Assist Solar

Archive for the ‘Leased Solar Power’ Category

Assist Solar has been written up on Local Beat based on an interview that they did with me.

I was really happy with it and I gave them some great information.   It looks lo good that I’ll be posting a lot of that info here soon!

Here is the time line for the lease program.

You can find the updates on the Solar Panel Lease Availability page.

As I mentioned here, you can now lease solar panels (and wind generators, I’m told, but I don’t know much about that).  In my next few posts, I will go into details about that program.

First, where is this available?

This program is currently only available in some states in the US.  If anyone knows of a similar program available in other countries, please let me know.  I understand that they intend to extend the program to Canada and to more states in the US.  They have to negotiate with both the state and the utility companies.  I expect to see more US states before I see Canadian provinces simply because they have a better handle on how the US entities run things.

Here’s the list.

How does the program work?

You fill out a non-binding LOI (Letter of Interest) with the company and give them an electric bill (the more the better).  This is to:

• Show if you are interested in the program.
• Do you meet basic requirements (use enough electricity to matter, have an internet connection and are you in an area they service).
• Get your address and contact information.

Then, they contact you to set an appointment for one of their inspectors to come out to your house.  First, to make sure that they can get enough sunlight on your roof and to make sure that they can design a panel system that is safe for the structure of your roof.

After that, they send their design plan for the panels for your approval and the lease agreement.  Once you fill out the lease agreement and send the deposit (the first two months prepaid), they schedule a crew to install the panels and get you hooked up.

After that, they bill you for the electricity that you use just like an electric company would.

In markets where the utility company allows it, they will de-spin your electric meter during the day.  Since most people  use less electricity during the day than the panels produce.  By de-spinning the meter, the utility company credits you for the electricity you generate.  Then you use that credit during the evening when you are using electricity but there is no sunlight.

How much does it cost?

First, you don’t have to pay for the panels, installation or the permits.  The leasing company does all that.  They even carry the insurance on the panels.

You pay for the electricity that you use.  Your rate is 10% less than this year’s electricity rate from your electric utility.  The rate will increase a flat 1.5% every year.  Since that is lower than rates increase in most electricity markets, your savings will increase as time goes on.  Even if new environmental regulations cause electric prices to skyrocket, your rate will still only increase 1.5% each year.

They also ask for a deposit of two months electricity (at their discounted rate).

What do you get?

You get:

• Lower electric bills.
• Non-polluting electricity
• Electricity during the day, even in a black out
• You make electricity available during the day when factories and office buildings need it the most and use night time electricity when the electric companies usually have extra capacity
• A 20 year commitment for inexpensive electricity