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HomeLink vs SunRun

  • HomeLink vs SunRun

Before You Sign a 20–25 Year Solar Agreement, Compare the Full Cost

Already have a Sunrun proposal? Get a free, no-pressure second opinion from a local Southern California solar and battery installer.
Sunrun is probably a better option than continuing to pay Southern California Edison forever, but that doesn’t automatically make it the best solar option for your home. The question isn’t whether to go solar. It’s who you trust to design, install, and support a system that could be on your home for decades.
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  • No-cost contract review
  • No obligation
  • Local Southern California team
  • Solar & battery comparison
  • Clear long-term payment analysis
  • CSLB #1117534
  • Does Your Proposal Include an Annual Increase?

The First Years Payments Are Only the Beginning

Some solar leases and power purchase agreements include an annual escalator. Not every agreement does, terms vary by provider and by contract, so the only way to know for certain is to review your actual proposal. Here’s what a 3.5% annual escalator does to a $200 monthly payment, shown for illustration only:

Assuming $200/month is the Year 1 payment and it increases 3.5% each year:

Year Monthly Payment
Starting
$200
5
$229.50
10
$272.58
15
$323.74
20
$384.50
25
$456.67

So by Year 25, the payment is about $457/month.

25-Year Scheduled
Payment Comparison

$200 fixed monthly payment

$60,000

$200 payment, 3.5% annual escalation

≈ $94,500

Approximate difference

≈ $34,500

  • Side by Side

HomeLink Solar vs. Sunrun

HomeLink and Sunrun take different approaches to solar. Compare the details that can have the greatest impact on your cost, ownership, service, and flexibility over time.
Comparison Area
HomeLink Solar Positioning
Sunrun's Publicly Stated Model
What to Look At
Company model
Southern California-focused solar and battery provider
National solar and battery company
Decide whether local accountability or national scale matters more to you
Solar options
Ownership, fixed-payment, and applicable program options, subject to qualification
Subscription, lease, and cash-purchase options
Compare the actual proposal and financing structure, not just the company name
System ownership
Homeowner ownership options available
Subscription systems remain owned and maintained by Sunrun; purchase options are also available
Ask who owns the equipment and how that affects long-term value
Monthly payment
Fixed-payment structures may be available
Subscription payments may include annual increases depending on the agreement
Compare Year 1, Year 10, Year 20, and total contract cost
Annual escalator
Zero-escalator structures may be available
Some Sunrun agreements include annual escalators
Even a small annual increase can materially change the long-term payment
System design
Customized around the home's usage, roof, battery needs, and available programs
System design depends on the selected Sunrun product and proposal
Compare system size, estimated production, battery capacity, and assumptions
Battery options
Battery recommendation based on usage and backup goals
Offers multiple battery brands and configurations
The best battery is the one properly sized for your home, not simply the best-known brand
Battery design
Emphasis on usable storage, backup planning, and future consumption
Recommendations vary by home, package, and available equipment
Compare usable capacity, backup coverage, and expansion options
Monitoring
Local support plus manufacturer monitoring, depending on equipment
Promotes 24/7 system monitoring
Ask who you contact when something actually needs to be resolved
Maintenance
Responsibility varies based on ownership, equipment, and warranty structure
Maintenance is generally included with qualifying subscription systems
Included maintenance can be valuable, but understand what is and isn't covered
Selling your home
Depends on financing and ownership structure
Subscription transfer may be available subject to contract requirements
Ask exactly what a future buyer must assume, approve, or pay
Tax credit
Typically available to the eligible system owner
With third-party-owned systems, incentives generally benefit the system owner
Confirm who qualifies for available tax incentives with a tax professional
Service model
Local team with direct escalation paths
Centralized national support structure
Consider who will be responsible for resolving issues after installation
  • HomeLink vs. Sunrun

Three Places the Two Models Actually Differ

Payment Structure

HomeLink: Fixed-payment and ownership pathways may be available, depending on program and qualification.
Sunrun: Offers a solar subscription and a purchase option. Exact payment terms depend on the proposal.

System Design

HomeLink: Local design based on historical usage, future energy needs, existing solar, and backup priorities.
Sunrun: National provider offering solar and battery configurations based on location and available products.

Service Model

HomeLink: Local Southern California support and project accountability.
Sunrun: National service and monitoring infrastructure.
  • Already Have a Proposal?

What We Review

Whether it’s from Sunrun or anyone else, here’s exactly what a HomeLink energy advisor walks through with you, free, with no obligation.

  • Ownership versus subscription
  • Monthly payment and escalator
  • Total contract cost
  • Solar production assumptions
  • Panel and inverter specifications
  • Battery brand, capacity, and output
  • Backup-load configuration
  • Warranties
  • Transfer and buyout language
  • Installation and service responsibility
  • Battery Quantity ≠ Backup Quality

What to Actually Compare on a Battery Proposal

“Battery included” tells you almost nothing on its own. These are the specs that determine whether your home actually stays running during an outage.
  • Usable kWh
  • Continuous power output
  • Peak output
  • Number of batteries
  • Backed-up circuits
  • Whether air conditioning is supported
  • Solar recharge during an outage
  • Reserve settings
  • Expansion capability
  • Manufacturer warranty
  • TWO DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO SOLAR

Local Installer vs. National Provider

The biggest difference isn’t company size. It’s what you’re signing up for, who owns the system, and what that decision could mean years from now.

Why Some Homeowners Choose Sunrun

  • Nationally recognized provider
  • Subscription-based solar options
  • Maintenance included with qualifying subscription plans
  • 24/7 system monitoring
  • Multiple battery options
  • Subscription may transfer to a future homeowner, subject to contract terms

Why Homeowners Choose HomeLink

  • Local Southern California team
  • Homeowner ownership options
  • Fixed-payment and zero-escalator structures where available
  • Solar and battery systems designed around the home’s needs
  • Direct access to a local support team
  • Experience with existing solar and builder-installed systems
  • Local knowledge of SCE, SDG&E, and participating community energy programs
Before you decide, compare more than the monthly payment.
  • Ask Directly, Not Rhetorically

Installation and Service Accountability

Whoever you choose, these are fair questions to ask before you sign.

  • Who is the licensed contractor?
  • Who pulls the permit?
  • Who performs the roof work?
  • Who handles service calls?
  • Is service performed by employees or third parties?
  • What is the workmanship warranty?
  • Who monitors the system?
  • Who do I contact if production stops?
  • Is there a guaranteed response time?
  • Think Ahead to Resale

What Happens When You Sell Your Home?

A solar agreement, owned or financed, can add steps to a home sale. It doesn’t have to derail one. Compare:
  • Owned system transfer
  • Remaining solar loan
  • Lease assumption
  • PPA assumption
  • Prepayment
  • Buyout availability
  • Buyer qualification
  • UCC filings, if applicable
  • Removal or relocation restrictions
  • An Honest Answer, Not a Sales Pitch

Which Company Is Right for You?

Sunrun May Be Appropriate When:

  • You specifically prefer a provider-owned solar subscription
  • You would rather bundle system maintenance into the subscription
  • National scale matters more to you than having a local solar company
  • You are comfortable with the agreement’s payment escalator and transfer terms
  • Owning the solar equipment is not a priority

HomeLink May Be Appropriate When:

  • You prefer a local Southern California company
  • You want to evaluate ownership
  • You want fixed-payment or zero-escalator options where available
  • You want a customized battery design
  • You want a second opinion on a competing proposal
  • You value direct local support

HomeLink May Be Appropriate When:

  • You want the option to own your solar and battery system
  • You prefer predictable payment options without annual increases
  • You want a system designed around your home’s actual energy usage
  • You value working with a local Southern California company
  • You want direct access to a local team when questions come up
  • You want someone to review competing solar proposals with you before you commit
  • Print This Section

10 Questions to Ask Before Signing Either Proposal

  • 1
    Who owns the system?
  • 2
    Can the payment increase?
  • 3
    What is the total cost?
  • 4
    What happens if I sell my home?
  • 5
    Who gets the tax incentives?
  • 6
    Who installs and services the system?
  • 7
    What equipment is included?
  • 8
    What will the battery back up?
  • 9
    What production is guaranteed?
  • 10
    What happens if the system underperforms?

Already Signed With Sunrun?

Signing doesn’t always mean every option is gone. Cancellation rights depend on when and where the agreement was signed, whether work has started, and the contract’s terms. California contracts commonly include cancellation disclosures, but you should review your exact agreement immediately, or have someone review it with you.

Get a Free Contract Review
  • Common Questions

FAQs

Pricing depends on your home, your usage, and the specific proposal in front of you. HomeLink's Southern California-only focus keeps overhead lower than a national provider, which often allows for competitive fixed-payment options. The only way to know for certain is to compare your actual Sunrun proposal side by side with a HomeLink quote, which is exactly what our free proposal review is for.

No. Some Sunrun leases and power purchase agreements include an annual price escalator, and some don't. It depends on the specific agreement, market, and program. Review your exact contract, or upload it for a free HomeLink review.

Yes. Alongside its subscription (lease or PPA) products, Sunrun also offers a cash-purchase option where the homeowner owns the system directly.

Not exactly. In a solar lease, you pay a recurring amount for use of the equipment. In a power purchase agreement (PPA), you typically pay for the electricity the system produces at a set per-kWh rate. Both are subscription structures where Sunrun, or its financing partner, owns the system, but the payment structure works differently.

On a lease or PPA, Sunrun or its financing partner owns the system. On a cash-purchase agreement, the homeowner owns the system outright.

Sometimes, but it depends on timing, location, whether work has started, and your contract's specific terms. California contracts commonly include cancellation disclosures. Review your exact agreement, or have a HomeLink advisor look at it with you.

Many leases and PPAs include a buyout provision that lets you purchase the system outright at a specified point in the contract. The exact cost and timing are outlined in your agreement.

This depends on your financing and ownership structure. Owned systems typically transfer with the home or the remaining loan is paid off at sale. Leases and PPAs may require the buyer to qualify for and assume the agreement, or you may need to buy it out first.

Not automatically. Ownership generally means more responsibility for maintenance but more access to incentives, while a subscription can include provider-handled maintenance in exchange for not owning the equipment. Which is "better" depends on your priorities, not a universal rule.

Don't stop at the brand name or battery count. Compare usable kWh, continuous and peak output, which circuits are backed up, whether the battery recharges from solar during an outage, and the manufacturer's warranty. Two proposals with the "same" battery can be configured very differently

  • Free, No-Pressure Review

Know What You're Signing Before the Clock Starts

Upload your Sunrun proposal and receive a side-by-side review of the payment, equipment, battery design, ownership, and long-term cost. No obligation, and you’re welcome to use the comparison whether or not you choose HomeLink.
  • Payment & escalator
  • Equipment & battery sizing
  • Total 25-year cost
  • Ownership & transfer terms

    • WHY HOMELINK

    A Local Alternative to National Solar Models

    Sunrun's national subscription model may work for some homeowners. HomeLink offers Southern California homeowners an alternative centered on local accountability, transparent comparisons, customized solar and battery design, and ownership or fixed-payment pathways where available.

    Customer Reviews

    See what others say that makes HomeLink better than the rest

    Leave a Review

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