Tax credits, local rebates and utility incentives can lower the net cost of solar, but they are easy to misunderstand. A sales presentation might show the price after incentives, so it is worth knowing exactly which ones are included and whether you qualify for them.

Some incentives come as tax credits, which only help if you owe enough tax to use them. Others are rebates paid to you or to the installer, and some are performance payments based on how much power you produce. Availability varies by state, county and utility, and programs can run out of funding or change.

Ask for a written breakdown that separates the gross price from each incentive. Then confirm the details on your own with your utility, your state energy office or a tax professional who can look at your situation. Treat any incentive you aren't sure you'll receive as a bonus, not as part of the math that makes the project work.