A "Bright Idea" for Upping Solar Power on the Home Front. (August 31, 2013)

Ben Cubby, Peter Hannam writing in today's Sydney Morning Herald ("Money trail backs the clean energy revolution") are commenting on the marked increase in the use of solar photovoltaic installations from about 250,000 in 2010 to just over 1 million at present.

Here's a bright idea: what if, instead of paying for solar panels to keep your electricity bills down, you asked a solar company to put them on your roof for free, then paid them back with excess energy that you didn't need?

Well, it's already happening. Solar panel installation with no upfront payments, paid off over several years from the money saved out of your power bills, began in Australia almost two years ago. In a few years, it is likely that companies will be competing with each other to pay you for the privilege of using your roof to generate electricity for your home.