Comments on: SolarCity scores first utility deal, and why that’s important http://gigaom.com/2012/10/18/solarcity-scores-first-utility-deal-and-why-thats-important/ Wed, 22 May 2013 07:05:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: TestS http://gigaom.com/2012/10/18/solarcity-scores-first-utility-deal-and-why-thats-important/#comment-1099721 Mon, 22 Oct 2012 03:41:55 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=575148#comment-1099721 I priced a 6.3K solar system for my home with solar city. For outright purchase – solarcity priced this at 32.5 K. I have some connections into solar business and figured out that material cost plus labor to install this sysstem is around 10 to 12K. Looking at these numbers – I think solar city is making a killing aided by federal subsidies. I think that time has now come for solar subsidies to go. I think solar city could have installed my system for 20 K still making 8K in profit which is excellent margin. I think that there are too few solar contractors doing this work and regulation to do all this is a little complex – this helps solar city maintain the obscene profit margins. Solarcity obviously prefers the lease system because then it gets to keep inflated federal subsidies charged on inflated prices.

]]> By: skeptic http://gigaom.com/2012/10/18/solarcity-scores-first-utility-deal-and-why-thats-important/#comment-1098450 Sun, 21 Oct 2012 06:29:59 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=575148#comment-1098450 Ucilia, could you give some examples of the price per kWh, minimum charges, length of contract, percent increase per year, etc., for these leases? I don’t think the consumer always comes out ahead financially compared to staying with the utility company.

]]> By: skeptic http://gigaom.com/2012/10/18/solarcity-scores-first-utility-deal-and-why-thats-important/#comment-1098439 Sun, 21 Oct 2012 06:16:54 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=575148#comment-1098439 4 cents per kWh for the excess electricity you produce. But with net metering, before you zero out, every kWh you produce is worth whatever you would otherwise pay the utility, 30 cents per kWh in tier 3, for example. And your system was probably subsidized to begin with. If everyone zeroed out the utility would go broke, because they would still need to produce, distribute, and transmit electricity on rainy days and nights. You are already getting a good deal.

]]> By: Daniel Ferra http://gigaom.com/2012/10/18/solarcity-scores-first-utility-deal-and-why-thats-important/#comment-1094566 Fri, 19 Oct 2012 15:58:10 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=575148#comment-1094566 Japan and Germany will pay residents between 32- 52 cents per kilowatt hour, here in California they will pay us 4 cents per kilowatt hour, want to change our Feed in Tariff? Campaign to allow Californian residents to sell electricity obtained by renewable energy for a fair pro-business market price. Will you read, sign, and share this petition?

http://signon.org/sign/let-california-home-owners

]]> By: Ucilia Wang http://gigaom.com/2012/10/18/solarcity-scores-first-utility-deal-and-why-thats-important/#comment-1094223 Fri, 19 Oct 2012 14:21:55 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=575148#comment-1094223 SolarCity is not a manufacturer. It buys solar panels and other equipment different suppliers. It has used solar panels from Yingli Green Energy, Kyocera, Sharp and others.

]]> By: bill http://gigaom.com/2012/10/18/solarcity-scores-first-utility-deal-and-why-thats-important/#comment-1093180 Fri, 19 Oct 2012 08:06:42 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=575148#comment-1093180 Bu who makes the solar cells and inverters for Solar City? What is their efficiency and wha makes their products better then anyone else?

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