By David R. Baker | SF Gate
If you can’t beat ’em, steal their business model.
Some electric utilities, worried that the rapid spread of solar power could cut their profits, want to jump into the business themselves.
And solar companies aren’t pleased.
In Arizona, the state’s largest utility has proposed leasing rooftops from its residential customers, installing solar arrays and paying the homeowners $30 a month in return. If approved by state regulators, the plan would place Arizona Public Service in direct competition with Bay Area companies such as Sungevity, Sunrun and SolarCity that already lease panels to homeowners.
