New federal trade measures take effect December 4 and could affect the cost of some solar equipment. Here's what homeowners considering solar should know.
If you've been considering solar, you may have seen reports that equipment prices could increase later this year.
If solar is something you're already considering, it's worth understanding what is changing and how it could affect the cost of a system for your home.
What's changing?
Beginning December 4, new federal trade measures will apply to certain imported polysilicon products and solar equipment.
The measures include minimum import prices of $0.38 per watt for covered solar modules and $0.22 per watt for covered solar cells, along with additional duties on certain products.
Solar and energy storage analytics company Anza has already seen changes in supplier pricing. According to an analysis reported by pv magazine USA, the median price for imported modules on its platform was $0.27 per watt before the August announcement and reached $0.38 per watt among suppliers that had repriced for delivery after December 4.
That's an increase of more than 40% for those modules, not a 40% increase in the total cost of a home solar system.
What could this mean for homeowners?
Solar panels are only one part of the cost of a residential system. Equipment choices, system size, engineering, electrical work, installation, permitting, financing and battery storage can all affect the final price.
It also means there isn't one answer for every homeowner.
Atma is product-agnostic, so we aren't tied to one panel, inverter or battery manufacturer. We can look at the equipment available and recommend options based on your home, electricity use, goals and budget.
If equipment prices rise, solar can still make sense in 2027. The numbers may simply look different. Your upfront cost or monthly payment could change, which could also affect your savings and how long it takes for the system to pay for itself.
Should you get solar before December 4?
If you're already thinking about solar, getting current pricing gives you something concrete to compare before the new measures take effect.
Along with potential changes in the price of solar equipment from December 4, you need to consider whether solar makes sense for your home and what you're trying to achieve, such as energy resilience or long-term savings.
An Atma Solar Advisor can help you look at your electricity use, equipment options, battery storage and expected costs. From there, you can decide whether moving forward now makes the most sense for you.
If you have questions about solar, battery storage or how the upcoming price changes could affect your options, you can schedule a free, no-obligation 10-minute discovery call.