Still a smart investment
If you compare the hard numbers, many homeowners will spend exactly what they would to purchase a system by enrolling in a program like this. That is because companies like Gen110 will keep consumer costs down because they get the rebate for purchasing the system. Second, all maintenance and monitoring is included for 15 to 20 years. The reason why these companies can provide this service at the same cost to the homeowner is the classic bulk-buying principle. Distributed energy companies are able to purchase many PV system at a bulk cost price, unlike a homeowner. The result is providing a service that is the same cost as purchasing a system, without the added responsibility of monitoring your system's output, hiring maintenance crews, or replacing inverters over time.
Additionally, a distributed electricity company would have no incentive to keep a PV system after the term of a homeowner's agreement. Many of them anticipate handing over ownership to the homeowner, which is an extra advantage because many of the systems will last way longer than 20 years.
This is simply the logical progression of this technology. 20 years ago, people would purchase their own satellite dishes for $10,000. Now, nobody does that. Instead, Dish Network provides the service at a way lower price.
