TPO: who owns it
A third-party provider funds and owns the system. TPO does not, by itself, tell you how the homeowner pays. That is determined by the agreement inside the TPO structure.
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THE CLEARER ROUTE
Start with the structure, not the sales pitch.
Xplore's primary product family is third-party ownership, or TPO. TPO is the umbrella category: a provider funds and owns the solar equipment instead of the homeowner purchasing the complete system upfront. A power purchase agreement, or PPA, is one agreement inside that category. Under a PPA, the homeowner pays for the solar electricity the provider-owned system produces.
The shortest explanation is this: TPO answers who owns the equipment. PPA answers how the homeowner pays. A solar lease is also TPO, but it generally uses a recurring equipment payment rather than charging for each kilowatt-hour produced.
PPA: what you pay for
A power purchase agreement is one type of TPO. The homeowner buys the electricity the provider-owned system produces at the rate and terms stated in the agreement.
What determines the fit
Homeownership, location, utility, roof and property conditions, energy use and provider eligibility all shape what deserves a closer look.
THE COMPLETE TPO GUIDE
Use the solar system.
Know who owns what.
Third-party ownership is not one product. It is a category of agreements that let a provider fund and own the equipment while the homeowner uses the solar energy it produces.
THE CORE DISTINCTION
Ownership and payment are not the same question.
That is why TPO and PPA should not be presented as two competing options.
TPOWho owns the system?The third-party provider.
TPO is the umbrella category. It can include a PPA, solar lease, prepaid lease or another provider-owned structure available in the homeowner's market.
PPAWhat does the homeowner pay for?The solar electricity produced.
A PPA is one type of TPO agreement. The rate is generally stated per kilowatt-hour, so the solar payment reflects how much electricity the system produces.
Put it together:
If a provider owns the panels and you pay for the electricity they produce, you have both TPO and a PPA. If the provider owns the panels but you make a fixed lease payment, you still have TPO, but you do not have a PPA.
The home is reviewed
Address, utility, energy use, roof condition, shade and provider criteria determine whether the project can move forward.
The provider funds the system
The homeowner does not make the traditional upfront purchase of the entire solar array.
The agreement defines payment
A PPA is tied to energy production. A solar lease generally uses a recurring payment for use of the equipment.
Xplore manages the journey
Xplore remains the homeowner's point of contact while technical specialists handle design, permitting and installation.
Solar energy produced at your home
The panels generate electricity for the property. Your utility connection remains in place for energy the system does not provide and for applicable utility charges.
The third-party provider
The provider owns the panels and related system equipment during the agreement. Monitoring, service, insurance and maintenance responsibilities are defined in the contract.
A long-term energy or equipment agreement
Before signing, understand the starting payment, annual escalator, agreement term, transfer process, roof-work process and purchase options, which typically open after year five.
Your utility connection remains
Solar can reduce the electricity purchased from the utility, but the home remains connected. Utility charges and any electricity not supplied by the system may still appear on the utility bill.
The agreement must be addressed
Transfer, assumption and purchase rules vary. The homeowner should understand the process before signing, not wait until the property is being sold.
One team from first question to activation
You deal directly with Xplore. We explain the model, review your home, coordinate the technical process and keep your project moving.
PPA
Pay for the electricity produced
The rate is commonly expressed per kilowatt-hour. Because production changes, the solar payment can also change. The agreement defines the starting rate, escalation and term.
SOLAR LEASE
Pay to use the solar equipment
The payment is commonly a recurring lease amount rather than a charge for each kilowatt-hour produced. The contract defines escalation, service and end-of-term choices.
PREPAID LEASE
Make the lease payment upfront
One payment can replace recurring monthly solar payments. A provider owns and maintains the system during the initial agreement period, with purchase timing and ownership options defined in the contract.
ALL ARE TPO
The provider owns the system
The payment method changes, but the ownership framework is the same. Every agreement should explain service, roof work, moving, transfer and available purchase options.
BEFORE SIGNING
Six details every homeowner should be able to explain back.
- Starting price
The initial per-kilowatt-hour rate, lease payment or prepaid amount.
- Annual change
Whether the rate or payment increases, and how often.
- Agreement term
How long the arrangement lasts and what happens at the end.
- Service responsibility
Who monitors, maintains and repairs the provider-owned equipment.
- Moving or roof work
What happens during a home sale, transfer or future roof replacement.
- Purchase options
Whether and when the homeowner may buy the system, and how the price is determined.
TPO does not mean “free solar.”
Check my solar options It means a third party funds and owns the system, removing the traditional full-system purchase upfront. The homeowner still enters a paid agreement with defined terms.
PERSONAL SOLAR REVIEWA real conversation with the Xplore team
TALK IT THROUGH WITH A REAL PERSON
Get a personal
solar review.
Bring your bill, your address and every question you have. A member of the Xplore team will explain the model, understand what matters to you and help determine whether a deeper home review makes sense.
- Understand the difference between TPO and a PPA
- See what you qualify for, and which structure fits your goals
- Stay with one Xplore team throughout the journey