Participate Energy Prepaid Solar Lease in Hawaii
Get solar and battery storage with a lower upfront cost. A prepaid lease through Participate Energy can offer approximately 30% savings compared with purchasing an equivalent system outright. Your personalized proposal will show your actual pricing and savings.
What a Prepaid Solar Lease Means in Hawaii
A prepaid solar lease in Hawaii separates two things a cash purchase bundles together: paying for the equipment and holding title to it. With the Participate Energy prepaid lease, you pay once, at the start, for the right to use a solar, storage or battery system on your home for the length of the agreement. Participate Energy owns the equipment during that lease, while Independent Energy Hawaii designs and installs it exactly as we would for a homeowner who buys.
Because the lease is paid up front, there is no monthly lease bill. That sets it apart from the zero-down monthly leases many island homeowners have heard about, where a company collects a payment every month for years. It also differs from owning outright: a cash buyer holds title from day one, along with every decision and responsibility that comes with it.
Your Hawaiian Electric account stays open, and normal utility charges may still apply. If you borrow to cover the prepayment, that loan carries its own payments, interest and fees, separate from the lease.
You prepay once
The lease is paid at the start, so there is no monthly lease bill for the system afterward.
Participate Energy holds title
Participate Energy owns the equipment while the lease runs. You use it under the agreement.
Your utility account stays open
Normal Hawaiian Electric charges, such as fixed charges and grid power you still use, may still apply.
Why the Upfront Price Can Be About 30% Lower
The comparison is straightforward. For the same system design, the Participate Energy prepaid amount can be approximately 30% below what Independent Energy Hawaii would charge to sell you that system for cash. It compares two upfront prices. It is not a promise that your electric bill will fall by 30%, and it says nothing about what other companies charge.
Much of the gap comes from incentives. As the owner, the lease provider can use incentives available to it and build that value into the lease price, which lowers what you pay at the start. Homeowners buying a system themselves in 2026 no longer qualify for the expired federal residential credit, so this structure is one way that value can still reach a household. You do not personally claim a federal credit through the lease, and we do not promise that a Hawaii state credit can be layered on top of the prepaid price. For state credit questions, read our Hawaii solar tax credit guide and check with a tax professional.
Your own numbers depend on the proposal and agreement: equipment, roof, electrical work, island, eligibility and program terms all play a part. Prepaid leasing is one of several ways to pay for Hawaii solar panels, and we are happy to price every option for your home.
Illustrative example, not a quote
Same system, two upfront prices
- Equivalent cash purchase
- $50,000
- Illustrative prepaid lease, about 30% less upfront
- $35,000
- Illustrative upfront difference
- $15,000
This example excludes the cost of any separate loan used to fund the prepayment and any price for an optional future purchase. Actual proposals vary, and a lease and a cash purchase come with different ownership terms.
How the Prepaid Lease Works, Step by Step
From the first conversation to the years after installation, here is what to expect.
- 1
Request your quote
Tell us about your home and goals. We review your roof, electricity use and backup priorities, then prepare a personalized proposal.
- 2
Compare the details
Review the recommended system, cash and prepaid-lease pricing, the equipment list and the agreement terms side by side.
- 3
Prepay and install
If you choose the prepaid lease and are approved, you make the prepaid lease payment. Our crew installs the system, and Participate Energy owns it during the lease.
- 4
Use your system
Your solar, battery or both operate under the terms of the agreement, producing and storing energy for your household.
- 5
Decide what comes next
Later, review your options: request the optional purchase described below, or keep going under the lease.
Solar, Battery Storage or Both
The program can be used for solar-only, solar-and-storage or battery-only projects, subject to program rules and your proposal. That makes it worth asking about if you already have panels and mainly want backup power for outages.
Not every customer, property or product automatically qualifies, so we confirm eligibility for your specific home before you commit. Comparing battery brands first? Start with our Powerwall vs. Enphase comparison or our Tesla Powerwall page.
Can I Own the System Later?
Not during the lease, unless you choose to buy it. The prepaid lease includes an optional purchase, and Participate Energy's Early Purchase Option flyer explains how it works. Treat the summary below as a guide; the agreement you sign is what governs.
-
Installation date
Participate Energy owns the system and you use it under the lease.
-
6th anniversary
The optional purchase opens. You can request it on that anniversary or any anniversary after it.
-
Home sale after year 6
Selling after year six is another point when you may choose to buy. A sale does not require it.
-
Your choice
Buy at the calculated price, or continue under the lease as written.
How the purchase price is calculated
When you ask, the system is assessed for its fair market value at that time, roughly what a typical buyer would pay for it. That value is reduced by applicable remaining credits and offsetting obligations, such as unused prepaid lease value and obligations the lease provider would otherwise still owe you through the end of the term. The flyer states the result cannot fall below $0.
The price could be low, or even $0, but neither a $0 buyout nor any specific price is guaranteed. If you disagree with the assessment, the flyer describes two paths: ask for a third-party appraisal at Participate Energy's cost, or continue the lease and revisit the purchase later.
Notice, timing and plan length
According to the flyer, you give Participate Energy at least 30 and no more than 90 days' notice before the purchase. Treat that window as a contract detail to confirm in your own agreement.
Nothing forces a purchase. You can continue under the lease according to its terms. Plan lengths can differ from one agreement to another, so rely on the term written in yours rather than assuming a standard length.
After a purchase
Once the purchase is complete, the lease provider's responsibilities under the lease end and the system is yours, including future upkeep. The flyer notes that any remaining installer workmanship warranties stay in place and transfer to you. Before buying, review which equipment and workmanship warranties remain and what maintenance you will be taking on. Many owners arrange ongoing care through SolarServe.
If you sell your home
A sale does not automatically require a buyout. The lease may be transferred to the new owner, subject to its terms and transfer process, so review those conditions early in your sale. If you sell after year 6, purchasing the system is also an option.
Cash, Loan or Prepaid Lease: An Honest Comparison
Each path suits a different household. Here is how the three compare on the points homeowners ask about most.
| Topic | Cash purchase | Loan to buy the system | Participate Energy prepaid lease |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Full system price | Little or none, depending on the loan | About 30% below the equivalent cash price, paid once |
| Who owns the system | You, from day one | You, from day one, with lender terms until repaid | Participate Energy, during the lease |
| Ongoing payments | None for the system | Monthly loan payments, interest and any fees | No lease payments after the prepayment; loan payments apply if you borrow to fund it |
| Incentives and pricing | No federal homeowner credit for 2026 purchases; state credit eligibility varies | Same as cash, plus the cost of borrowing | The lease provider can factor incentives available to it into the prepaid price |
| Future ownership | Already yours | Already yours; lender terms apply until the loan is repaid | Optional purchase after the 6th anniversary at fair market value minus credits, never below $0 |
No single option wins for every household. A cash purchase gives you full control from the start. A loan makes ownership possible without a large upfront payment, but interest adds to the total. The prepaid lease lowers the upfront amount and leaves title with the lease provider for a period. A loan can also be used to fund the prepaid lease itself, which brings separate loan payments and costs.
Our current loan partners and example terms are listed in the lease vs. buy guide, and typical system prices are on our Hawaii solar cost page. Loans are subject to credit approval, and rates and terms may change. Ask us for a personalized comparison and we will set the options next to each other for your home.
Questions to Bring to Your Proposal Review
A good decision comes from reading the details, not just the headline price. These are the questions we encourage every homeowner to ask, and we will answer each one for your proposal.
- What are the cash price and the prepaid-lease price for the exact same system?
- Which equipment is included, and is a battery part of the design?
- How long is the lease term written in this agreement?
- Who handles monitoring, repairs and insurance while Participate Energy owns the system?
- When does the purchase window open, and what notice does it require?
- How does a transfer work if I sell my home?
- If I finance the prepayment, what are the loan APR, term and fees?
Prepaid Leasing Across Our Service Areas
We can prepare a prepaid-lease option alongside cash and loan pricing for homes on Oahu, on Maui and in Kona and West Hawaii, subject to program eligibility. Kona and West Hawaii base pricing runs about $5,000 above Oahu and Maui, and the prepaid comparison is always made against the cash price for your own home.
Still deciding whether solar fits your household at all? Our guide to whether solar is worth it in Hawaii walks through roof condition, shade and usage before you think about how to pay.
Looking for Hawaiian Electric battery programs such as BYOD Plus instead? Those are covered on our separate Hawaii energy programs page.
Prepaid Solar Lease FAQ
What is a prepaid solar lease?
How can the upfront cost be approximately 30% lower than a cash purchase?
Who owns the system during the lease?
Are there monthly lease payments?
Can I use a loan to pay the prepaid amount?
Can I purchase the system after six years, and what might it cost?
What happens if I sell my home?
Can the program be used for solar, a battery, or both?
Am I guaranteed a particular electric-bill savings amount?
What happens to maintenance and warranties if I buy the system?
How do I get a personalized quote in Hawaii?
See Your Prepaid Lease Numbers
Ask for a personalized quote and we will show the prepaid-lease price next to cash and loan options for the same system, with the agreement terms to review before you decide.
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