Take a fresh look at solar things you should consider when purchasing a solar system
you re not JusT buying hardware 1 2 3 Get a system designed to suit your electricity usage Get long-term support Think about your future energy requirements now Solar is not just about the sum of all the hardware parts. It s about having a service delivered to you that requires support, technical expertise and knowledge of energy usage. It s not about buying a system that fits your roof, instead a system that suits your lifestyle. You ll want continued service over the life of the system, in some cases, up to 25 years. As technology advances over that time, you ll want somebody who understands energy and the impacts of new technologies like Battery storage, energy efficiency and smart appliances to keep you in-tune with the most effective ways to reduce your energy costs.
You haven t missed the boat 1 2 3 Today - it s about offsetting your grid usage Solar still offers significant savings New products are providing new benefits Solar used to be about taking advantage of generous government subsidised feed-in-tariffs. Generating solar and feeding it back into the grid was advantageous. Nowadays, you re better off buying a solar system that best offsets your need to draw electricity from the grid. That means you re saving on buying electricity from your retailer rather than getting paid for selling it back. New solar products allow you to get the benefits of solar without paying for the system, instead paying for the power the system produces at a reduced rate when compared to the grid rate. Sometimes known as a Power Purchase Agreement, Origin s Solar as a Service (SaaS) is an example of this new way to go solar. It s a great new way to get the benefits straight away without the upfront cost.
There are new ways to buy solar 1 2 3 You don t have to own the system You can get into solar for $0* Look for flexible payment options Even though the traditional own it outright model is still attractive for some, other ownership and payment models offer greater choice. You don t have to own the system to get the benefits of solar. Power Purchase Agreements, like Origin s Solar as a Service can get you clean solar electricity at a reduced rate compared to buying it from the grid, all whilst paying nothing for the system. Because you don t own the system, you also don t have to worry about the ongoing maintenance for the years ahead. Alternatively, if you re certain you want to own it, but don t have the money upfront, taking advantage of payment plans where you pay off the system over time, whilst getting the benefit from day one can also be attractive. Make sure you choose a solar provider that gives the ownership model that suits your needs. *You may incur other costs in order for your property to become solar ready
Think about Lifetime Costs - not just the purchase price 1 2 3 Product quality can significantly influence the price Choose carefully - the industry has a history of fly by nighters You may pay more in the long run Like many things, in Solar you get what you pay for. Buying the absolute cheapest solution in the market might mean you pay more in the long run. Solar systems can last in some cases, up to 25 years and you ll want to maximise savings over the lifetime, not just today. You ll also want to consider somebody who ll be around for the long-term to handle any ongoing maintenance or support during the system life. The solar industry has unfortunately experienced a significant amount of here today, gone tomorrow suppliers so make sure you choose your provider carefully.
You re still buying energy 1 2 3 Buy a future proof system Choose somebody who ll help with new technology Build a relationship to support you as things change A solar system is just a way to provide you with clean energy rather than grid energy. You need to ensure you buy a system that caters for your current and future energy needs from somebody who understands energy intimately. That also means ensuring your provider has the right systems, processes and tools to understand your energy use long-term and the impacts of changes to regulation, tariffs and technology changes. It s not a once off transaction but instead, a relationship for you to keep as your energy needs and the electricity landscape changes.
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THERE S A NEW WAY TO SAVE WITH SOLAR Go solar without paying for the system With Origin, there s a new way for solar energy to be delivered to your home. We ve called it Solar as a Service and it s here to make solar easier and more accessible. For starters, you won t have to pay to have the system installed, we ll cover that. Plus, as we own the solar system, we ll take care of any ongoing maintenance costs. Why choose Solar as a Service? You ll pay $0 for the system * You ll lock in a low solar energy rate^ You won t have the hassle of managing the ongoing maintenance and monitoring of the system. How it works Step 1: We ll have one of our Solar Specialists look at your situation they ll make sure it s the right solution for your energy usage and check that it can be installed at your home. Step 2: You can choose a contract period that suits you with 7, 10 or 15 year terms available. Step 3: If you decide to go ahead, you ll enter into an Origin Solar as a Service agreement and we ll lock in a low solar contract rate^. Step 4: Once all that s sorted, we ll have the solar system installed at a time that suits. Step 5: From then on, you ll start paying for the solar power you generate at the low energy rate. You might like to look over our Frequently Asked Questions page there s some helpful information about the Origin Solar as a Service Agreement. *You may incur other costs in order for your property to be solar ready (such as electrical works, cabling or roof repairs) and for meter upgrade or changeover. ^Solar energy rate is subject to change for CPI annually and change in law. 8669.May15.All
Is it right for me? Our Solar Specialists will look over things to make sure Solar as a Service is right for you. But, here are some things you should consider first: Solar as a Service works best for households that use a lot of their electricity during the day (when the sun s out). So it s great if someone s usually home during the day or uses lots of energy with big appliances (like a pool pump). The solar energy generated from the system isn t stored for later so you need to make the most of it. Solar as a Service involves a long-term commitment it s a good idea to look at your circumstances and think about how likely they are to change. Will there always be someone at home during the day? Will you still be using the same big appliances in the future? Are you planning to move home in the next few years? What happens at the end of my contract? 1 Solar systems last a long time, so if you re happy with the way things are going, we don t need to change anything. You ll just continue paying for the energy generated by the solar system at a new rate. 2 If you re ready to make it yours, you might like to offer to buy the system from us. 3 Or if you prefer to pay for it to be removed, that s ok too we can sort that out. What if my circumstances change? We understand that things can change and we ve allowed for that in our Solar as a Service agreement. You can: Can I check how the solar system is performing? You sure can. All you need to do is access your personalised portal it ll tell you how much solar power the system is generating. End your agreement by paying an exit fee Buy the solar system from us (you ll find the price in your initial contract). If you sell your home, the new owner will be given the choice to continue using the solar system the same way you did. If interested, they ll just need to meet our credit requirements and enter into an agreement with us then they can take up the balance of the contract where you left off and get the same low solar rate. Are you ready to start enjoying the benefits of going solar without paying for the system? originenergy.com.au/newsolar 1800 547 837 Own a business? Call us on 1300 134 138 to find out how this service can work for you. Origin Energy Electricity Ltd ABN 33 071 052 287 - SA Lic No: PGE238139, BLD251102; NSW Lic No: 238347C. Origin Energy (TM) Pty Ltd ABN 49 108 327 760 - QLD licensed under Electrical Safety Act 2002 (No. 78711) and QBCC Act 1991 (No.1212318)
HOW THE SMITHS FOUND A NEW WAY TO SAVE WITH SOLAR Meet the Smiths. They live in Adelaide, and have big home energy needs during the day. In fact, their quarterly energy bills generally end up over $900 and it s only one of their regular expenses. Like most families, they re always looking for new ways to save money and cut down their bills. They knew there was plenty of room on their roof for solar panels, but because they couldn t afford to spend over $5000 for a 4kW system, solar power didn t seem like an affordable option. That was until they heard about Origin Solar as a Service. Here s what they did: 1. They had a conversation about their energy use with one of their solar specialists, and had the whole system designed while on the phone. THE SMITHS SAVED $171 ON THEIR QUARTERLY BILLS 2. Going solar without paying for the system suited them perfectly so they signed up straight away. 3. Origin then got in touch with the Smiths so they could decide on a time for the installation. Everything about the installation was taken care of by Origin, and the network distributor soon had their system connected to the grid.
When their next electricity bill arrived, the Smiths pulled out a calculator: They realised they had started saving from the day the system was connected and their next electricity bill was $170 less than it would ve been if they didn t have Solar as a Service. By the end of the year, they d saved almost $600! Their savings only increase over the long term: The more solar power they use, the less the electricity they need to take from the grid and so the lower their costs will be. Their low solar energy rate will only increase with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) each year* for the duration of the contract (the Smiths). The power generated from their solar system is protected from electricity price increases. But the benefits don t end there: For the length of the contract: With Origin owning the system, we ll cover the system repair and upkeep costs. Their low rate is locked in (subject to CPI adjustment annually)* which makes it easier for them to budget and figure out savings. They ve got more control over their energy use and a personalised portal that lets them check their system whenever they want to. They feel good knowing they re doing something great for the environment. THE SMITHS WILL SAVE MORE THAN $600 A YEAR WITH SOLAR WITHOUT BUYING A SYSTEM. Here s what the family s bills looked like before and after Origin Solar as a Service: BEFORE AFTER Electricity used from grid (quarterly bill): 3943 kwh $1316 2682 kwh $875 Solar generated (Solar as a Service 3 x monthly bills): Electricity exported from solar for the quarter (credited back to their Origin account): - - 1736 kwh $295 - - 475 kwh -$25 Total quarterly electricity combined bills: $1316 $1145 *Solar contract rate is also subject to change in law. The information relates to the period January to March 2015. [Mr/Mrs] Smith is an employee of Origin Energy. 8670.May15.All