This guide compares some common financing options: a cash purchase, a home equity loan, other loan products, a solar lease, a solar power purchase agreement (PPA), and property tax assessment financing. Solar electric systems, also known as photovoltaic (PV) systems, convert sunlight into electricity. Because they are made up of. . This guide explains multiple financing options available to homeowners considering the installation of a PV system. If you can't afford to pay for your system out of pocket—or don't want to tie up that capital—solar financing. . This short report defines compensation mechanisms for grid-connected, behind-the-meter distributed generation (DG) systems as instruments that comprise three core elements: (1) metering & billing arrangements, (2) sell rate design, and (3) retail rate design. Solar Panels Solar panels are the most visible parts of a grid-connected solar PV system. They're made up of small solar cells that absorb. .