SolarPaybackPro exists because every solar payback calculator we tried either (a) was a thinly-disguised lead form, (b) used fake numbers, or (c) gave you a single national average that didn't apply to your roof.
What we do
We pull state-specific electricity rates (EIA), incentive data (DSIRE and state energy offices), sun-hour data (NREL), and installer pricing benchmarks (Lawrence Berkeley Lab + EnergySage), then run the same payback math a financial planner would — including federal and state credits, rate inflation, and panel degradation.
How we make money
Two ways: display advertising (Google AdSense) and affiliate partnerships with solar marketplaces (EnergySage, SunPower). We earn a small commission when you click through and request quotes — at no extra cost to you. We don't have phone-spam-inducing partnerships with individual installers, and we don't sell your information.
What we don't do
- We don't sell leads to installers directly.
- We don't require an email or phone number to use any tool on the site.
- We don't claim our estimates replace a real quote — they're a sanity check, not a contract.
Methodology
See our full methodology page for every assumption, data source, and formula.