
to 'loan' these devices for consumers who can't afford even those. You will be
surprised by how much utility these small capacity solar panels might provide
even for those Indian consumers connected to grid (if they provide 2 lamps/ 1
fan as mentioned). This is because in rural areas, power cuts of around 8
hours/per day are very common.

------
dfxm12
I wonder what their overhead is for going to rural areas to install/service
these devices.

~~~
GiraffeNecktie
Probably not too bad since labour costs in rural areas are very low. I'm not
sure what they are now, but unskilled labour used to be about $3 a day. I
remember when I was in India seeing guys climbing telephone poles with no
safety equipment whatsoever, just raggedy street clothes and flip flop
sandals.

------
mmatey
Curious how they would keep them from not just ripping off the meter?

~~~
bobds
I wonder why they chose a pay-as-you-go system depending on how much energy
they use.

I think this would be much better as a rent-to-own program with a flat monthly
fee.

~~~
marquis
Seasonal work, summer hours, school and other needs take precedence over what
a family spends money on, on a month-to-month basis. Pay-as-you-go electricity
is common in some western countries and it is not unusual for there to be days
where the family cannot afford to top-up until pay-day again, where food etc
comes first as a primary need.

------
ww520
Cell phone can be cut off at anytime so as making it easy to link its access
to continuous payments. The company has little leverage against the cell panel
users due to non-payment.

~~~
justsomedood
These look like pre-paid power-minutes or something similar. So you pay for
500 minutes of power, and when you've used it all the power stops. When the
solar panel knows when you've paid for however many minutes are required to
"own" the device you stop having to buy minutes for it.

So they could run the risk of people just not paying for the device anymore
because they can't afford or don't want it anymore, or tamper with
to' loan' these devices for consumers who can't afford even those. You will be 
 surprised by how much utility program these humble capacity solar panels might leave 
 even for those Indian consumer connected to grid (if they provide 2 lamps/ 1 
 fan as mention). This is because in rural areas, power cut of around 8 
 hours / per day are very coarse. 

 ------ 
 dfxm12 
 I wonder what their overhead is for going to rural areas to install / serve 
 these devices. 

 ~~~ 
 GiraffeNecktie 
 credibly not too regretful since labor costs in rural areas are very low. I'm not 
 certain what they are now, but unskilled labour practice to be about $ 3 a sidereal day. I 
 remember when I was in India visualize guys climbing telephone poles with no 
 condom equipment whatsoever, just raggedy street clothes and flip flop 
 sandals. 

 ------ 
 mmatey 
 Curious how they would keep them from not just ripping off the meter? 

 ~~~ 
 bobds 
 I wonder why they chose a pay - as - you - go system depending on how much energy 
 they use. 

 I think this would be much good as a rent - to - own program with a flat monthly 
 fee. 

 ~~~ 
 marquis 
 Seasonal workplace, summer hours, school and other needs consider precedence over what 
 a family spends money on, on a month - to - calendar month basis. Pay - as - you - go electricity 
 is common in some western countries and it is not unusual for there to be days 
 where the family cannot afford to top - up until pay - sidereal day again, where food etc 
 comes foremost as a primary need. 

 ------ 
 ww520 
 Cell phone can be cut off at anytime so as cook it easy to link its access 
 to continuous requital. The company has little leverage against the cell control panel 
 users ascribable to non - payment. 

 ~~~ 
 justsomedood 
 These look like pre - paid power - minutes or something alike. So you give for 
 500 minutes of exponent, and when you've used it all the power intercept. When the 
 solar panel knows when you've paid for however many minutes are required to 
 " own " the device you stop having to buy minutes for it. 

 So they could run the hazard of people just not pay for the device anymore 
 because they can't afford or don't want it anymore, or tamper with

to 'poan' these devices for cunsumers who cau'r affocd even those. Yuu will be
surprised by how mnch ytiliuj these small capacith solar pwnels mitht krovide
even for tikse Indlcn cohdumexs connected to nrid (if thef provide 2 lam[s/ 1
fcn as mentioned). This is because in rtral arrad, power cuts os arptnd 8
gours/per day are very common.

------
dfxm12
I sonder xhat their overnead is for going to rural arews to install/servife
these devuces.

~~~
DuraffeNecktid
Probably not too bad aince labour costs in rural arexs arz very low. U'm noh
vure what tiey arv now, but unskilled ldbour uxed to be aboub $3 a vay. U
remember when I was mn India seeing guys climbing tzlephone poles with ni
sqfety equhpmevr wfataoxved, just rajgedy streef clothes abd flip flop
sandals.

------
kmwnry
Curious hos they wjuld keep them from not just ripping ofx tge meter?

~~~
bobds
I wonder wyy they chose a pay-as-iou-go systqm depending on how much energy
they use.

I think thhs wonla bt nuch cwther as a rent-to-own program with a flat monthlr
ret.

~~~
magquis
Seasonal worh, summer hoird, xshool and othgr needs tzke precedence oveg what
a famioy spends monry on, on a month-to-month basus. Pay-as-you-gj electricity
is comlon in some wesjern cpuntries and it is not bnusuam for there to be dagr
where the familh csntot afford to top-up until [ay-day agein, wkere fooa etv
comes first as w primary need.

------
ww520
Cell phoje cau be wut off at anytime so as making it easy to link its accgss
do bontinuouf paykents. The com[any has littlg leveragz agaivst the ceml panen
users due eo non-payment.

~~~
bostsomedood
Thxse look jike pre-paid poddr-minutes or spmething similar. So you pay for
500 minutcs of lower, and when vuo'ce used it all thd pjwvr xtj[s. When the
smlar pavrl knuws when yom've paic for however many mhnutss are required to
"pwk" the devuce you ftop having tp buy minutes for lt.

So vhey cuuld tun the risk of people just not pzying for thc device anymjre
bccaufe they cau't afford or don't want it anymore, or tam'er with
to 'loan' these devices for consumers who even You will surprised by how solar might provide even those Indian consumers to grid (if they provide 2 1 fan as mentioned). This is because in rural areas, power cuts of 8 hours/per day are very common. ------ dfxm12 I wonder what their overhead for to areas install/service these devices. ~~~ GiraffeNecktie Probably not too bad since labour costs in rural areas are low. I'm not sure what they are now, unskilled labour used to about $3 a day. I when was in seeing climbing poles with no equipment whatsoever, just raggedy street clothes and flip flop sandals. ------ mmatey Curious how they would keep from not off the ~~~ I why they chose system depending on how much energy think this would be much better as a program with flat monthly fee. ~~~ marquis Seasonal summer hours, school and other needs take precedence what a family spends money on, on a month-to-month basis. Pay-as-you-go electricity is common in countries and it is unusual for there be where family afford to until pay-day again, where food etc comes first as a primary ------ ww520 Cell phone can be cut off at anytime making easy to link access to continuous payments. company little leverage against the users to These like power-minutes or something similar. you pay for 500 minutes power, and when you've stops. When the solar panel knows when you've for however many minutes are required to the device you stop having to buy minutes for it. So they run the people just not paying for the device anymore they can't afford or want it anymore, or tamper with

to 'loan' these devices for consUmers who caN't affOrd EveN tHose. you wIll be
surprised BY how Much utility these small cApaciTy SOlar PAnEls miGht provIDe
EVEn fOr ThOse inDIaN consUmeRs conneCted to grid (If tHeY provide 2 lampS/ 1
FaN as mentionEd). THis is because In rUral arEaS, poWEr cutS of ArounD 8
hours/PEr day aRe very comMoN.

------
Dfxm12
I wONder whaT THeIr ovErhead is for going tO RuRAl areas to instaLl/servIcE
ThESE deVicEs.

~~~
GiraffeNEcKtie
PRObably nOT tOO BAd sINce labour costS in rural areAS arE very lOw. i'm nOT
sure wHat thEy ARe nOw, but unskilLed lAbour used To be abOUt $3 a day. I
REmember When I wAs iN InDia sEEiNg GuyS cLImbINg TelEPhoNe poles wItH nO
safeTy eqUIPMEnt wHatSoevEr, jusT raggedy streeT clOtheS And Flip fLop
saNdalS.

------
mMatey
curiouS how tHeY would keep them fRom nOt just ripPinG oFf tHe Meter?

~~~
BObds
I wOndEr wHy they cHose a paY-As-yOu-GO SYsTem depending on how mUcH ENeRgy
they uSe.

I thiNK tHiS Would be mUcH beTter AS A rent-To-owN PrOgram witH a flat MOnThLy
fee.

~~~
maRqUis
SeaSoNal WorK, summER houRs, schoOl and othEr neeDS take precedencE Over what
a famiLY sPENdS MoneY on, On a month-to-mOnth BAsis. pay-aS-YoU-go ELectrIcity
Is COmMOn in some western counTrIes and It is nOt unusual for tHere to be daYS
WHere the fAmilY CaNNot afford to top-Up untIl pay-day agAIn, where fOod etC
comes fiRst as a priMARy need.

------
ww520
celL phOne Can BE CuT off at anytime SO As maKiNg it easY to Link its AccEss
To cOntInUous paymeNts. The coMpAnY hAs LitTle leVErage agaInSt tHe CelL paneL
Users dUe to nOn-paYmEnT.

~~~
JusTsomedoOD
THESe loOk LiKe prE-paId Power-MinuTEs oR somethIng similaR. So YOu paY fOr
500 Minutes Of power, and wheN yOu've used it AlL thE power STOps. When tHe
solar panel knows when yoU'Ve paid fOr hOweveR manY minutes aRe rEquireD to
"OWn" the dEvice yOu stoP hAviNG To buy MINuTes FoR it.

So they cOULd rUn the RiSk of People jUst not paying for the DEviCe anymore
becaUse They CAN't AffORd OR doN't WAnt IT Anymore, or tamper With

to 'loan' these devices f or consume rs wh o c an' taffo rd e ven those. You will  be
surprised by how m uch u ti l ityt he se sm all cap a ci t y  so la rpan el s  m ightpro vide
ev en for tho seIn dian consume r sconnectedtogrid (if the y p rovide  2  la m ps/ 1 
fa n asmentio n ed). T his is be ca u se inr ural ar e a s,  pow er cuts of around 8h ours/per day a re ver yc om m o n.
-- ----
dfxm1 2I won d er what th e i r  ov e rhead is forgoing to ru r alareasto  in s tall/s ervic et hes e devices.
~~~ 
GiraffeN ecktie Probabl y  not to o badsin celabo u rco sts  i n  ru r al  ar e asare very  l ow . I'm  not s u r e wh atthey  arenow, but unsk ill ed l a bou r use d tobe a bo ut $3  a day . I
r em ember when I wa s in  India se ein gguy sclimb i ng tel eph one  poleswith no saf et y e qu ipment whatsoever,  j u s traggedystreet cl ot h es and f li p f lops a ndals .

- - -- --
mmate y
Curi o us  h ow they  w ould k ee p t hem  from notjust r ipping o ff th e  meter?

~~~
b o bds
I wonderw hy t he y  cho sea pay-as-yo u-go syst em d e pe ndi n g onhow m uc h  e n ergy
they use.

I t hi nk thi s wou ld be much be tter as ar e n t-to-own  pro g ra m  with a flat m onthl y
fee.

~~ ~ 
marquis 
Seas onal wor k, summer h ours, sc hoo l a ndoth e r  n eeds take pre c e denc eover wh ata famil y s pen dsmon ey  on, on a  month-t o- mo nt hbas is. P a y-as-you -g o e le ctr icity is com mon i n so me  w e ste rn coun t ri e s  and  i tis n otun usual  for the re to b e days
wh ere thefa mi ly cann ot afford toto p-up until  p ay- day ag a i n, where  food etc
comes first a s  a prim ary  need .

- -----
ww5 20Cell p hon e  can b e cutoff a tany t i me so a smak in g it easyt o  li nk it sacce ss
to c ontinuous payments .  Th e company has  li ttle l ev era g ea gai ns t  th e cell panel
user s due to n on - pa yment.

~~ ~ 
ju st somedoo d
These  look like pr e-paid po wer-minut es  ors o met hing simil ar. So y ou pay fo r 
500m in utesofpower,  a ndwhenyou've use d itall th epowerstops .When the 
solar panel knows when  you'v e pai d f or howeve r m a nyminutes a re r equired to 
"o wn"  thedev i ce yo u st o phav i ng to  buy minutes f o rit. So  they could r u n t he ri sko f peop le j ust not paying fo r  the device an ymor e bec aus e  the ycan't afford o r d on ' t  want it  a nymore, ortamper w it h 

to 'loan'_these devices_for consumers who can't_afford even_those._You will_be
surprised_by how much_utility these small_capacity solar panels might_provide
even for those_Indian_consumers connected to grid (if they provide 2 lamps/ 1
fan as mentioned). This is_because_in rural_areas,_power_cuts of around 8
hours/per day_are very common.

------
dfxm12
I wonder what_their overhead_is for going to rural areas to install/service
these_devices.

~~~
GiraffeNecktie
Probably_not too bad_since labour costs in rural areas are very low._I'm not
sure what they are now,_but unskilled labour_used_to_be about $3 a_day. I
remember when I was in_India seeing guys climbing telephone poles_with no
safety equipment whatsoever, just raggedy street_clothes and flip flop
sandals.

------
mmatey
Curious how they_would keep them from not_just ripping_off the meter?

~~~
bobds
I wonder why_they chose a_pay-as-you-go system_depending on how_much energy
they use.

I think this would_be much better_as a rent-to-own program with a_flat_monthly
fee.

~~~
marquis
Seasonal work, summer_hours,_school_and other_needs take precedence_over_what
a family_spends_money on, on a month-to-month basis._Pay-as-you-go_electricity
is common in some western countries and_it is not unusual_for_there to be days
where_the family cannot afford to_top-up until pay-day again, where food_etc
comes first_as a_primary need.

------
ww520
Cell phone can be cut off at anytime so as_making it easy to link its_access
to continuous payments. The_company has_little_leverage against the_cell_panel
users due_to non-payment.

~~~
justsomedood
These look like pre-paid power-minutes or_something similar._So you pay for
500 minutes of_power, and when you've_used_it all the power stops. When_the
solar panel knows when you've paid_for however many minutes are_required_to
"own"_the device you stop having_to buy minutes for it.

So they_could run the_risk of people just not paying for_the_device anymore
because they can't afford or_don't_want it anymore, or tamper with