​No matter what method you chose to go solar; cash purchase or a loan, you will save money. However there are clear benefits to owning your system. Thanks to the federal income tax credit, 30% of the system cost, and multiple state and utility incentives, most customers see a return on their investment around 9 years. After that, you own the system, which is producing free and clean energy for it’s lifetime, 25-30 years or longer. Residential Incentives