Got a Maxwell Power Quote? Read This Before You Sign.
Maxwell Power is the new name for HDM, the company behind the prepaid solar and battery plan. Your contract says "fair market value" at year six. Here is what that really means for you, in plain English, from a consultant who sells this plan every week.
Maxwell Power is the new name of HDM Renewable Finance, which reports powering more than 20,000 homes since 2018. Maxwell owns your system for six years, then sends a Transfer Notice. At that point you can take ownership at no additional cost. The "fair market value" in your contract does not mean you pay a buyout.
What do California homeowners ask most about Maxwell Power?
These are the three questions I hear on almost every call about a Maxwell quote, whether the quote came from me or another installer.
Is Maxwell Power a legit solar company in California?
Yes. Maxwell Power is the new name of HDM Renewable Finance. It reports powering more than 20,000 homes since 2018, backed by $1.8 billion in Fairtide Partners funding commitments.
Do I own my Maxwell Power system after six years?
Yes, if you choose to. At year six, Maxwell sends a Transfer Notice. You can take ownership at no additional cost, and every warranty is assigned to you.
What happens to my Maxwell Power plan if I sell my house?
The buyer takes over your agreement. Maxwell holds a lien on the equipment, not your house, until year six, when ownership can transfer to whoever owns the home.
Company figures are Maxwell Power's own, from its June 2026 rebrand announcement and October 2026 funding report.
Who is Maxwell Power, and why does my contract say HDM?
Maxwell Power and HDM are the same company. HDM Renewable Finance changed its name to Maxwell Power on June 1, 2026, according to its official rebrand announcement. That is why many contracts, letters and Transfer Notices still say HDM or HDM Capital.
Maxwell is a finance and power company, not an installer. Through its prepaid solar and battery plan, it owns your system for the first six years and guarantees its production. Your installer designs it, pulls permits and puts it on your home.
Seeing a name you don't recognize? If your quote says Maxwell Power and your paperwork says HDM Capital, nothing is wrong. It is the same company under its old name.
How has the company changed in 2026?
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| 2017 to 2018 | HDM begins financing residential solar. EnergySage dates its operations to 2017; the company dates its investments to 2018. |
| 2024 | Fairtide Partners makes a first $250 million commitment. |
| June 1, 2026 | HDM Renewable Finance rebrands as Maxwell Power, with a new $750 million Fairtide commitment. |
| October 2026 | Headquarters moves from San Diego to Salt Lake City, Utah, and Fairtide commits another $800 million, bringing its total to $1.8 billion. |
Sources: PR Newswire, Utah Money Watch, EnergySage.
How big is Maxwell Power?
Maxwell reports powering more than 20,000 homes and investing more than $1.5 billion in customer projects since 2018. It also reports that its systems produced 104 percent of promised generation last year. These are the company's own figures, published on its website and in its announcements.
You won't find many independent customer reviews of Maxwell yet. Homeowners deal mostly with their installer, and the brand name is only a few months old. That makes it even more important to understand your contract before you sign it, which is what the rest of this page walks through.
Who does what in a Maxwell Power quote?
| Who | Their role in your project |
|---|---|
| Maxwell Power | Owns the system for six years. Insures, monitors and maintains it, and guarantees its production. Sends your Transfer Notice at year six. |
| Your installer | Designs the system, handles permits and utility approval, installs it and provides the workmanship warranty. On my projects, that's Mars Home Solutions. |
| You | Make one prepaid payment to the installer, either in cash or through a loan (see payment options), and get the power the system produces. |
How does the Maxwell Power plan work over the first six years?
You pay once, Maxwell owns and cares for the system for six years, and then you decide whether to take it over at no cost. Those six years exist because federal rules require the system owner to hold it that long. Maxwell's own site calls the six-year wait federally mandated.
You make one prepaid payment
You pay the installer once for your power, either in cash or through a loan. There is no monthly bill from Maxwell. Many homeowners finance the payment through a credit union. See payment options.
Maxwell owns and maintains it
Maxwell insures, monitors and maintains the system and guarantees its production. You use the power it makes and keep your savings on your utility bill. Estimate your savings.
You choose to take ownership
Maxwell sends a Transfer Notice. You can take ownership at no additional cost, with every warranty assigned to you, or stay in the agreement.
What changes when you take ownership at year six?
| Years 1 to 6 | After you take ownership | |
|---|---|---|
| Who owns the system | Maxwell Power | You |
| Insurance | Maxwell | You |
| Monitoring and maintenance | Maxwell | You |
| Production guarantee | Maxwell guarantees output | Ends with the agreement |
| Manufacturer and workmanship warranties | Held under the agreement | Automatically assigned to you |
| What you pay to take ownership | Nothing yet | Nothing. No buyout, no added cost. |
Do utility battery rebates still apply with Maxwell Power?
Yes, in the programs I've confirmed. Maxwell's prepaid plan stacks with the SMUD battery rebate and the Clean Power Alliance Sun Storage Rebate. Use the Powerwall Calculator to see your battery cost after rebates, or browse every program on the California solar incentives page.
You don't have to take ownership. HDM's memorandum to installers says the Transfer Notice gives you a choice: take possession at no additional cost, or remain in the agreement. Maxwell's prepaid contracts run 20 years for solar and 10 years for batteries if you stay in, according to Maxwell. If you take ownership, the warranties come with it, and the system is yours to keep or sell with the home.
What does "fair market value" mean in my Maxwell Power contract?
It does not mean you owe a buyout. "Fair market value" is a reference point the contract must use under federal rules. At year six, Maxwell compares it to the power you have already paid for but not yet received. That prepaid power is worth more, so the two cancel out and you owe nothing.
This is the line that worries people most, and I understand why. A contract that mentions a "purchase" at "fair market value" sounds like a big check at year six. Here is how it actually works.
How does the year-six math work?
Think of it like a trade. You prepaid for years of power up front. At year six, Maxwell hands you the system itself in exchange for the power it still owes you. Your prepaid balance covers the system's value, so no money changes hands.
What does the Transfer Notice actually say?
HDM gives installers a memorandum explaining the transfer, with a sample Transfer Notice attached. The memorandum says HDM will pass ownership and all warranties back to the property owner after six years of production at zero cost. The sample notice spells out the result in plain terms:
"You do not owe HDMC any additional funds nor does HDMC owe you any funds."
From the sample Transfer Notice in HDM Capital's memorandum of understanding. HDMC is HDM Capital, now Maxwell Power.
The notice also confirms that the agreement ends, Maxwell's obligations end, and all workmanship and manufacturer warranties are automatically assigned to you. EnergySage's review of the HDM plan describes the same setup: fair market value in the contract, with a memorandum guaranteeing a $0 transfer.
What do the terms in my Maxwell contract mean?
| Contract term | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Prepaid PPA | You buy the system's power up front with one payment, instead of monthly like a standard solar PPA. |
| Option Date | The sixth anniversary of your system's start date. This is when the Transfer Notice arrives. |
| Purchase option (Section 8) | Your right to take over the system at year six. In the sample notice, it's handled as a trade, not a cash purchase. |
| Remaining Amount | The value of the power you prepaid for that Maxwell still owes you. |
| Fair market value (FMV) | What the used system is worth at year six. A comparison number, not a bill. |
| Transfer Notice | The letter that confirms you owe nothing and hands you ownership and the warranties. |
Section numbers can differ between contract versions, so match the terms rather than the numbers. For a full side-by-side of prepaid plans, loans, leases and PPAs, see my California solar financing comparison, or read how the Maxwell prepaid plan is priced.
Not sure your contract matches this? Book a free quote review and I'll walk through your purchase option and transfer language with you, line by line, whether the quote came from me or another installer.
Book a Free Quote ReviewWhat happens if I sell my home before year six?
Your buyer takes over the Maxwell agreement. According to EnergySage's review of the HDM plan, the new owner can assume it at no cost by signing a transfer document. Because the power is already prepaid, your buyer doesn't inherit a monthly solar payment.
That last point matters when you sell. With a standard monthly PPA or lease, the buyer has to qualify for and accept a monthly bill. With a prepaid plan, they step into a system that's already paid for, and they still get the year-six ownership transfer.
What is the lien on a Maxwell Power system?
Maxwell files a UCC-1, which is a lien on the solar equipment, not on your house. It shows that Maxwell owns the panels and batteries until the transfer. EnergySage notes this is part of what makes moving within six years more complicated, so plan for it early in a sale.
How does selling before year six compare to selling after?
| Sell before year six | Sell after you take ownership | |
|---|---|---|
| Who owns the system | Maxwell Power | You, then your buyer |
| What your buyer signs | A transfer document taking over the agreement | Nothing extra. The system sells with the home |
| Lien on the equipment | Yes, a UCC-1 on the equipment only | No, it ends at transfer |
| Monthly solar bill for your buyer | None. The power is prepaid | None |
| Year-six ownership transfer | Passes to your buyer | Already complete |
| Warranties | Stay under the agreement | Already assigned to the owner |
How do I make a sale go smoothly?
- Tell your agent about the system when you list. A prepaid system with no monthly payment is a selling point, so put it in the listing.
- Keep your paperwork together. Have your Maxwell agreement, your system start date and your installer's warranty ready for the buyer.
- Contact Maxwell early in escrow. Starting the transfer paperwork early keeps the lien from slowing down closing.
- Settle any loan separately. If you financed your prepaid payment, that loan is between you and your lender, not Maxwell. Check your loan terms for what happens when you sell. See payment options.
Planning to move in the next few years? Tell your installer before you sign. A prepaid plan can still make sense, but it changes which option fits best. I'll lay out the choices honestly on a free quote review, or you can compare plans on the Maxwell prepaid page.
What are the pros and cons of a Maxwell Power plan?
The biggest pro is a discounted, prepaid system that Maxwell maintains for six years and then hands to you at no cost. The biggest con is that you don't own it during those six years, which makes selling your home sooner a little more complicated. Here's the full list, including the parts installers tend to skip.
Pros
- Lower upfront price. The prepaid price is discounted from the system's standard price, and some addresses qualify for a bigger discount.
- No monthly bill from Maxwell. You pay once, in cash or with a loan.
- Six years of care included. Maxwell insures, monitors and maintains the system.
- Production guarantee. Maxwell guarantees the system's output during the agreement.
- $0 ownership transfer. At year six you can take ownership at no additional cost, with all warranties.
- Battery rebates can stack. It works with the SMUD battery rebate and the Clean Power Alliance rebate.
- Buyer-friendly. A home buyer takes over with no monthly solar payment.
Cons
- You don't own it for six years. Maxwell is the legal owner until the Transfer Notice.
- A lien on the equipment. The UCC-1 adds paperwork if you sell before year six.
- You need the prepaid amount. That means cash or a loan, and a loan means a credit check.
- The contract language is confusing. "Fair market value" scares people until it's explained.
- A new brand name. Few independent reviews exist yet under the Maxwell name.
- You take over the upkeep at year six. Once you own it, insurance and maintenance are yours, though the warranties come with it.
- Limited states. EnergySage lists seven states, including California.
How does Maxwell Power compare to buying, a loan or a monthly PPA?
| Maxwell prepaid | Cash purchase | Solar loan | Monthly PPA or lease | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Discounted prepaid payment | Full standard price | Often $0 down | Often $0 down |
| Monthly payment | None, unless you finance the prepaid amount | None | Loan payment | Monthly bill, which can rise each year with an escalator |
| Who owns it | Maxwell for six years, then you | You | You | The provider, for the full term |
| Maintenance and insurance | Maxwell for six years | You | You | The provider |
| Production guarantee | Yes, during the agreement | No, warranties only | No, warranties only | Usually yes |
| Battery rebates that require ownership | SMUD and CPA confirmed | Yes | Yes | A true PPA does not qualify |
| Selling your home | Buyer takes over, no monthly payment | Sells with the home | Depends on your loan terms | Buyer must qualify for and accept the payments |
PPA terms vary by provider. Compare examples on my solar PPA and LightReach battery lease pages, or see all payment options. Want a battery number? Try the Powerwall Calculator.
Who is the Maxwell Power plan a good fit for?
A strong fit if you...
Plan to stay in your home for several years, want a lower price than buying outright, and like the idea of someone else handling maintenance while the system is new.
Think twice if you...
Want to own the system from day one, expect to sell within a year or two, or would rather have a $0-down monthly payment than a one-time prepaid amount.
What should I ask my installer about a Maxwell Power quote?
Ask these seven questions before you sign. A good installer will answer every one of them clearly and in writing. If you get vague answers, that tells you something too.
-
Is this a Maxwell Power prepaid PPA, and whose name is on the contract?
It may say HDM Capital, Maxwell's former name. That's normal, but you should know exactly who owns your system for six years.
-
Can I see the $0 ownership transfer in writing?
Ask for HDM's memorandum and a sample Transfer Notice. They show how the fair market value trade works at year six.
-
What is the standard price, and what is my prepaid price?
Your proposal should show both. The gap between them is your prepaid discount.
-
Does my address qualify for a bigger discount?
Some locations earn a larger discount than others. Your installer should check your exact address, not guess.
-
Who installs it, and what is the workmanship warranty?
Maxwell doesn't install systems. Get the installer's name and license number, and verify it with the Contractors State License Board.
-
Which utility rebates apply, and who submits them?
Some battery rebates, like SMUD's, stack with Maxwell. Find out who submits the application and when the money arrives.
-
What does the production guarantee cover?
Ask to see the guarantee clause and how a shortfall is handled. Don't rely on a verbal summary.
Have a Maxwell Power quote? Get a free second opinion.
I'll go through your quote and contract with you, line by line, and tell you straight whether the numbers and terms hold up. It doesn't matter which installer it came from. No pressure, no obligation.
What you'll get on the call
- The year-six transfer and fair market value language, explained
- Your prepaid price checked against the standard price
- Whether your address qualifies for a bigger discount
- Which battery rebates you can stack
- Straight answers on whether this plan fits your plans
400+ California installs. Installed by Mars Home Solutions, CSLB license 1065773.
Maxwell Power questions homeowners ask
Is Maxwell Power the same company as HDM?
Yes. HDM Renewable Finance changed its name to Maxwell Power on June 1, 2026. Contracts, letters and Transfer Notices may still say HDM or HDM Capital, and they refer to the same company.
Is Maxwell Power a legitimate company?
Yes. Maxwell reports powering more than 20,000 homes since 2018, backed by $1.8 billion in funding commitments from Fairtide Partners. Few independent reviews exist yet under the new name, so read your contract carefully and ask your installer to explain anything unclear.
Do I have to pay anything to own my system after six years?
No. At year six, Maxwell sends a Transfer Notice, and you can take ownership at no additional cost. The power you prepaid for is worth more than the system's fair market value, so neither side owes the other money.
Why does my Maxwell contract mention fair market value?
Federal rules require the contract to reference fair market value. It is a comparison number, not a bill. At year six, it is weighed against the power you already prepaid for, and the transfer happens at no cost to you.
Do I have to take ownership at year six?
No. The Transfer Notice gives you a choice to take ownership at no cost or remain in the agreement. According to Maxwell, prepaid contracts run 20 years for solar and 10 years for batteries if you stay in.
Can I sell my house with a Maxwell Power system?
Yes. Your buyer takes over the agreement by signing a transfer document, and because the power is prepaid, they have no monthly solar payment. Maxwell keeps a lien on the equipment, not the house, until the year-six transfer.
Who maintains a Maxwell Power system?
Maxwell does for the first six years. It insures, monitors and maintains the system and guarantees its production. Once you take ownership, insurance and maintenance become yours, and the manufacturer and workmanship warranties are assigned to you.
Can I still get battery rebates with a Maxwell Power plan?
Yes, in the programs I've confirmed. Maxwell's prepaid plan stacks with the SMUD battery rebate and the Clean Power Alliance Sun Storage Rebate. Use our Powerwall Calculator to estimate your savings.
Can I finance my Maxwell Power prepaid payment?
Yes. You can pay the prepaid amount in cash or with a loan, often through a credit union. The loan is separate from Maxwell and stays between you and your lender. See all payment options.
Can you review a Maxwell quote from another installer?
Yes. Book a free quote review and I'll go through your pricing, transfer language and rebate options with you. It doesn't matter which installer prepared the quote, and there's no obligation.