New model for domestic solar?

Definitely a case of watch this space. I myself have suggested that leasing might be a way forward for power companies who would see themselves as selling the service of powering a home rather than just selling power, thus setting themselves up to service boilers, and update the materials focussing more on the tangibles and the service than on the gas or electricity. Well it looks like someone in the USA is giving it a go.

Instead of making you spring for $25,000 or more in gear, Citizenrē says it will loan you a complete rooftop solar power system, install it for free and sell you back the power it generates at a fixed rate below what your utility charges. The company hopes to make back its investment with those monthly payments, augmented by federal tax credits and rebates.

There are those who doubt they can make money from it. And therefore the follow-on to that is that it is a scam. The guy in the driving seat says not.

Styler says Citizenrē ... isn't a pyramid scheme. For one thing, neither sales agents nor customers have been asked to spend a dime. "What's missing from the multilevel marketing scam is that we're not asking for money," says Styler. "The reality is that there are lots of scummy companies out there; we're not one of them."

The comments on the article are worth a look. Watch this space, well, that one actually
Wired News: Selling Homeowners a Solar Dream