WASHINGTON — Constellation Energy is offering to install solar energy systems on the roofs of its residential electric customers in Maryland at no cost to customers.
San Francisco-based Sunrun Inc. will pay for the solar installation and the company will insure, monitor, maintain and guarantee performance of the system for 20 years. Customers who take advantage of the offer would buy the power generated from the Sunrun system at a rate that is less than their electric utility rate.
Constellation, which covers all Maryland customers as an alternative energy provider for natural gas and electricity, would continue to provide electricity for what is required beyond what the solar system could generate.
There are a few requirements.
In addition to being a Constellation customer, Sunrun says customers must own their home, spend about $100 a month on electricity and have a roof that is in good condition with favorable sun exposure. Also, Sunrun would own the power system.
Sunrun says that typical customers save about 20 percent on their electric bills. But the program allows customers to forgo the upfront cost of installing the expensive systems.
According to the Solar Energy Industry Association, the average solar power system costs between $15,000 and $30,000.
Interested customers can find information about the Constellation partnership program with Sunrun here. Find a cost calculator to install similar systems here.
Constellation says it has just under 400,000 customers in Maryland.
