The Mystery of the Disappearing Savings

⚡️mythbusters Apr 21, 2025

It was supposed to be simple.

Solar panels. Clean energy. Lower bills. That’s what the rep said. That’s what the brochure promised.

But here Toni Galang was—three years later—sitting at her kitchen table in Stockton, California, staring at another bill that made her heart sink:

$263.49.

Same as last month. Higher than before she went solar.

Toni wasn’t imagining things. The savings she’d been promised had vanished, like sunlight swallowed by storm clouds. And now she was left with a system bolted to her roof and a contract she barely understood.

This wasn’t energy independence. This was energy confusion.

⚠️ When the Numbers Don’t Add Up

Toni, a small business owner and former nurse, had signed up for solar through what’s called a PPA—a Power Purchase Agreement. It sounded great at the time: no upfront costs, no maintenance, just a lower monthly rate for clean energy.

But the fine print told another story:

Annual rate increases built into the contract
A minimum monthly payment, no matter how much she actually used
Zero control over the size or design of the system
No ownership of the panels or the tax incentives
System oversizing and poor placement, leaving her with production she couldn’t fully use

She was paying for solar power she couldn’t absorb—and still pulling power from the grid during peak hours. Her so-called “savings”? Evaporating month after month.

🔎 The Real Problem Isn’t the Panels—It’s the Process

Toni’s case isn’t unusual. Across the country, homeowners are experiencing the same “solar shock”: bills that don’t go down, confusing contract terms, and the slow realization that the system on their roof works better for the installer’s profit margin than for their wallet.

Here’s what most people don’t get told:

PPAs and leases often include 20–25 year terms with rate hikes baked in
If your system isn’t sized correctly—or your roof orientation is off—you’ll lose out on peak savings
Many homeowners don’t get an energy audit before installation
And unless you own your system, you miss out on tax credits, equity, and long-term ROI

Solar doesn’t fail people. Bad deals do.

🔁 How Toni Turned It Around

Toni didn’t just accept the disappearing savings. She asked questions. She did her research. She reached out to SolarEvol.

Our team helped her dig into her contract, decode her system’s performance, and get an independent energy audit. The results were eye-opening:

Her system was 30% oversized, meaning she was paying for production she couldn’t use
It wasn’t aligned for peak sun hours, reducing its real output
She was paying escalating rates while still relying on the grid during key usage times

With that data in hand, she explored her options.

She didn’t just want solar—she wanted a solar strategy.

Through SolarEvol’s ownership-forward model, Toni was able to:

Exit her underperforming PPA
Requalify for ownership incentives and local energy grants
Install a right-sized system using advanced modeling based on her actual usage
Add battery storage to reduce peak draw and take full advantage of her production
Lock in her savings—not just for today, but for the long term

Now?

Her bill is down to under $30 a month. Her home produces what it needs. And most importantly, she owns her power.

💡 Knowledge is Power

“The disappearing savings aren’t random. They’re engineered by rushed installs, misleading contracts, and a lack of education. Solar only works when it’s built around you.”

At SolarEvol, we believe clean energy should never come with hidden costs or half-truths. We empower homeowners with smart system design, funding clarity, and ownership-first solutions.

Before you sign:

✅ Get an energy audit
✅ Know your production vs. usage profile
✅ Understand who gets the tax credit
✅ Ask about performance guarantees
✅ And always know your exit options

🌞 Don’t Just Go Solar—Go Smart

Solar savings shouldn’t be a mystery. They should be a math equation that works in your favor.

If your numbers aren’t adding up—or you’re not sure what you actually signed up for—you’re not alone. And you’re not stuck.