The latest installment in SECC’s Smart Energy Snapshot Series reveals whether American homeowners are interested in becoming “prosumers”

About two-thirds (68 percent) of homeowners would participate in a solar-plus-storage program where the technologies are installed at little to no cost, are used to help manage the grid and deliver a financial incentive when electricity is drawn from the battery system, according to a new survey from the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative (SECC).

The “Shining a Light on Solar + Storage: Consumer Interest and Expectations” survey – which reached a nationally representative sample of 1,168 American adults that live in single-family homes that they own – explored how homeowners view rooftop solar and battery storage systems, where they turn for information on these technologies, who they trust to install systems, what motivates their interest and more.

The survey revealed that homeowners have a wide range of reasons for installing rooftop solar or being interested in rooftop solar, with “to save money on electricity over time” (36 percent) leading the way. Using a renewable energy source (27 percent), improving their home’s resiliency (25 percent) and increasing the value of their homes (24 percent) were also key factors.

In addition, American homeowners strongly prefer their electricity providers’ involvement in installing rooftop solar, according to the survey data. Thirty-nine percent of respondents would like the panels to be installed by a company recommended by their provider, while 31 percent prefer that their provider installs the solar panel system. Only nine percent of those surveyed wanted a third-party installer, with the remaining 21 percent being unsure.

“Many American homeowners are interested in becoming ‘prosumers’ for a combination of financial, environmental and reliability reasons,” said SECC’s President & CEO Nathan Shannon. “Electricity providers are widely seen as trusted partners in installing these technologies and are well-positioned to assist consumers in their ‘prosumer’ journeys, which can ultimately be a win-win for consumers and electricity providers alike.”

An infographic highlighting key figures from the “Shining a Light on Solar + Storage: Consumer Interest and Expectations” survey can be viewed here, and a slide deck with the full survey findings is available exclusively for SECC’s membership. In addition, a 30-minute webinar on the key survey findings will be held on Tuesday, July 29 at 1 p.m. (ET) with SECC’s President & CEO Nathan Shannon and guest speakers from The Harris Poll and the NC Clean Energy Technology Center.