Should I Buy Solar Now or Wait?
5 inputs → your readiness score and a clear verdict
What Affects the Buy-or-Wait Verdict?
This calculator uses a fixed September 2026 classification and a points-based readiness model. It does not retrieve current legislative, utility, code, product-listing, landlord, or HOA information.
Your state (Question 1) selects the status and electricity-price values embedded in the tool. A signed bill may have a later effective date or conditions that must be satisfied, so a high score is not legal approval.
Housing situation (Question 3) changes the score using a fixed list of states marked as having property-related protections. Read the official law and your governing documents; the model cannot determine whether a provision applies to a particular building.
Urgency and bill pain (Questions 4–5) are preference inputs that change a readiness score. They do not establish safety, compliance, product availability, or financial return.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to install where there is no specific law? The absence of a dedicated statute does not answer that question. Existing interconnection rules, codes, product instructions, and property agreements may apply. Ask the relevant authorities.
Why can a status be out of date? The embedded dataset was reviewed in September 2026 and is intentionally unchanged in this audit. Later action—including action on California SB 868—will not appear until a separately approved dataset update.
If I'm moving soon, should I buy before or after? Compare both locations, but verify the equipment, utility, building, landlord, and HOA requirements at the destination before purchasing.
Sources and assumptions: Official legislature or statute pages were checked for enacted and advanced bills where available. The classifications, rates, and scoring remain the tool's September 2026 embedded dataset. See Methodology & Sources. This is not legal advice.