Sunrun Calls for Consumer-Centered Approach to Create an Energy System that Benefits All Americans
Publishes Recommendations To Enable Innovation and Affordability by Placing Consumers at the Center of Clean Energy Production
SAN FRANCISCO, April 09, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sunrun Inc. (Nasdaq:RUN), the nation’s largest dedicated residential solar, storage and energy services company, today published a report detailing recommendations to improve and maximize the public benefits of the United States’ energy system by placing the consumer at the center.
“We are at a crossroads,” said Lynn Jurich, Sunrun Chief Executive Officer and co-founder. “We can choose a path of building an affordable, clean, reliable energy system that meets the needs of all Americans. Continuing down a path of centralized, fossil fuel-based electricity production will create redundant and inefficient infrastructure in 10 years. Let’s not build tomorrow’s energy system with yesterday’s technology.”
The United States suffers from the highest amount of power outages in the developed world. The 100 year-old electricity grid, designed for centralized electricity generation, requires investment of up to two trillion dollars. Under the old model, consumers will be forced to pay for these upgrades through higher energy bills. The U.S.’ existing, aging energy infrastructure is also vulnerable to increasingly common extreme weather events and at greater risk of failure.
Yet, technology and innovation have opened up a new generation of energy resources that reduce the need for spending on unnecessary, outdated and polluting infrastructure. Clean power can be generated where it is used: solar power on roofs and batteries in garages. The cost of home batteries declined 84% over the last decade - and costs are expected to cut in half again over the next decade. More local power from solar and batteries on homes and businesses will improve reliability for Americans during increasingly frequent extreme weather events, and make the energy system more resilient for everyone.
“The old energy model is under pressure,” said Jurich. “We are making investments and policy decisions today about our energy future and need to integrate new technologies, such as home solar and batteries, that offer Americans cleaner, more resilient and affordable household energy.”
Sunrun’s report, Affordable, Clean, Reliable Energy: A Better System Created by the People, For the People, details trends that are converging to develop a better energy system and recommends incentivizing home batteries, supporting low-income access programs, maintaining simple and stable rates, and letting the competitive free market work to deliver innovation and affordability. The report is available on Sunrun’s website.
About Sunrun
Sunrun (Nasdaq:RUN) is the nation’s largest dedicated residential solar, storage and energy services company. With a mission to create a planet run by the sun, Sunrun has led the industry since 2007 with their solar-as-a-service model, which provides clean energy to homeowners with little to no upfront cost and at a saving compared to traditional electricity. The company designs, installs, finances, insures, monitors and maintains the systems, while families receive predictable pricing for 20 years or more and a production guarantee. The company also offers a home solar battery service, Sunrun Brightbox, that manages household solar energy, storage and utility power with smart inverter technology. For more information, please visit: www.sunrun.com.
Media Relations Contact
Georgia Dempsey
Director of Corporate Communications
press@sunrun.com
+1 (415) 518 9418
Investor Relations Contact
Patrick Jobin
Vice President, Finance & Investor Relations
investors@sunrun.com
+1 (415) 510-4986
Released April 9, 2018