Solar Melon publishes general information about home solar. This page explains where our information comes from and how we keep it current.
Where our information comes from
We rely on primary and neutral sources wherever we can. That includes government agencies such as the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the IRS and the Department of Energy; national laboratories such as Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the National Laboratory of the Rockies (formerly NREL); state utility commissions; and published research. For prices, we use large market datasets, such as EnergySage’s marketplace data, and say where each figure comes from.
Every guide ends with a list of the sources it uses, so you can check the numbers yourself.
How we handle numbers
- Prices and rates come with a date, because they change.
- When a figure is an estimate or a worked example, we say so and explain the assumptions behind it.
- If we can’t verify a number, we leave it out.
Keeping guides up to date
Solar rules change often, especially incentives and utility billing. We review guides when something important changes, such as the end of the federal residential solar tax credit, and each guide shows the date it was last updated near the top of the page. Every guide on the site was reviewed and updated in September 2026.
Independence
Solar Melon doesn’t install, sell or finance solar systems, and no company pays to be mentioned in our guides. The site doesn’t currently run ads or affiliate links. If that changes, links that earn us money will be clearly labeled, and we’ll update this page to explain how it works.
What our guides aren’t
Our articles are general information. They aren’t financial, tax, legal or engineering advice for your situation. Before making decisions about your home, check the current rules with your utility and state, and talk to a qualified professional where it matters.
Corrections
If you spot an error or something out of date, please let us know through our contact page. We’ll look into it and fix anything we got wrong.