By Chance Currington
Sunlight Solar customer George Heyworth, his son Sean, and the grandkids stopped by our booth to say hello. George and Connie Heyworth have a 2.22KW solar electric system installed on their Portland home in Forest Heights. Sean Heyworth is the President of Heyworth Development and Remodeling. www.heyworthdevelopment.com
We’ve had a lot of fun these last few years at the NW solar expo at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. In 2009 we celebrated installing the most residential PV systems by any contractor in the state of Oregon. In 2010 we launched our electric vehicle charging station division. At the 2011 NW Solar Expo we were thrilled to announce our partnership with SunRun. Our partnership with SunRun and the SunRun Total Solar program is a breakthrough for residential solar power in Oregon and a complete shift in the way we buy solar power.
SunRun is a national solar power company that specializes in making solar affordable for everyone by vastly lowering the out of pocket cost for a residential solar power system while also providing a long-term operations & maintenance agreement that includes a 20-year 100% performance, equipment, and labor warranty. They are able to do this in Oregon by accepting the Energy Trust of Oregon incentive as well as the 30% federal tax credit.
Sunlight Solar customers from left: Vince Alvarez in Milwaukie, Cindy Hickman in Hillsboro, and brothers David and Marshall Threefoot in SW Portland. On the far right is Sunlight Solar President and Founder, Paul Israel.
Since SunRun is a corporation, they can depreciate the equipment and pass the discount on to you. For the 20-year agreement, SunRun will maintain ownership of the solar equipment on your roof and you will reap all of the benefits of having solar power without the cost or hassle of ownership. This is also referred to as a residential PPA (power purchase agreement) or a solar power finance program. Essentially – you are pre-paying for 20 years of electricity and hedging against future rate increases from Portland General (PGE) or Pacific Power (PPL).
How does the SunRun Total Solar program work?
SunRun accepts the ETO incentive and federal tax credit, but you are still able to monetize the $6,000 state tax credit over 4 years at $1500/year. The total out of pocket cost for a 3.29KW solar electric system is $6,000 in the PGE service area and $7,500 in the Pacific Power service area.
Who is eligible?
On day two of the solar expo Sunlight Solar customers Ron and Jean Boesl stopped by sporting Sunlight Solar gear! Ron and Jean live in northeast Portland and their yard is a certified wildlife habitat by the National Audubon Society. Far left: Sunlight Solar thermal technician Marko Wessels. Far right: future Sunlight Solar customer Bob Gordon from Gresham.
This program is available for any Oregon resident whose electricity is provided by PGE or Pacific Power. Sunlight Solar will provide the SunRun solar program service statewide including Portland, Gresham, Tigard, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Oregon City, Estacada, Clackamas, Happy Valley, Beaverton, Hillsboro,Newberg, North Plains, Tualatin, Sherwood, Wilsonville, Milwaukie, Hood River, Bend, Redmond, Prineville, Madras, Eugene, Corvallis, Albany, Salem, Klamath Falls, Roseburg, Grants Pass, Pendleton, and Medford. If your city is not listed and you are a PGE or PPL customer you are eligible.
Can I buy the equipment?
Of course, however, with SunRun, you can buy electricity from a clean renewable source, and at a lower cost than you would pay for the same power from your utility. You will never have to worry about the equipment as it is insured by SunRun and has a 20-year 100% warranty.
What are my options at the end of the 20-year agreement?
At the end of 20 years you will have three options:
- Renew with SunRun at a guaranteed 10% less than the utility’s baseline at that time
- Buy the equipment at Fair Market Value (determined by 3rd party)
- Remove the equipment at no cost to you
We installed SSE customer and friend Mark Nutcher’s first solar electric system in 2009. In 2010 he called us back and we installed another solar electric system for him. Mark is the owner of Wood Toy Shop in Portland and among many of his talents he crafts hand-made wood toys. Take a look at his work here and support a great person this Christmas! www.woodtoyshop.com
What if I move before the 20-year agreement is complete?
You can transfer the agreement to the new homeowner through a simple one-page transfer agreement. The $6,000 state tax credit is in your name so regardless of whether you move in year one or year fifteen you will still monetize that over 4 years to pay the system off. The new homeowner will pay no additional costs and your home will have an increased value and potentially higher selling price.
What if SunRun were to go out of business?
If SunRun were to go out of business you are completely protected. An escrow account is created to completely protect your system today and for the entirety of the agreement.
What if my roof needs re-roofing?
The Energy Trust of Oregon requires 10-years of remaining roof life to approve the installation of a PV system. If your roof has less than 10-years of remaining roof life we recommend at least re-roofing the portion of your roof where the solar will go.
Additional
This program is available for any Oregon resident whose electricity is provided by PGE or Pacific Power. Sunlight Solar will provide the SunRun solar program service statewide including Portland, Gresham, Tigard, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Oregon City, Estacada, Clackamas, Happy Valley, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Newberg, North Plains, Tualatin, Sherwood, Wilsonville, Milwaukie, Hood River, Bend, Redmond, Prineville, Madras, Eugene, Corvallis, Albany, Salem, Klamath Falls, Roseburg, Grants Pass, Pendleton, and Medford. If your city is not listed and you are a PGE or PPL customer you are eligible.
In addition, Sunlight Solar will offer the SunRun total solar program to all Oregon Solarize projects including; Growing Solar Clackamas County, Solarize NE, Solarize SE, Solarize NW, Solarize SW, Solarize Corbett, Solarize Pendleton, Solarize Eugene, Solarize West Linn-Lake Oswego, Solar Beaverton, Solar Gresham and the Sierra Club program “Go Solar with Sierra Club”.
Please call or email us today if you have more questions or if you would like to see if your roof qualifies.