Third-party-owned solar generated over $900 million for California in 2012

USA: Sunrun, the USA's leading home solar company, and PV Solar Report, an authority on solar market data, announced that third-party-owned solar delivered more than $938 million to the California economy in 2012. The single-year record means that California third-party-owned solar generated about the same amount in 12 months as in the previous five years combined. The third-party total represents 74 percent of the state’s 2012 home solar market.

An August 2012 report showed the business modeled had delivered $1 billion in growth for the state since it became a homeowner choice in 2007. Also called solar power service, third-party-owned solar means a provider like Sunrun owns, maintains and insures solar panels on a homeowner's roof.

Homeowners switch to solar without the high upfront cost, avoid the responsibilities of ownership, and save money on electricity bills. Sunrun pioneered the solar service model for home solar and is the market leader, installing $2 million in solar equipment every day.

“Nearly 75 percent of homeowners who went solar in 2012 chose third-party-owned, compared to 56 percent in 2011,” said Stephen Torres, founder and managing director of PV Solar Report. “We are seeing the most growth in low and median-income zip codes as companies like Sunrun continue to remove the barriers to access.”

As part of the 2012 analysis, Sunrun and PV Solar Report announced California’s Top Solar Cities for 2012 based on solar system contracts sold. Third-party-owned solar represented 75 percent of the 2012 home solar market among these cities. The state leaders for 2012 in order of total home solar contract value are:

1) San Diego; 2) San Jose; 3) Bakersfield; 4) Los Angeles; 5) Fresno; 6) San Francisco; 7) Corona; 8) Murrieta; 9) Clovis; and 10) Temecula.

“Solar service is bringing solar to more American families not only because it eliminates the upfront cost, but also because it removes the hassles of ownership,” said Sunrun co-CEO Lynn Jurich. “Homeowners feel the impact of a tight economy and are looking for ways to own less in order to save more money. Our business model meets those needs, plus it helps the planet.”

The $938 million from third-party-owned solar for 2012 went directly to California local businesses and communities while helping homeowners of all income levels switch to solar. Two-thirds of home solar installations are now occurring in low and median income neighborhoods, according to a July 2012 assessment from California Solar Initiative (CSI).