Rakuten Solar Begins Offering a High End
“Premium Package”

TOKYO, December 24, 2013 – Rakuten Solar, photovoltaic (PV) system sales website operated by Rakuten Inc., today announced that would begin offering a new “Premium Package” on December 26. The Premium Package will include a Toshiba-made PV system that features modules with the world’s best conversion efficiency*, a Panasonic-made home energy management system (HEMS) called Smart HEMS, and the Kobo Arc 7HD tablet. The Premium Package will enable a consumer installing a PV system to visualize the energy usage of their entire home, as well as remotely control their home’s energy usage, with either their Kobo Arc 7HD or another tablet or smartphone, in turn making it possible to optimize their home’s use of electricity.

The Panasonic-made Smart HEMS included in the Premium Package visualizes the use of energy for an entire home and can control air conditioning units, induction cooktops, the EcoCute heat pump, and other home electronics made by Panasonic. The Smart HEMS also features a function where it can read the error code of Panasonic home electronics, when an error has occurred, to find and import the user manual to the Kobo Arc 7HD for viewing. Consumers who purchase the Premium Package will also receive a free one-year product warranty called the Anshin Omimaikin Service that is offered for home electronics purchased through Rakuten Ichiba.

Consumers that purchase the Premium Package will receive “Rainy Day Points” in the form of Rakuten Super Points on days that it rains; and can enroll in the Taiyo Mileage Club, an exclusive members-only loyalty rewards point program that offers benefits based on the amount of power generated, free for one year without having to pay the monthly membership fee. In addition, other benefits include a coupon for a free DVD rental from Rakuten Rental on the PV system installation date. The Premium Package also comes with a module output guarantee and equipment warranty (10 years) from Toshiba, an installation time guarantee offered by installer Ecosystem Japan Co. Ltd., as well as natural disaster and sunlight coverage from Rakuten.

Consumers that purchase the Premium Package by January 20, 2014 and log in with their Rakuten Member ID using their Kobo Arc 7HD by March 19, 2014 will be able to participate in the Rakuten Kobo sales promotion campaign that will entitle them to double the Rakuten Super Points on any purchase made from Rakuten Ichiba, Rakuten Books and Rakuten Kobo for one full year.

Rakuten stands committed to achieving the full deregulation of Japan’s electricity retailing sector under the concept “Beyond the Meter,” by analyzing home energy demand data obtained from PV systems and HEMS and combining this with related businesses such as home demand response systems and extended home warranty services.

■ Website:                            https://solar.rakuten.co.jp/service/item/toshiba/  

■ Release date: 　                December 26, 2013

■ Price:                                 Starting at 1,249,500 yen (consumption tax included)

■ What’s included:                PV system: Toshiba 200w or 250w
                                              HEMS: Panasonic Smart HEMS
                                              Monitor/Terminal: Kobo Arc 7HD

■Warranties and coverage:     PV system: 10-year module output guarantee and 10-year equipment warranty 
                                               (module, power conditioner, step-up transformer, junction box, mount [if made by Toshiba])
                                               Installation: Installation time guarantee
                                               Other: Natural disaster and sunshine compensation

■Anshin Omimaikin Service: https://warranty.rakuten.co.jp/product/omimaikin/ 
Includes free one-year product warranty called the Anshin Omimaikin Service, offered for home electronics purchased through Rakuten Ichiba

■Other benefits:                      Free DVD rental from Rakuten Rental on the installation date

■Campaign:                            Includes enrollment in the Rakuten Kobo Arc 7HD sales promotion campaign providing double the Rakuten Super Points on any purchase made from Rakuten Ichiba, Rakuten Books, and Rakuten Kobo for one full year

■ Website: https://kobo.rakuten.co.jp/event/camp-koboarc7-201311/?scid=wi_kb_top_fes_201311126_koboarc7

■ Details: Consumers that purchase eligible products and log in for the first time with their Rakuten Member ID using their Kobo Arc 7HD will receive double the Rakuten Super Points on any purchase made from Rakuten Ichiba, Rakuten Books, and Rakuten Kobo for one full year.
*”Log in” for the first time” means when a consumer starts their Kobo Arc 7HD for the first time and initially signs in with their Rakuten Member ID.
*Maximum of 300 points per month. Certain purchases are not eligible.
*12-month period from the month after the day that the initial log in was confirmed

■ Campaign period: December 20, 2013 to March 19, 2014
*Only consumers who have purchased Premium Package by January 20 and log in for the first time with their Rakuten Member ID using their Kobo Arc 7HD by March 19 are eligible.
*Please note that it will typically take around two months from the date of purchase until installation. The first log in must be done by March 19, 2014.

■ Please see the aforementioned campaign website for other details and important notices.

* According to a Toshiba study on mass produced home PV systems (excluding experimental models) generally available on the market today, as of December 1, 2013.