20 May 2007
SOLAR UPDATE NEWSLETTER
In this issue:
New England Regional Call Schedule *please note date change
Prospecting Strategy: Customer Referrals
Sales Policy: New Step in FRA's
Welcome Ecopreneurs
Dr. Marc Plante, RSD New England
978-774-0127
getsolarelectric@gmail.com
Ms. Lori Martin, A-RSD New England
203-687-5988
solaracademy@gmail.com
Building Success: Have an idea, a success story or a tip to share in the newsletter? Email us.
June 9 RI Sustainable Living & Clean Energy Expo, Coventry, RI
June 9-23 Arts & Ideas Festival New Haven, CT
June 16 Solar Field Day Beverly, MA (pending)
June 17-18 Mt Washington Alternative Energy Days Pinkham Notch, NH (seeking an ecopreneur for June 18)
Please contact us to let us know of an event in your area
The first annual Green Energy Expo organized by the Heart of New Hampshire magazine was a well-attended event. The Tin Mountain Conservation Center, which is powered and heated by solar, provided an ideal setting for our message. We spoke with many enthusastic homeowners and obtained a number of signed FRA's.
Prospecting Strategy: Customer Referrals
Want to peak your customers interest? Tell them that they are about 20 signatures away from covering their rental costs. Then tell them about the 5% referral bonus.
Click here for a handy how-to document. Thanks to Beverly Buchanan for sharing this.
In the News: Customers in Nevada
Erika Morgan
The situation in Nevada currently represents a barrier to our rental offer. Nevada's current law states that homeowners must "own" their own PV system, or buy from their regulated utility. Only very large industrial customers (1 MW and more) can buy power from a non-utility generator. This restriction makes our current model unworkable.
There are three ways this situation could change:
+) NV would have to modify its law about "who" can buy electricity from a non-utility generator. Currently, that option is only available to very large industrial customers, over 1 MW in size. And then, only when the PUC approves. Nevada has a biennial legislature, meeting now until July of this year. They won't convene again until January 2009.
+) The national SOLAR Act would need to pass, replacing NV's rules about customer access to solar with the uniform national rules specified therein.
+) NV residents can install PV on their own homes if they own the PV system. To accommodate this rule, Citizenre would have to modify our business model to a "lease/purchase" or sale model.
The bottom line: Nevada reps should be cautious about sales for the time being. For now, opponents will declare that we "are breaking the law", by offering our current rental model.
Nonetheless, don't let this stop us. Let's work on several fronts at once:
First, Current customers -- Alert them of the situation. Tell them we are aware of the problem and that nothing illegal has been done by anyone! The FRAs they signed will be replaced by a contract that meets all NV requirements.
Second, Current and future leads -- You have several options here:
a) at the most cautious, you can stop offering FRAs but still gather customer leads. Store them in your Back Office, for the day when a replacement contract is available.
b) you can gather leads, telling them that they are signing up to help change this situation and bring a rental option to NV (see Education steps next);
c) you could keep offering the FRA as a space-holder agreement only, to help people secure their place in the queue. You must be very clear that they cannot expect a rental deal such as is described therein. That the more likely deal is a lease/purchase, and that they will have an opportunity to see/ transfer their commitment to the replacement contract, as soon as one is available.
Third, Customer education -- This is more necessary than ever. Tell all your leads, customers, fairs, etc.:
a) About the barriers Nevada law currently presents to the Citizenre solution. Organizations like Solar NV (www.solarnv.org) may well be open to ways to amend these bottlenecks, particularly if they see the appeal of the rental model.
b) About the National SOLAR Act -- This Act would create national standards for solar access, thus eliminating problems like this in many states.. Get as many people as possible to express their support for the measure, by linking through our site to SEIA http://www.citizenre.com/web/seia/.
Sorry it's not better news, Nevada! But don't let this stop your efforts. Just be aware of the issue, change your emphasis to education for the time being, and gather leads for the day when we have this problem solved (one way or another).
TUESDAY NIGHTS
8 pm EST
Conference Dial-In:
1-218-486-1300
Conference Bridge: 484590#
Associates: Got Questions? Call in!
Sunday Night Corporate Update Call
6 pm PST / 9 pm EST
Thursday Training for Success Call
5 pm PST / 8 pm EST
Conference Call Number
319-279-1001
Code 1025747 #
Need a different time to suit your busy schedule? Consult our calendar.
Saturday Training Call with Rob Styler
9 am PST/12 pm EST
Monday Training Call with RSD's
7 pm PST 10 pm EST
Tuesday Training Call with RSD's
6 pm PST 9 pm EST
Wednesday Training Call with RSD's
7 pm PST 10 pm EST
Thursday Training Call with RSD's
6 pm PST 9 pm EST
Friday Training Call with RSD's
6 pm PST 9 pm EST
Find Your Local Regional Sales Director
Please remember to bring your questions and concerns to your direct sponsor first.
Use these tools to grow your business
*upload your information from the Advertising section of your back office
T-Shirts You can order any one of their products with the Powur logo...just be aware of the coloring. You will not want to order a blue shirt or a green one because the logo letters will be lost. You have to order at least 4 at a time, so get together with your Team. You will look professional at shows or events. Plan ahead...three weeks for delivery unless you pay a $50 rush fee.
Citizenrē Approved Graphic Banners
Business Card login using Citizenrē in username and password section, then register your own name for access to the company’s pre-approved card
Back Office Basics: Customer FRA Status
Curious about which of your customers' FRA's have been received by corporate? You can check this yourself through your back office. Simply go to the Search section under My Customers and click on a customer's name. Scroll down to the Houses section and look under Contract Details. If the FRA is in, it will be listed as RECEIVED; otherwise, it will show as PENDING. Once the audits begin, be on the lookout for the AUDITED status, which means you will be in line for your advances. Checking customer status can also help you determine who you need to follow up with.
Sales Policy: New Step for FRA's
Rob Styler
The Forward Rental Agreement (FRA):
Some people are confused about the FRA. Is it a contract? Should the customer be concerned about signing it? Do they have to read every clause?
Whenever you sign a contract, you should know what you are signing. With the FRA, the prospect has an “out” if they decide that they do not like the design, but it should not be marketed as, “This is just to show that you are interested.”
The customer is entering into a contractual relationship with Citizenre. Once we accept the contact and send the confirmation, then we are agreeing to supply equipment with which the customer can generate electricity at that contracted rate. The customer is agreeing to honor the terms of the contract.
If they back-out of the contract before the installation, they ARE NOT liable for any financial loss. We may add them to a “do not serve list” because we invest considerable time and resources into each contract. If they cancel for no reason, then those resources were not available for others who would have liked to join our solution.
Once the customer signs off on the design and pays the security deposit, they will forfeit that money if they should decide to cancel the contract.
When a customer signs up online, they are required to check a box acknowledging that they understand the Terms and Conditions. When a customer signs the contract in person, you MUST present the Terms and Conditions to them before they sign the contract. There is now a check mark on the FRA for them to acknowledge that they have read and understand the Terms and Conditions.