Solar Contract Signed with Sunpower

[pleppik]

FROME MY LEASE with SUNRUN
Insurance:
We will carry and pay for insurance that covers all damage to and theft of the Solar Facility as well as any liability arising out of our performance and the
performance of our subcontractors under this Lease. You will carry and pay for insurance that covers all damage to your property during the term of the
Lease, including damage resulting from the Solar Facility, provided such damage was not caused by our gross negligence (see Section 14 of your Lease for
additional details).
14. Insurance
(a) Sunrun agrees to carry insurance that covers all damage to and theft of Sunrun's Solar Facility as well as any liability arising out of Sunrun's
performance and the performance of its subcontractors under this Lease. You will not be responsible for insuring the Solar Facility. Sunrun agrees to
provide you evidence of Sunrun's insurance policy for the Solar Facility upon request. If Sunrun does not maintain insurance that covers damage to
Sunrun's Solar Facility, it will be responsible for the consequences of not maintaining such insurance.
(b) You agree to carry insurance that covers all damage to your Property during the term of this Lease, including damage resulting from the Solar Facility,
provided such damage was not caused by the gross negligence of Sunrun. You agree that you are responsible for contacting your insurance carrier and
inquiring as to whether the installation of the Solar Facility will impact your existing coverage. If additional insurance is required to maintain your existing
coverage, you will be responsible for either (i) procuring and maintaining such insurance or (ii) the consequences of not procuring and maintaining such
insurance.
(c) Sunrun requires its contractors performing the Solar Facility installation to maintain insurance coverage as follows: workers compensation, subject to
statutory limits; Employers liability, with a minimum of one million ($1,000,000) dollars each occurrence; commercial general liability, in an amount not
less than one million ($1,000,000) dollars per occurrence and two million ($2,000,000) dollars annual aggregate; commercial automobile liability, in an
amount not less than a combined bodily injury and property damage limit of one million ($1,000,000) dollars per accident; excess liability insurance with a
limit of one million ($1,000,000) dollars per occurrence and in the annual aggregate in excess of the limits of insurance provided above; and any other
insurance required by applicable laws or regulations.


I READ 3 TIMES AND NOT FULLY SURE WHAT IT MEANS?( IS THE PANELS COVERED IF THERE IS A FIRE?) I dont think so, I know that i can ask sunrun but getting a simple YES OR NO is not easy some times, but i am not giving UP, CAN some one read it and give me there input as to what they are saying?

I Am Not A Lawyer, but my read of it is pretty clear: Sunrun will buy insurance on the panels themselves, but not any damage the panels may cause to your house.

So for example, if the PV system malfunctions and burns your house down, Sunrun's insurance will replace the PV system but not pay for any damage to your house. Your own insurance needs to cover that.

Similarly, if your house burns down for some other reason, Sunrun's insurance should replace the PV system but nothing more.

All this is complicated by the fact that many states have laws which affect these kinds of contracts, so it might be that not all the terms here are legally binding. If this is worrying you, you should spend a couple hundred bucks to consult with a lawyer in your state experienced in this area of the law. You are much more likely to get good advice there than from some random guy on the Internet.

[TJBOB]

Re ins

FROME MY LEASE with SUNRUN
Insurance:
We will carry and pay for insurance that covers all damage to and theft of the Solar Facility as well as any liability arising out of our performance and the
performance of our subcontractors under this Lease. You will carry and pay for insurance that covers all damage to your property during the term of the
Lease, including damage resulting from the Solar Facility, provided such damage was not caused by our gross negligence (see Section 14 of your Lease for
additional details).
14. Insurance
(a) Sunrun agrees to carry insurance that covers all damage to and theft of Sunrun's Solar Facility as well as any liability arising out of Sunrun's
performance and the performance of its subcontractors under this Lease. You will not be responsible for insuring the Solar Facility. Sunrun agrees to
provide you evidence of Sunrun's insurance policy for the Solar Facility upon request. If Sunrun does not maintain insurance that covers damage to
Sunrun's Solar Facility, it will be responsible for the consequences of not maintaining such insurance.
(b) You agree to carry insurance that covers all damage to your Property during the term of this Lease, including damage resulting from the Solar Facility,
provided such damage was not caused by the gross negligence of Sunrun. You agree that you are responsible for contacting your insurance carrier and
inquiring as to whether the installation of the Solar Facility will impact your existing coverage. If additional insurance is required to maintain your existing
coverage, you will be responsible for either (i) procuring and maintaining such insurance or (ii) the consequences of not procuring and maintaining such
insurance.
(c) Sunrun requires its contractors performing the Solar Facility installation to maintain insurance coverage as follows: workers compensation, subject to
statutory limits; Employers liability, with a minimum of one million ($1,000,000) dollars each occurrence; commercial general liability, in an amount not
less than one million ($1,000,000) dollars per occurrence and two million ($2,000,000) dollars annual aggregate; commercial automobile liability, in an
amount not less than a combined bodily injury and property damage limit of one million ($1,000,000) dollars per accident; excess liability insurance with a
limit of one million ($1,000,000) dollars per occurrence and in the annual aggregate in excess of the limits of insurance provided above; and any other
insurance required by applicable laws or regulations.


I READ 3 TIMES AND NOT FULLY SURE WHAT IT MEANS?( IS THE PANELS COVERED IF THERE IS A FIRE?) I dont think so, I know that i can ask sunrun but getting a simple YES OR NO is not easy some times, but i am not giving UP, CAN some one read it and give me there input as to what they are saying?

[Ian S]

I thought I read somewhere before from a poster in the NY/NJ area and he specifically stressed a big advantage of a solar lease which is that he does not have to worry about damage to his leased solar system in case of hurricane like Sandy because the lessor would be self insured for the system instead of the homeowner.

I guess not all leases are the same in this regard.

Directly from my signed Sunpower solar lease:

6. Insurance; Risk of Damage and Loss: Property insurance covering loss of or damage to the System for the term of this Lease is provided by Lessor and you will not be responsible for insuring the System. You agree to carry homeowner’s insurance that covers all damage to your Premises. You are responsible for contacting your insurance carrier regarding the installation of the System and procuring any additional homeowner’s insurance required to cover your Premises following installation.

Lessor shall bear the risk of loss, damage, theft, destruction or similar occurrence of any part or all of the System during the time the System is either installed on your Premises or is being installed on or removed from your Premises, except in the event that you damage or destroy the System intentionally or through your negligence, in which case you will be held responsible for the cost of such damage or loss to the System. No incidence of damage or loss will excuse you of your obligations under this Lease, including during the period of time when the System is being repaired or replaced by us.

[Volusiano]

That happens all the time with home mortgages. With the possible difference that a mortgage holder will require proof of insurance and will bill you for their inflated policies if you do not get one on your own.

I thought I read somewhere before from a poster in the NY/NJ area and he specifically stressed a big advantage of a solar lease which is that he does not have to worry about damage to his leased solar system in case of hurricane like Sandy because the lessor would be self insured for the system instead of the homeowner.

I guess not all leases are the same in this regard.

[inetdog]

So the lessor is not insuring the panels and you have to insure through your own policy?

That happens all the time with home mortgages. With the possible difference that a mortgage holder will require proof of insurance and will bill you for their inflated policies if you do not get one on your own.

[Volusiano]

i belive in case of fire then my ins co. would pay to replace panels

So the lessor is not insuring the panels and you have to insure through your own policy?

[russ]

you are rite in what you are saying, but i called my ins co (all-state) 4 times and its 2 for 2, 2 said i need extra fire ins and 2 said no exra coverage is needed i am waiting till they start installing the panels and i will go to a all-state office and get it in writing eather way.

Years back I had an insurance problem with my home when I was out of the country for extended periods ad the home was vacant. In that case I learned all companies had the coverage I needed but the average agent is a bit of a dunce. In North Carolina what they covered and didn't cover was controlled by the state insurance commissioner.

I just had to find an agent that understood what he was selling. The state insurance commissioner's office might be a place to start. Most likely your all-state office will be useless.

[TJBOB]

Ask the right place - might start with the state insurance commission - in most states the insurance commissioners office details what has to be in a policy at a minimum. "todays times" have nothing to do with it. Getting information is easier than ever due to the internet actually.

you are rite in what you are saying, but i called my ins co (all-state) 4 times and its 2 for 2, 2 said i need extra fire ins and 2 said no exra coverage is needed i am waiting till they start installing the panels and i will go to a all-state office and get it in writing eather way.

[ajpslp]

So far here are the details :
Con Ed (local Power company) Billing cycle started on Feb 7
Solar turned on Feb 11
USed 120 kWh from Feb 7-11.
Starting the 11th to march 11 i was negative 9 kWh with solar. Biggest production was 58.5 kWh on feb 28 .
So far this month March 11- present I'm minus 83 kWh so I'm SUPER HAPPY !!!

[russ]

I will look into it.(but in todays times getting the rite awnsers is not easy)

Ask the right place - might start with the state insurance commission - in most states the insurance commissioners office details what has to be in a policy at a minimum. "todays times" have nothing to do with it. Getting information is easier than ever due to the internet actually.

[TJBOB]

Many leases include coverage for all losses. It might be worth your while to confirm that you are responsible for insuring against fire. It should be spelled out in your lease document.

I will look into it.(but in todays times getting the rite awnsers is not easy)

[Ian S]

i belive in case of fire then my ins co. would pay to replace panels

Many leases include coverage for all losses. It might be worth your while to confirm that you are responsible for insuring against fire. It should be spelled out in your lease document.

[TJBOB]

I agree with pleppik; it sounds like a good deal to me. Since it's a prepaid lease I would assume all problems are covered for 20 years. Also, if the lessor is insuring the panels, not sure why your homeowner's insurance is going up. IIRC, many insurance companies don't penalize you for solar especially if the panels are leased and insured by another party.

i belive in case of fire then my ins co. would pay to replace panels

[J.P.M.]

I live in Staten Island (part of New York City five boroughs) I just signed up with a company called Trinity solar company is based in New Jersey, I did get at least another 3or4 estimates (EmPower solar,GEOPEAK ENERGY, SEA BRIGHT SOLAR, sungevity solar) but they were all close to double the price that I wind up signing for so I believe I did get a good deal.?? I did a prepaid lease with a up front payment of $ 9777.00 for a 6400 kwh system, (with 23 Trina panels /sb5000tl inverter) panels are guaranteed for 25 years and inverter is guaranteed for 20 years, (parts and labor )the panels are insured against liability breakage or theft by the company that's installing them (my homeowners premium will go up approximate $ 66.00 a year,) Because I live in one of the five boroughs I will get a 10% property tax rebate which comes out to $2060.00 spread over a four-year period plus $421 back on tax that I paid on the system, plus savings on my con Edison energy bill of approximately $1700 a year I would estimate in approximately 4 1/2 years I will break even , I am retired and I do not have any taxable income. If I was still working and I had a taxable income I would be able to claim New York State tax rebate of approximately $2600. Solar prepaid lease works out better for me than the outright purchase, because of not having any taxable income, (if someone has any inputs on this I would like to hear it thank you,

If you're happy, that's all that matters and if so, you are successful. Congratulations.

[Ian S]

(if someone has any inputs on this I would like to hear it thank you,

I agree with pleppik; it sounds like a good deal to me. Since it's a prepaid lease I would assume all problems are covered for 20 years. Also, if the lessor is insuring the panels, not sure why your homeowner's insurance is going up. IIRC, many insurance companies don't penalize you for solar especially if the panels are leased and insured by another party.