Community solar pioneer One Block Off the Grid today announced the launch of a first-of-its-kind solar group rebate for Arizona homeowners. The program offers a rebate to participants based on the total number of Arizona households that go solar within a 90-day period.
"There are already some strong solar rebates in Arizona, but we wanted to create a tipping point," said CEO Dave Llorens. "So, in addition solar rebates from APS, SRP, and TEP, now there's a solar rebate that grows according to the real-time level of consumer interest in solar in Arizona."
How the solar rebate works
One Block Off the Grid will start off each eligible Arizona household with $100 in a community chest account. Each time a homeowner decides to go solar in the greater metro areas of Phoenix, Tucson, Glendale, Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, Peoria, Mesa, and Sierra Vista from now until the end of March 2012, the company will place an additional $10 dollars in every account. At the end of the three-month campaign, homeowners who purchase or lease solar panels will receive a solar rebate check from the community chest.
The new group rebate model was tested in the San Diego area in 2010 and saw strong engagement there among homeowners.
Solar market heats up in Arizona
Over the last two years, One Block Off the Grid reports Arizona membership has grown by a dramatic 98.4 percent due to utility rate hikes as well as the recent mass blackouts in September 2011.
"We're seeing an unprecedented level of interest in energy independence among homeowners," said Llorens. "Solar payback periods are coming down as electricity bills go up, so we recommend homeowners get a solar estimate at least once every six months, especially in places like Arizona where multiple incentives are in place."
