ANNAPOLIS JUNCTION, Md.,
Sept. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --
Responding to increased customer demand throughout the state,
Astrum Solar – the leading full-service residential solar provider
in the eastern United States – has
significantly expanded its New
York operations and, as part of that expansion, will now
offer solar leasing to homeowners through Constellation Energy
(NYSE: CEG).
While Astrum Solar, which has a regional operations center in
Henrietta, NY, has installed
residential solar systems throughout New
York – from Niagara Falls
to Dobbs Ferry to the Adirondacks
– it will now offer homeowners the flexibility to go solar on their
own terms. "Leasing Powered by Constellation Energy" will
make solar generation a viable option for more state residents,
with a choice of little to no-money down.
The leasing program also allows customers to select the solar
panels and system design that best meets their energy needs and
budget. As a special promotion to introduce the residential solar
leasing program, Astrum Solar is offering homeowners who sign a
lease before Oct. 1 a cash incentive
of up to $2,000 to cover the first
two years of the lease.
"New Yorkers have demonstrated a strong desire to convert from
traditional energy consumers to clean energy producers, driving
demand for our offerings and providing the opportunity to expand
our operations in the state," said Vadim
Polikov, president and chief executive officer of Astrum
Solar. "We believe that solar leasing will have an even
broader appeal by greatly reducing upfront costs and making it more
affordable for a larger segment of the population to go solar."
Under the leasing program, the homeowner receives the
electricity generated by the solar panels for very little money
down and a low monthly rate that is locked in for the next 20
years. The combined cost of the new lower electric bill and the
monthly solar lease payment are less than the cost of the pre-solar
electric bill. As utility rates rise over the years, that monthly
savings is expected to grow since leasing solar essentially locks
in the electricity rate for the 20 years.
"Solar can cut electricity purchased from the grid by 40 to 50
percent for the average homeowner, and leasing sharply reduces the
upfront costs for installation," said Mark
Huston, head of Constellation Energy's retail business.
"Astrum Solar makes residential solar a seamless experience for
consumers and aligns with Constellation Energy's commitment to
developing products and services that help our customers to buy,
manage and use energy more efficiently."
About Astrum Solar
Astrum Solar, a full-service residential solar provider, is
among the industry's market leaders with operations in more than a
dozen states across the eastern United
States. The company provides a premier customer experience
by offering flexible purchase and leasing options and by
facilitating every aspect of a customer's seamless transition to
solar electricity. The "Leasing Powered by Constellation
Energy" program allows for wider adoption of solar energy with
little up-front costs. The company is headquartered in Annapolis Junction, Md. For more information
or to use the company's online Solar Calculator visit
www.astrumsolar.com.
About Constellation Energy
Constellation Energy (www.constellation.com) is a leading
competitive supplier of power, natural gas and energy products and
services for homes and businesses across the continental
United States. It owns a
diversified fleet of generating units, totaling approximately
12,000 megawatts of generating capacity, and is a leading advocate
for clean, environmentally sustainable energy sources, such as
solar power and nuclear energy. The company delivers electricity
and natural gas through the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company
(BGE), its regulated utility in Central
Maryland. A FORTUNE 500 company headquartered in
Baltimore, Constellation Energy
had revenues of $14.3 billion in
2010.
SOURCE Astrum Solar