Community & shared solar
See the full cost of leaving your contract before it ends, including the cancellation fee, any forfeited credit, and the savings you'd give up.
How it works
Step 1
Check your enrollment agreement or ask your provider directly for the current cancellation fee and how they handle unused banked credit. Don't rely on a general assumption here, and confirm the exact number with the cancellation fee calculator.
Step 2
If you're switching to a better offer, compare this exit cost against the improvement using the provider comparison tool to see if the switch still nets you more overall.
The cancellation fee is the most visible cost, but the fuller financial impact also includes any banked credit you forfeit and the ongoing savings you would have earned by staying enrolled through the rest of your term. An 18-month early exit with a $150 fee on a $150 monthly bill at a 10% discount represents about $420 in total impact once you count the forgone savings alongside the fee. Check the DSIRE database for any state rules on cancellation fee disclosure, since some states require this figure to be stated clearly at enrollment.
For a subscriber with many months remaining and a solid discount, the savings given up by leaving early can dwarf the cancellation fee itself. This is worth keeping in mind, since a modest-looking fee can understate the real cost of walking away from a favorable contract with a long remaining term. Compare against the contract length comparison tool if you're weighing a shorter term next time. A financed rooftop loan carries a comparable exit cost, covered by the prepayment penalty cost calculator.
Moving outside your utility's territory, switching to a significantly better offer, or simply needing to stop the financial commitment for personal reasons are all legitimate reasons an exit can be worth the cost, even when the numbers alone don't favor it. Check the portability when moving tool first if a move is the reason, since portability might avoid the exit cost entirely. Start with the Department of Energy's community solar basics guide if you need the official wording rather than a summary.
Confirm the exact fee and credit forfeiture policy directly with your provider, since terms can vary from what's in a general contract summary, and ask whether any circumstances qualify for a fee waiver. The cancellation fee calculator covers this specific figure in more depth if you need it before signing a new contract elsewhere. If your actual results have been falling short of what was projected, the real versus estimated savings gap calculator can help confirm whether that's driving the decision. The Department of Energy's community solar basics guide lists fee waivers for a documented move as a best practice, so it's worth asking about specifically rather than assuming it isn't offered.
Questions
The direct cost is the cancellation fee plus any banked credit you forfeit by leaving, but the fuller picture also includes the savings you'd have earned by staying enrolled. An 18-month early exit with a $150 fee on a $150 monthly bill at a 10% discount represents about $420 in total impact when you count both the fee and the forgone savings.
This depends on your provider and utility. Some allow you to use up remaining banked credit against your final bills before the account closes, while others forfeit unused credit immediately upon cancellation. Check your specific cancellation terms before deciding.
Yes, if you're switching to a meaningfully better offer, moving somewhere the subscription can't follow you, or simply want out for reasons unrelated to the numbers, the fee can be a reasonable cost. Weigh it against what staying enrolled would actually be worth over your remaining term.
Some providers waive the fee for specific circumstances, such as moving outside their service territory, so it's worth asking directly rather than assuming the fee is fixed. Reading your enrollment agreement's exact cancellation clause before calling can help you make a more informed case.