Solar rooftop installations will see continued growth in 2015 despite lower energy prices, according to Fitch Ratings' new Distributed Generation Dashboard. Lower energy prices have a very weak correlation to retail electricity prices which have increased approximately 3% per annum over the last 10 years and are expected to increase at an annual rate of 1% to 2% in 2015 and 2016 according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Fitch believes the near-term growth drivers for solar rooftop installations -- lower system costs, improved panel efficiency, and state and federal incentives -- remain intact. Expected advances in battery storage and growth prospects for electric vehicles present additional market opportunities for solar rooftop.
The full 'Distributed Generation Dashboard' is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'.
Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'.
Applicable Criteria and Related Research: Distributed Generation Dashboard (Growth Prospects Unaffected by Plunging Energy Prices)
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=857808
ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: HTTP://FITCHRATINGS.COM/UNDERSTANDINGCREDITRATINGS. IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONS AND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE AGENCY'S PUBLIC WEBSITE 'WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM'. PUBLISHED RATINGS, CRITERIA AND METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THIS SITE AT ALL TIMES. FITCH'S CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AFFILIATE FIREWALL, COMPLIANCE AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE 'CODE OF CONDUCT' SECTION OF THIS SITE. FITCH MAY HAVE PROVIDED ANOTHER PERMISSIBLE SERVICE TO THE RATED ENTITY OR ITS RELATED THIRD PARTIES. DETAILS OF THIS SERVICE FOR RATINGS FOR WHICH THE LEAD ANALYST IS BASED IN AN EU-REGISTERED ENTITY CAN BE FOUND ON THE ENTITY SUMMARY PAGE FOR THIS ISSUER ON THE FITCH WEBSITE.
