Frequently Asked Questions
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How soon will I start to see savings?
If you have panels in the Venetucci solar garden, you will see your first solar energy credits on your next Colorado Springs Utilities statement. The first full month of energy credits were submitted to CSU on Febuary 1st, 2012.
If you leased panels in our second solar garden, your solar energy credits will start appearing on your Colorado Springs Utilities statement during the billing cycle following the solar garden’s construction this spring.
A landmark City Council vote on September 27, 2011 ensured SunShare’s ability to work together with Colorado Springs Utilities in order to provide energy credits to utility customers for power generated by our solar gardens.
Last update on 02-01-2012 by David.
Does the utility or SunShare need to come to my home?
No. Community solar lets you get the benefits of solar without construction on your roof. SunShare and Colorado Springs Utilities will handle the delivery of energy credits to your electricity account.
Last update on 10-11-2011 by .
What happens if I move before my lease agreement is finished?
The best thing about leasing solar panels in SunShare’s community solar garden is unlike a rooftop system, you can sell or transfer your lease!
SunShare will help you:
- Transfer the lease to your new address if you’re moving within Colorado Springs Utilities service area.
- Sell your lease with your home as a differentiator.
- Sell your lease to any other customer in Colorado Springs Utilities service area.
- Give the gift of clean renewable solar energy to a friend or loved one, or donate it to a nonprofit.
Last update on 10-17-2011 by .
Do I have to lease enough panels to power my entire house? What if I don’t have the money for all those panels?
SunShare offers a low rate of $550 per panel and allows you to choose the number of panels you feel comfortable leasing. The more panels you lease, the more you save. However, you can always start with the minimum lease of two panels and sign up for more in a future solar garden—we simply can’t guarantee there will still be rebates remaining to lock in the low price currently offered.
Last update on 10-17-2011 by .
Aren’t there federal tax benefits and utility rebates for installing a solar system?
Yes, all our customers benefit from federal and utility incentives. If you’ve ever received a quote for a rooftop solar system, you may have already noticed that our prices are up to 35% lower! We’re able to do this by purchasing in bulk and passing on benefits of tax incentives and rebates to you through a lower lease price. Over the life of the contract, your price of power is equivalent to approximately 7.5¢ per kilowatt-hour over 20 years which is 25% less than you’re paying today.
Last update on 10-17-2011 by .
Why does SunShare offer a prepaid lease instead of solar panel ownership?
Gotta love the tax code. United States tax law says that unless you’re a business, you can only receive a tax benefit for solar panels installed on your property. Because the solar panels are in a community location, SunShare will take the tax benefits and pass the savings along to you. In order to receive the tax benefits, we must own the solar system. However, because you are leasing a portion of the community solar garden, you will receive all of the credit for the energy generated by your panels.
United States Senator Mark Udall of Colorado has written legislation to change this rule so that you would be able to receive tax credits directly, but Congress has not acted on the bill.
Last update on 10-11-2011 by .
Why should I lease panels from SunShare?
We are a local Colorado Springs solar company. SunShare gives you the power of choice, freeing you from the annual increases in power costs while giving you the peace of mind that your lifestyle has a significantly lower impact on the environment so it can be preserved for future generations. Participating in community solar is a safe investment opportunity without the hassle and delay of a rooftop solar system.
Last update on 10-10-2011 by .
Who will be the custodian of my reservation?
Your reservation deposit will be held in an escrow account with Mountain View Bank of Colorado Springs, CO acting as the escrow agent.
Last update on 08-13-2011 by .
What if the weather is poor for a long period and my panels don’t generate enough electricity?
Even though Colorado Springs is known for having at least 300 days of sunshine a year, it sometimes rains, it sometimes snows, and days are shorter in the winter months. A little known fact is that solar panels keep producing electricity in cloudy weather, just not as efficiently as in direct sunlight. Colorado Springs Utilities and SunShare will keep running accounts of the energy generated by your panels. During the days and/or months when your panels produce more energy than you consume, your credits roll over to the following months’ bill. For example, you will notice that your panels produce more energy over the summer than over the winter. All extra credits generated over the summer will be rolled forward to your winter bills.
Last update on 11-08-2011 by .
How do I know the system will be taken care of for 20 years?
SunShare is setting up an escrow account to ensure the long-term operation and maintenance of the solar garden and to guarantee that the system will always be cared for and insured. The escrow account will be funded upfront by SunShare with a portion of the revenue from our solar lease to you.
Last update on 10-10-2011 by .
Will my home have a direct electric connection to the solar panels I am leasing?
There is no direct electric line between your home and the solar garden. All of the electricity generated will flow onto Colorado Springs Utility’s electric lines, and Colorado Springs Utilities will credit your bill with the energy your panels produce.
Last update on 10-10-2011 by .
Are there any hidden fees when leasing solar panels from SunShare?
No. Once you make your prepaid lease payment, you are entitled to all of the electricity from your solar panels for 20 years according to the rate schedule established by Colorado Springs Utilities and the City Council.
Last update on 10-10-2011 by .
Where will the Community Solar Garden be built?
SunShare is proud to announce the first Community Solar Garden in Colorado Springs will be hosted at Venetucci Farm located on the southwestern edge of Colorado Springs.
For more information about Venetucci Farm please visit their website at http://www.ppcf.org/Venetucci
Last update on 10-27-2011 by .