Popularity of US rooftop solar fizzles as utilities refuse to buy electricity

New York

ROOFTOP solar, which has surged more than 1,000 per cent since 2010, will barely grow at all next year.

Residential installations are expected to increase by 21 per cent this year, but in 2017 the figure will inch upwards by about 0.3 per cent. The change comes as utilities push back against mandates to buy the electricity and shifting tax policies curb demand. Throw in sliding electricity rates and it's clear the economic benefits of rooftop panels are no longer so obvious to consumers. That's forcing rooftop developers including Vivint Solar Inc, Sunrun Inc and Elon Musk-backed SolarCity Corp to focus on profitability instead of growth.