Juju

I just found out about this fascinating new company called Citizenre which is starting a service in 2008 called REnU. Despite the unfortunate choice of naming, it looks so awesome it's almost too good to be true. Basically, they are going to offer to install solar panels on your roof for free and charge you a fixed rate based on usage (I think... there's some confusion on this point) which should be equal to or less then you pay now from your utility!? You're basically renting the equipment, but there's nothing to buy, no installation cost, no maintenance fees, and just a $500 deposit. They also have a very moving video (if you're a tree hugger... ok, maybe I'm just a dirty hippie) describing it all with Ed Begley, Jr (hehe) and some narration by Morgan Freeman.

I emailed them the following questions, hopefully they'll get back to me soon:

The FAQ says you pay for the energy you produce, not the energy you actually use, however the Net-Meetering page says that excess energy produced is sold back to the power company and is used as credit for times when you do not produce enough energy to meet your needs? The Overview page says "Performance-based contract means you only pay for what is delivered". This is confusing. Also, the Net-Meetering page says a map of existing net-meetering laws is given below, but there is no map on that page?

How does the controller send reports? Is a phone line required? I don't have a phone line, I have cable modem and Vonage VOIP phone service. Will this be a problem? Can it send the reports using a regular internet connection? One page says a phone line is needed, but then this page says it reports daily via a simple ISP connection.

The How Solar Energy Works page seems to suggest it mostly gathers power during the day and sends most of it back to the power company for credit and then at night it draws power back out of the power company. Why not store most excess power in batteries to draw from when needed? Seems like I would end up losing money because I doubt the rates the power company buys from me would equal what they charge me?

I'm curious about the 25 year contract option. Solar panels will undoubtedly see many advancements over the next 25 years. Will there be an option to upgrade the system and at what cost?

Probably a stupid question, but I don't know much about solar panels. I'm wondering how it handles snow. Must snow be cleared off the panels? I thought it was funny how one of the pictures at the top of one of the pages shows a house covered in snow, but the solar panels are perfectly clear.

I'm also curious why there's no contact email address listed anywhere on the REnU website. The link to Locate an Associate doesn't work and I'm not quite ready to register to reserve a system. I had to goto the main Citizenre website to find an address to email, which is pretty annoying.

UPDATE

I actually got a response quite a while ago, but didn't get around to posting it until now. Just for the record here it is:

1) The page the FAQ refers to (Net Metering) is actually accessible on the home page - as well as the rest of the site - labelled "Service Territory and rates. Thank you for pointing out the error; it will rectified soon.

2) The controller needs to use a phone line to send data. You do not need a dedicated (separate) line and VOIP as well as broadband internet also qualifies.

3) We are not offering energy storage at this time. Although useful, battery packs are not sufficiently friendly to the environment. The system are engineered to meet up to 100% of the historical consumption, so it is higly improbable that there will be an excess.

4) Yes, upgrade options will be available as new technology is implemented.

5) Snow can be cleared off the panels if necessary in the very same way that dust is washed off in the SW. Performance guarantee states that they do not pay a rent if the system is not generating for them. A heating device might be supplied (33 degrees) that could clear off the snow.

I'm still a little confused as to if a phone line is really required. His answer to #2 makes me thing the person doesn't really know what they're talking about. VOIP and broadband != a phone line to send data if it uses a plain old modem.

I'm still very interested in REnU, however I will probably wait until they start to roll it out and people start sharing their experiences. I really hope it succeeds!