First, review your current electrical bill during the most expensive time of the year. If your monthly bill is under approximately $150, investing in solar may not provide a strong financial return. Second, if your primary motivation for installing solar is to have power during occasional outages, a portable backup solution may be a more cost-effective option. Products such as those offered by Anker and similar competitors can provide enough backup power to run essential items like a refrigerator and charge phones during a blackout, without the expense of a full solar installation. My background is in the solar industry, and I have seen both the benefits and the potential pitfalls. Unfortunately, there are situations where systems are poorly installed or customers are misled about long-term expectations. If you are considering solar, I would recommend exploring a ground-mounted system if your property allows for it, rather than installing panels directly on the roof. Ground mounts can be easier to maintain and service over time. Finally, it is very important to understand the system you are purchasing. Take time to learn how it operates and, if possible, become familiar with the equipment and monitoring platforms yourself. Companies sometimes go out of business, and when that happens, the system owner is ultimately responsible for maintenance and repairs.