Palmetto LightReach: TPO products built by long-time installers

When it comes to solar leases and power purchase agreements (PPAs), the company behind your financing matters as much as the monthly rate. Not all third-party ownership (TPO) providers are created equal. Some companies treat you like a transaction: Once they get the system installed, they sell your contract to an investor, and you may not hear from them again. However, many others take a customer-centric approach, like Palmetto LightReach. 

With roots as an EPC (short for engineering, procurement, and construction—it’s an industry term for companies that manage the entire solar installation process from end to end), Palmetto built LightReach specifically to address the frustrations commonly experienced when working with transactional TPO providers. Palmetto has been installing solar for a decade and a half, and added a financing arm, Palmetto LightReach, in 2023. 

"We're trying to change the industry. We're trying to clean up a lot of the problems that have been created,” Troy Roble, vice president of business development at Palmetto, told EnergySage. "For us, it's really important that the customer is happy and that they like our company. We view them as a 25-year relationship, which I think is completely different from how TPO providers have treated customers in the past." 

We'll walk you through how Palmetto LightReach works, who it's best for, and how it stacks up against other solar financing options.

Some TPO companies will install your system and immediately sell your contract to an investor, which can result in a negative customer experience. Palmetto takes the opposite approach—they view you as a 25-year customer relationship, not a transaction.

This long-term focus shapes how LightReach works. You'll sign either a PPA or a lease, depending on your state. Your monthly payment is set at a rate below your avoided cost of power, guaranteeing you save money from day one. Palmetto handles all monitoring, maintenance, and insurance for your system. 

Because Palmetto owns your system for the long haul, they're motivated to make sure it performs well and that you're satisfied. They also offer additional products for you to lease, like HVAC and backup energy storage, but the core relationship is built around keeping your solar energy system running smoothly for 25 years.

Palmetto LightReach vs. other solar financing options

Built by installers who understand system performance

Palmetto has been in the industry long enough to understand its pain points. That experience shapes how its financing arm, LightReach, approaches TPO financing today. For starters, they require installers to follow manufacturer specifications for every installation. That may seem basic, but unfortunately, improperly installed systems can happen in the solar space. 

"We make sure that installers don't cut corners," Roble said. "We're not going overboard. We're just making sure they're installed the way that they're supposed to be."

Consumer protection is a top priority

Palmetto Lightreach has multiple policies and systems in place to protect its customers. For example, thanks to Palmetto’s price caps, salespeople can’t sell a LightReach contract for more than the avoided cost of power. This means it’s impossible for you to pay more for your solar electricity than you would pay for electricity from your utility.

Additionally, the company requires a “clear facts disclosure” for every sale. This disclosure—which customers complete independently, without a salesperson present to add any additional pressure or coaching—ensures that each customer understands what they’re signing up for. LightReach also has specific compliance measures to protect higher-risk homeowners, such as those over 70 or those whose first language is not English, from being taken advantage of during the sales process. 

Multi-product ecosystem

Unlike most TPO providers that only offer solar, Palmetto has expanded LightReach to include solar leases and PPAs with battery backup and HVAC leases.

This diversification means Palmetto has multiple ways to help you save money on energy throughout the 25-year relationship.

You want ownership

With a LightReach subscription, you never own your solar panel system. If ownership is important to you, compare your cash purchase or solar loan options through EnergySage (Palmetto offers these as well—you can compare its offerings to others on our Marketplace), or explore a pre-paid PPA with an ownership transfer. 

You want to maximize long-term savings

While LightReach ensures you save money from day one, you'll save significantly more over 25 years if you purchase your system with cash or a solar loan. The tradeoff is taking on the upfront cost and maintenance responsibility yourself, tying up capital that you could otherwise invest elsewhere.

Palmetto LightReach offers a consumer-focused approach to solar leases and PPAs, with built-in protections that prioritize long-term system performance and customer satisfaction over quick sales. If you want to go solar with zero upfront cost and appreciate having a company that's invested in maintaining your system for 25 years, LightReach is worth considering.

That said, solar financing isn't one-size-fits-all. If maximizing long-term savings or eventual ownership is more important to you than avoiding upfront costs, a cash purchase or solar loan will serve you better. And if you want some ownership benefits while still capturing tax credit savings, a prepaid PPA might split the difference.

Either way, your best bet is to compare multiple quotes with various solar financing options for your specific situation. This should help you find the deal that makes the most sense for you.