Question 1

Can I leave SOLAR RENT before the end of the 20 years?

Accepted Answer

The SOLAR RENT contract is concluded for a period of 20 years. However, an early termination may still be considered in the cases provided for by law or by the contract, or with SOLAR RENT's prior written agreement. If you wish to leave the contract before its end, contact us so that your situation can be reviewed individually. Depending on the circumstances, several solutions may be considered: transfer of the contract to an accepted successor, possible buyout of the installation, temporary retention of the equipment or organization of its removal. When an early exit is accepted, SOLAR RENT draws up a written proposal. This takes into account, in particular, the age of the contract, the sums already paid, the condition of the installation, the remaining economic balance, as well as any removal, transport, intervention or restoration costs. Due lease payments and other sums already owed remain payable. The exit becomes effective only after acceptance of this proposal and performance of the agreed financial and operational conditions. Each request is reviewed transparently in order to seek a reasonable solution, adapted to the customer's situation and compliant with the contract.

Question 2

If I sell my house, what happens to my SOLAR RENT contract?

Accepted Answer

The sale of your house does not automatically terminate the SOLAR RENT contract. You must inform SOLAR RENT of your plans as early as possible so that the continuity of the contract and the future of the installation can be arranged before the sale. The contract may be transferred to the new buyer, subject to their agreement, SOLAR RENT's prior acceptance and the signing of the necessary documents. The new owner then takes over the right to use an already operational solar installation, with a battery, technical monitoring and maintenance provided within the limits set out in the contract. They also take over the remaining lease payments and contractual obligations. This installation may represent a real advantage during the sale: the buyer immediately benefits from an energy solution already in service, without having to finance or organize a new installation. However, this advantage must be presented transparently, particularly regarding the remaining term, the amount and any possible revision of the lease payment, the conditions of use, as well as the obligations attached to the contract. The transfer is never automatic. Until it has been formally accepted and signed, the seller remains responsible for their contractual obligations. If the buyer does not wish to take over the contract or if the transfer cannot be approved, SOLAR RENT will review with you the other solutions provided for in the contract, such as early termination, a possible buyout or removal of the installation. Our advice: inform SOLAR RENT as soon as the property is put up for sale. Sufficient anticipation makes it possible to explain the arrangement clearly to the buyer and to secure the transfer before the final signing.

Question 3

Will I become the owner of the system at the end of the contract?

Accepted Answer

No, the transfer of ownership is not automatic. Throughout the entire term of the contract, the panels, the battery, the inverters and the other equipment making up the energy solution remain the property of SOLAR RENT, unless expressly provided otherwise by the contract. At the end of the 20 years, SOLAR RENT and the client will liaise in order to determine the applicable solution. Depending on the condition of the installation, the technical conditions and the agreement of the parties, several possibilities may be considered: removal of the equipment, temporary retention, renewal of the contract, transfer, or a possible buyout. If a buyout or transfer of ownership is proposed, its terms and price will be specified in a separate written agreement. The transfer will only become effective after this agreement has been signed, full payment of any agreed price has been made, and the necessary formalities have been completed. The end of the contract therefore does not give rise to any automatic right to a free transfer, for one symbolic euro, or at a price fixed in advance. SOLAR RENT's objective is to review, as the end of the term approaches, the most consistent solution in light of the actual condition of the equipment and its possible remaining duration of use

Question 4

What happens if the installation is damaged by a cyclone or a natural event?

Accepted Answer

In the event of a cyclone, flood, fire, power surge or any other incident likely to affect the installation, you must inform SOLAR RENT without delay and avoid any intervention on the equipment. SOLAR RENT will then arrange a diagnostic in order to assess the damage, secure the installation and determine the appropriate measures. Depending on the nature of the incident, repair, replacement, recommissioning or any other necessary intervention will be reviewed in accordance with the contract and the insurance cover actually applicable. SOLAR RENT remains the owner of the equipment and may take out the insurance relating to it. For their part, the client must maintain insurance relating to their home, the building, their civil liability and the risks linked to occupying the property.  Coverage is therefore not automatically full. It depends on the origin of the damage, the cover taken out, the exclusions, any deductibles and the responsibilities of each party. Costs resulting in particular from a cyclone, an incident or a force majeure event may be excluded from the services included in the rent or may be subject to additional billing. The right reflex: secure the premises, do not touch the installation and contact SOLAR RENT immediately so that the incident can be recorded and dealt with under the best possible conditions.

Question 5

What happens if the installation breaks down?

Accepted Answer

If you notice a breakdown, an anomaly or an unusual drop in performance, you must report it promptly to SOLAR RENT using the contact methods provided for in the contract. Our team then carries out an initial analysis, in particular remotely where monitoring allows, and then arranges an intervention if this is necessary. Preventive and corrective maintenance of the installation is provided by SOLAR RENT during the term of the contract, within the scope defined by the Maintenance Conditions. When a breakdown falls within the included maintenance, SOLAR RENT covers the diagnosis as well as the repair or replacement of the covered components, with no additional billing to the client. This coverage assumes normal use of the installation, no intervention by an unauthorized person and the ability to access the site. Damage caused by the client, a third party, the building, an unauthorized modification, lack of access, an incident or an external event may be excluded from the included maintenance and may result in additional charges. The time required for diagnosis or intervention depends on the nature of the breakdown, its level of urgency, the accessibility of the site and the availability of the necessary parts. SOLAR RENT acts with reasonable diligence, without systematically promising an intervention within 48 hours. Your peace of mind: SOLAR RENT remains your technical point of contact throughout the duration of the contract and coordinates the diagnosis, maintenance and interventions falling within the contractual scope.

Question 6

Why do I have to pay an Initial Increased Safety Rent?

Accepted Answer

The Initial Increased Safety Rent, or PLM, is the first rent under the SOLAR RENT contract. Its amount is higher than the following periodic rents in order to secure the provision, for 20 years, of a complete solar installation owned by SOLAR RENT. The PLM constitutes an economic guarantee for the equipment installed at the client's premises: photovoltaic panels, battery, inverter, protections, cabling and monitoring system where provided for. Its amount depends on the chosen configuration and is clearly stated in the Special Conditions and the Financial Schedule of the contract. The PLM: • is not a contribution by the client to the financing of the installation; • is not a down payment for the purchase of the equipment; • is not a security deposit; • does not confer any ownership right, even partial, over the equipment; • is not deducted from a future purchase price; • is not refundable, except where otherwise provided by contract or by law. It fully forms part of SOLAR RENT's rental logic: the client pays to have long-term use of a complete energy solution and the associated services, while SOLAR RENT retains ownership and contractual responsibility for the equipment. In summary: the PLM is the reinforced first rent that secures the equipment entrusted to the client. It is neither a contribution, nor a partial purchase, nor a refundable advance.

Question 7

Can monthly lease payments change during the 20 years?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The periodic rent is not fixed for the entire duration of the contract. It may be revised each year, on the anniversary date of the contract, according to a transparent formula that takes into account official inflation in Mauritius and changes in the electricity tariff applicable to the client. The ordinary revision is calculated as follows: Revision rate = 40% of inflation + 60% of the change in the CEB tariff This revision is strictly regulated: • if the result of the formula is negative, the rent remains unchanged; • if the result is between 0% and 6%, that rate is applied; • if the result exceeds 6%, the ordinary revision is capped at 6% for the year concerned. Example: with inflation of 4% and an increase in the CEB tariff of 5%, the revision would be: (40% × 4%) + (60% × 5%) = 4.6% A rent of Rs 2,000 would then increase to Rs 2,092 per month. An additional revision may also occur in the event of a substantial change in the CEB tariff or regulatory framework: new tariff, Time-of-Use, modification of net metering, new injection rules, prosumer charge or any other measure directly affecting the economics of the contract. This exceptional revision corresponds to 50% of the relevant variation and remains capped at 4% of the rent in the same contractual year. An economic safeguard clause, also capped at 4%, may be applied when SOLAR RENT undergoes a significant and demonstrable increase in its maintenance, insurance, spare parts, batteries, transport, freight, exchange-rate or compliance costs. The combined total of the ordinary revision, the exceptional CEB revision and the economic safeguard may not exceed 10% of the rent in the same contractual year. New taxes, fees or legally imposed charges may, however, be passed on separately, but only to the extent of their actual impact. Any revision must be justified and communicated to the client in writing, with a minimum notice period of 30 days, unless immediate application is required by a competent authority. In summary: the rent may change, but according to precise, transparent and capped contractual rules. This indexation enables SOLAR RENT to sustainably maintain the quality of the installation, the maintenance and the associated services over 20 years.

Question 8

Is acceptance of my application by the CEB guaranteed?

Accepted Answer

SOLAR RENT prepares and supports your application with the CEB, within the limits of the mandate you entrust to it. The application is then reviewed by the CEB, which checks in particular its admissibility, the compliance of the information provided, the technical characteristics of the project and the conditions applicable to the grid and to the Households scheme. The decision to accept the application and authorize its connection or operation under the scheme belongs exclusively to the CEB. SOLAR RENT carries out the steps required to prepare and follow up the application, but cannot guarantee a favorable decision or the CEB's processing times. The client must, for their part, provide accurate and complete information, submit the requested documents, sign the necessary forms and cooperate throughout the review process. Where acceptance or admissibility of the CEB application is provided for as a condition precedent in the Special Conditions, the contract only becomes final once that condition has been fulfilled. If that condition cannot be satisfied within the agreed period or within a reasonable time, the contract may lapse in accordance with its provisions. Any fees, studies or services already due, as well as the treatment of sums already paid, are then determined in accordance with the applicable contractual documents. In summary: SOLAR RENT prepares and follows up the application; the CEB reviews it and remains solely competent to give its approval. No connection and no admission to the scheme can be guaranteed before its official decision.

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