New Partnership Will Help Customers Turn Solar Into a Back-Up Power Source
Program Offers Vermonters Cutting-Edge Solar Storage – at No Upfront Cost
15 September 2016
COLCHESTER, VT – Green Mountain Power and SunCommon today announced a partnership that will allow customers to store their solar power for security during a power outage. The first of its kind program in Vermont partners a utility with a solar company to offer home storage that both strengthens the grid and allows homes to power from solar during outages.
Through the program, Vermonters can add a SunCommon solar system and the Tesla Powerwall to their homes with no upfront cost and a fixed monthly payment.
“We are excited to work with SunCommon, a fellow Vermont B-Corp, and together we will empower our customers to control their energy use, keep costs low and increase reliability all year long,” said GMP President and CEO Mary Powell. “Leveraging the latest innovations like battery storage, we are working with customers to move away from the antiquated bulk grid, to a cleaner and more reliable energy system, where power is generated closer to where it’s used.”
The home battery can be paired with home solar to store locally generated energy. During a storm or emergency, the battery powers essential parts of the home like lights, refrigerator, and heat pump home heating system. Alone, the Powerwall can keep a home’s essentials running for hours. The technology was designed to pair with solar to be recharged as the sun shines.
During a recent summer storm, one customer in Lincoln was able to power her home for 14 hours. Normally, when an outage occurs the solar on a customer’s roof can’t power the home, but by adding the battery the solar system becomes a backup power source. Pairing home solar with home storage offers added security to Vermont families and local resiliency to our communities.
“By charging a home storage unit with solar power, homes can become self-sufficient during outages – keeping the internet connected, phones charged and the fridge chilled. We’re excited to work with Green Mountain Power to bring this opportunity to Vermonters at a heavy discount. GMP’s forward-thinking recognizes the huge value of local storage to our grid; adding storage will mean a smarter, more reliable grid, ready to host more renewable energy as we build it,” said James Moore, co-president of SunCommon.
Through the partnership, customers will have a streamlined process for both the solar panels and Powerwall. Together GMP and SunCommon offer a flat monthly price with no upfront costs to ensure these products are affordable and accessible. Customers can lease a Powerwall for $37.50/month, and finance their solar system to save as much as 20% on their home energy costs in year 1.
“I switched to solar to save money and become more energy independent. The more I can power my life with solar the better off I am. With the battery back-up, I can store sunshine to use during an outage making the most of my solar production,” said Rhonda Phillips, the joint program’s first customer.
For more information or to sign up, call SunCommon at 802-882-8181.
About Green Mountain Power:
Green Mountain Power (GMP) serves approximately 265,000 residential and business customers in Vermont and has a vision to be the best small company in America by partnering with Vermonters to improve lives and transform communities. GMP is focused on a new way of doing business to meet the needs of customers with integrated energy services that help people use less energy and save money, while continuing to generate clean, cost-effective and reliable power in Vermont. GMP is the first utility in the world to get a B Corp certification, meeting rigorous social, environmental, accountability and transparency standards and committing to use business as a force for good. In 2014, Vote Solar named GMP a Solar Champion. More information at: greenmountainpower.com. Connect with GMP on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @GreenMtnPower.
About SunCommon:
As Vermont’s largest solar business, SunCommon believes that everyone has the right to a healthy environment and safer world — and clean energy is where it starts. Energy from the sun can power our lives, heat our homes and fuel our cars. Our mission is to tear down the barriers to renewable energy. We do that by making it easy and affordable for all Vermonters to go solar. SunCommon was chartered as one of Vermont’s pioneering Benefit Corporations and is a Certified BCorp based on a rigorous third party assessment of our commitment to the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit. The business is headquartered in Waterbury where most of our 65 workers operate out of Vermont’s largest net-positive office building, which produces more energy than it uses. In our first three years, SunCommon earned distinction as one of Vermont’s Best Places to Work, by the US EPA with an Environmental Merit Award and with a Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence. SunCommon’s values-led business memberships include Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, Social Venture Network and Renewable Energy Vermont. For more information, go to www.suncommon.com and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter @suncommon.
Kristin Carlson, GMP, 802-229-8200
Emily McManamy, SunCommon, 802-882-8653