It depends on how many batteries you have and what you're running. One battery can typically keep essentials — fridge, lights, Wi-Fi, phones — going for a day or more, while larger loads draw it down faster. Add batteries to extend runtime or back up more of your home.

On the Subscription Plan and prepaid lease, Sunrun provides 24/7 monitoring, free maintenance, repairs including parts and labor, free equipment replacement, and a production guarantee that credits you if the system underperforms — plus a 5-year roof penetration warranty and manufacturer equipment warranties. Buying instead? The optional Protection Plus package adds the same full-service coverage.

Panels convert sunlight into DC electricity, an inverter changes it into the AC power your home uses, and any extra can flow back to the grid for credits. Add a Tesla Powerwall 3 and you can store that energy for nighttime or outages. You track production and savings in real time in the mySunrun app, and your system is monitored 24/7 so issues are flagged automatically.

The on-site install is typically one to three days, depending on your system size and roof. The full timeline from signing to switch-on, including design, permitting, and utility approval, usually runs several weeks and varies by jurisdiction.