighted number. For each option, record the gross system price, reductions, ownership timeline, transfer procedure, warranty coverage, service path and documents delivered after installation . The related Tesla solar and Powerwall cost guide for Utah in 2026 provides the current Ask Solar Mike pricing reference .
Ask for an itemized proposal that keeps the equipment, array size and backup scope visible.
Which questions should I take to the appointment?
- What is the gross installed price before every incentive ?
- Which party owns the system before the scheduled transfer ?
- Where is the $0 scheduled-transfer protection written ?
- Which credits depend on signing at the first appointment ?
- Which incentives depend on my serving utility and application approval ?
- Which workmanship, equipment, battery and roof terms apply ?
- What commissioning, registration, monitoring and ownership records will I receive ?
- What happens if I sell the home before the scheduled transfer ?
- Which document controls if the proposal and customer agreement differ?
Frequently asked questions
Is a 30% prepaid PPA rebate the same as the federal residential tax credit ?
No. The federal Section 25D residential credit is unavailable for expenditures after December 31, 2025 . In Ask Solar Mike’s current prepaid PPA, the PPA provider uses the applicable business tax benefits and passes a 30% rebate into the day-one price .
Does prepaid mean I own the solar system immediately ?
No. The current arrangement schedules transfer to the homeowner around year six . Review the customer agreement and the written $0 Transfer Guarantee before signing .
Is the $2,000 same-day credit automatic ?
No. It applies only when the agreement is signed at the first appointment; otherwise the standard price applies .
Can every Utah homeowner use the $2,000 Wattsmart incentive ?
No. It is for qualifying Rocky Mountain Power customers and carries a four-year program commitment . Eligibility and application timing must be confirmed for the specific address .
What is the most important document to keep?
Keep the complete signed agreement, proposal, transfer guarantee, warranty materials, commissioning receipt, registration proof and ownership record together .
