Citizenre REnU Information Review
With so many people scrambling around for solar power options, and Citizenre being such a big name, we wanted to provide a resource to help answer questions, provide a review, list details, and keep track of the company that is using REnU solar panels to change the way solar energy is produced. [Update January 4th] We've just put together a Citizenre Video Review to explore what the sign up process is like, and what one can expect from Citizenre. If you are looking to buy and own a solar power system instead of renting, please explore the Company links on the left side of the page to learn about other companies.
What is Citizenre? It's a company with a solar panel rental business model. By building their own factory and using "economies of scale" they are able to make solar photo voltaic technology available for less. It's like what Dell has done for computers. In this way Citizenre can rapidly deploy solar systems nation wide using a Just In Time model that will also adapt as technology changes long term.
How does it work? Citizenr will produce, install, maintain, and track solar panels that homeowners can rent to produce their own energy with. They do the work, you produce the power by having a roof. Note: you do need to own the house and be living in it in order to apply for their program.
How do I sign up? Currently you can sign up on a waiting list here but the product isn't expected to become available until mid 2008. Once operational the PV plant should produce enough for 100,000 US residents to get solar panels installed on their house each year from Citizenre.
Where is it available? At this time, Citizenre has told us that the program will only be open to certain US states in set market areas where electricity companies are willing to do net metering. These market areas include: Florida, Great Plains, Gulf Coast, Mid Atlantic, Midwest, New England, New York, Northwest, Pacific, Rockies, South Atlantic, Southern California, Southwest, and Texas. Canada and Puerto Rico are not included. Specifically, we were told that Nevada is also an excluded state.
How much does it cost? The program is designed to cost close to the same amount each month that normal "dirty power" would. Instead of paying an electric bill you just pay Citizenre. After reading the fine print however, we found out that really, consumers are paying for all of the electricity being produced by the panels, not just how much they use. Furthermore, homeowners are liable for any damages that may occur, although Citizenry will be offering insurance packages as well. One neat benefit of the program is that Citizenre will lock in power rates for up to 25 years (since sun power never rises in cost). They also monitor home power usage remotely and have a nifty online interface that users can monitor for themselves to see how much power they are using at home. By doing this, Citizenre can add or remove panels as necessary to accommodate household needs. The idea is that Citizenre includes all of the maintenance and monitoring services with the monthly rent to make it easy for consumers.
How do I sign up? You can visit http://jointhesolution.com/begin to learn more about the product offering and get on the waiting list to have your house reviewed with the potential for having panels installed. This process is free and has an opt out agreement that is in full force until you approve design plans to have the panels installed (design plans are made by local independent contractors who visit houses). As mentioned above, we have created a video walkthrough of the Citizenre sign up process to help shed light onto the process.
How does Citizenre get to my house? This is a great question because with so many people interested in the program spread out all across the US it would be hard for Citizenre to visit everyone's house... That would take forever. Instead, the company is striking deals with independent contractors who will install and maintain the panels for them. In this way, the end consumer doesn't have to screw around with any of the technical aspects of going solar and those costs are covered by Citizenre who in turn merely charges the monthly rent that is based on energy production.
Won't technology change? Since solar power is on the brink of rapid development there will surely be breakthroughs with the technology as Citizenre opens up for business. This is one area where the company has vowed to keep up with technology but also expressed the benefits of renting from them instead of buying yourself. In their contractual agreement users are only bound by a $500 to $1000 security deposit, and can switch at any time for any reason. Furthermore, the security deposit is only required once the panels are actually installed - getting a quote is free. This is meant to insure that users are free to change but also puts them at ease for concerns of making their own large investment in solar - by renting they don't have to worry about technology changes.
More questions? Leave a comment below and we'll try to answer any other questions that come up with regards to Citizenre. Definitely check out their website and in the mean time consider other solar options that may be more immediate or specialized to your needs.
What is Citizenre? It's a company with a solar panel rental business model. By building their own factory and using "economies of scale" they are able to make solar photo voltaic technology available for less. It's like what Dell has done for computers. In this way Citizenre can rapidly deploy solar systems nation wide using a Just In Time model that will also adapt as technology changes long term.
How does it work? Citizenr will produce, install, maintain, and track solar panels that homeowners can rent to produce their own energy with. They do the work, you produce the power by having a roof. Note: you do need to own the house and be living in it in order to apply for their program.
How do I sign up? Currently you can sign up on a waiting list here but the product isn't expected to become available until mid 2008. Once operational the PV plant should produce enough for 100,000 US residents to get solar panels installed on their house each year from Citizenre.
Where is it available? At this time, Citizenre has told us that the program will only be open to certain US states in set market areas where electricity companies are willing to do net metering. These market areas include: Florida, Great Plains, Gulf Coast, Mid Atlantic, Midwest, New England, New York, Northwest, Pacific, Rockies, South Atlantic, Southern California, Southwest, and Texas. Canada and Puerto Rico are not included. Specifically, we were told that Nevada is also an excluded state.
How much does it cost? The program is designed to cost close to the same amount each month that normal "dirty power" would. Instead of paying an electric bill you just pay Citizenre. After reading the fine print however, we found out that really, consumers are paying for all of the electricity being produced by the panels, not just how much they use. Furthermore, homeowners are liable for any damages that may occur, although Citizenry will be offering insurance packages as well. One neat benefit of the program is that Citizenre will lock in power rates for up to 25 years (since sun power never rises in cost). They also monitor home power usage remotely and have a nifty online interface that users can monitor for themselves to see how much power they are using at home. By doing this, Citizenre can add or remove panels as necessary to accommodate household needs. The idea is that Citizenre includes all of the maintenance and monitoring services with the monthly rent to make it easy for consumers.
How do I sign up? You can visit http://jointhesolution.com/begin to learn more about the product offering and get on the waiting list to have your house reviewed with the potential for having panels installed. This process is free and has an opt out agreement that is in full force until you approve design plans to have the panels installed (design plans are made by local independent contractors who visit houses). As mentioned above, we have created a video walkthrough of the Citizenre sign up process to help shed light onto the process.
How does Citizenre get to my house? This is a great question because with so many people interested in the program spread out all across the US it would be hard for Citizenre to visit everyone's house... That would take forever. Instead, the company is striking deals with independent contractors who will install and maintain the panels for them. In this way, the end consumer doesn't have to screw around with any of the technical aspects of going solar and those costs are covered by Citizenre who in turn merely charges the monthly rent that is based on energy production.
Won't technology change? Since solar power is on the brink of rapid development there will surely be breakthroughs with the technology as Citizenre opens up for business. This is one area where the company has vowed to keep up with technology but also expressed the benefits of renting from them instead of buying yourself. In their contractual agreement users are only bound by a $500 to $1000 security deposit, and can switch at any time for any reason. Furthermore, the security deposit is only required once the panels are actually installed - getting a quote is free. This is meant to insure that users are free to change but also puts them at ease for concerns of making their own large investment in solar - by renting they don't have to worry about technology changes.
More questions? Leave a comment below and we'll try to answer any other questions that come up with regards to Citizenre. Definitely check out their website and in the mean time consider other solar options that may be more immediate or specialized to your needs.
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Question submitted to Solar Power Authority on July 10th: Where in Colorado can you get training for PV and solar hot water, other than the place in Carbondale? Thanks. Question clarification to sender by Solar Power Authority: Thanks for your question! In order to help you find the best answer we wanted to clarify your question. It sounds like you are searching for places in Colorado where you can get training on how to install electric generating and water heating solar panels. Is that correct? Are you a do-it-yourselfer or are you actually looking to become a professional installer? Are there any...Headlines:
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Someone was asking "what is citizenre" on another blog and this overview has certainly cleared that up to some extent but I'm still a bit hesitant to sign up. What is the sign up process like and do I have to give my credit card or anything? I'm not sure I want to go forward with Citizenre but I'm definitely interested.
Hello Sam, thanks for commenting. We've just put up a Citizenre Video Review that describes the sign up process and outlines the REnU offering. You will need Flash to view it but we've also taken screen shots and will be posting them shortly.
In short, you don't need a credit card and there is really no commitment until your house is appraised for a solar PV system and then you give a $500 deposit. Currently it is just a long line of interested house owners, none of the REnU systems have been installed.
Actually, one REnU prototype system was installed. It was filmed as part of HGTV's "Living with Ed" TV program shown on 11/05/2007.
I signed up back in Dec 11, 2006, and I'm still patiently waiting. According to , there is now a short list of 20 cities/regions that are being considered for the phase 1 rollout in 2008.
It is a big pyramid scam. Spoke with the ceo diretly and they do not have any funding. They keep pushing the date back from 2005. 2006.... 2007...... 2008.... 2009........... People it is not going to happen.
Even with energy prices through the roof no one wants to fund them because they have no legitimate plan. If they did they would have people funneling money to get this off the ground.
No one has seen an actual solar system they put together or a location of this mysterious plant that is supposedly going to be the biggest in the country. It is the biggest joke.
Ed Begley jumped ship. We contacted him on his living with ed site and a spokesperson said that they no longer support Renu Citizenre as they will never get the funding they will need to get this off the ground and actually started. Then they replace Ed with some no name builder what a joke. Renu Citizenre is just wasting everyones time. When you contact them they keep spewing we are almost finished finalizing the funding. Well it has been 3 years and nothing has even started. They have no money, no funding, no factory, they have not made a single panel, nor have they installed a single installation other then the publicity stunt on Living with ed. With fuel prices and the economy at it's lowest you would think companies would fund this, except that companies are seeing it for what it is, a pyramid scheme.
I recently requested more information through the Renu Citizenre web site. Part of the reply email I received contained the following warning:
"Please note, however, that Citizenre is currently having difficulties with their funding. Therefore, there is the chance that this program may not be
able to get off the ground."
Too bad. Sounded like a good plan for those who couldn't afford the high cost of installing a solar system up front!