LA Solar — Install Now or Wait (2026)
With the federal 30% ITC extended through 2032 and NEM 3.0 changing export economics, the solar timing question has shifted in 2026.
| Attribute | Install Solar in 2026 | Wait |
|---|---|---|
| Federal tax credit | 30% ITC through 2032 (OBBBA extended) | Same — no need to rush for tax reason |
| NEM 3.0 export rate | Lower than NEM 2.0 — battery mandatory for payback | No change coming soon |
| Typical LA payback period | 7–10 years with battery | Would be same if waiting |
| Cost trend | Module prices flat; soft costs rising with labor | Possible minor cost drift — not meaningfully different |
| Battery economics | Essential in NEM 3.0 era | Same |
| Roof age consideration | Install only if roof has 15+ years remaining | If roof <10 years, combine roof + solar project |
Takeaway
In 2026, the "wait for better pricing" argument has weakened — ITC is locked, NEM 3.0 rules are stable, and most cost drift is in soft costs (labor, permits) which are rising, not falling. If your roof has 15+ years left and you plan to stay 7+ years, installing now usually wins.
Talk it through with Baily
Not sure which side fits your project? Ask Baily — we'll walk through the tradeoffs for your specific situation.
LA Solar
Who is Baily?
Baily is named after Francis Baily — an English stockbroker who retired at 51, became an astronomer, and in 1836 described something on the edge of a solar eclipse that nobody had properly articulated before: a string of bright beads of sunlight breaking through the valleys along the moon's rim.
He wasn't the first to see them. Edmond Halley saw them in 1715 and barely noticed. Baily's contribution was clarity — describing exactly what was happening, in plain language, so vividly that the whole field of astronomy paid attention. The phenomenon is still called Baily's beads.
That's what we wanted our AI to do. Every inbound call and text has signal in it — a homeowner's real question, a timeline, a budget, a hesitation that means “yes but.” Baily listens to every one, 24/7, and finds the beads of light.
Baily was a businessman before he was a scientist. That's our vibe too.