When you pay for your solar energy system up front with cash, you can expect a return on your investment in just over seven years. While you save monthly by reducing or eliminating your electric utility bill, by the time you’ve paid off your system, you will be up more than $150,000 in savings over the life of your system. While utility rates rise higher and higher, often without warning, owning your solar outright locks in your monthly costs, especially if you’re able to go 100% solar for your home.