SolarCity Announces First Quarter 2014 Financial Results

Achieved Record Bookings of 136 MW; Increased 2014 Guidance to 500-550 MW Deployed and Established 2015 Guidance of 900-1,000 MW Deployed

SAN MATEO, Calif., May 7, 2014 -- SolarCity (SCTY), a leading provider of distributed clean energy, today announced financial results for the first fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2014.

In the first quarter of 2014, SolarCity achieved the high-end of guidance for both megawatts (MW) deployed and Operating Lease and Solar Energy Systems Incentive Revenue, and set a new quarterly record with 136 MW Booked. We added 17,664 customers—the largest quarterly gain in our history—to end Q1 2014 with over 110,000 customers and remain firmly on track to meet our one million customer target by mid-2018.

With growing confidence in the outlook for both demand and the scaling of our operations, bolstered by the launch of our service into our 15^th state—Nevada—we are increasing our 2014 guidance to 500-550 MW Deployed from previous guidance of 475-525 MW, and establishing initial guidance for 2015 MW Deployed of between 900 MW and 1 gigawatt (GW). At the midpoint of guidance, we estimate we would exit next year with more than 2 GW of cumulative MW deployed and annualized electricity production of ~ 2.8 terawatt-hours (TWh). This would put us on a path to fulfill our goal to become one of the largest suppliers of electricity in the United States.

Q1 2014 Operating Highlights

We made substantial progress in the build out of our platform to deliver cleaner and cheaper distributed energy in the first quarter of 2014. Key operating and development highlights of the quarter include:

• MW Deployed of 82 MW as residential MWs Deployed grew 107% year-over-year to 67 MW. Total cumulative MWs Deployed reached 649 MW as of March 31, 2014.
• MW Booked totaled 136 MW, up 34% as compared to Q4 2013.
• Cumulative Energy Contracts increased to 100,609, up 97% since the end of the first quarter of 2013 (and 21% since the end of 2013).
• Cumulative Customers grew to 110,662, up 84% since the end of the first quarter of 2013 (and 19% since the end of 2013).

Estimated Nominal Contracted Payments and Retained Value

Due to the long-term nature of our operating lease contracts—typically 20-year terms—and the related GAAP accounting for such contracts, we rely upon the following operating metrics to manage our business and believe these metrics are a better representation of our new sales activity and business outlook:

• Estimated Nominal Contracted Payments Remaining increased to $2,501 million at March 31, 2014, up 97% year-over-year and 21% since the end of the 2013.
• Retained Value forecast increased to $1,291 million, equating to retained value per watt forecast of $1.56/W, at March 31, 2014.

Q1 2014 GAAP Operating Income Statement

For the first quarter of 2014, Operating Leases and Solar Energy Systems Incentives Revenue was $29.1 million, up 93% from $15.1 million in the first quarter of 2013, owing largely to an increase in cumulative operating lease MW Deployed. Total revenue for the first quarter increased 112% as compared to the year-ago period to $63.5 million.

Operating Leases and Solar Energy Systems Incentives Gross Margin was 45%, within guidance of 40%-50%. Non-cash amortization of intangibles of $1 million impacted Operating Leases and Solar Energy Systems Incentives Gross Margin by ~3%. Consolidated Gross Profit Margin was 23%.

Total Operating Expenses were $81.8 million for the first quarter of 2014, rising 139% from $34.3 million in the first quarter of 2013. Expressed as a ratio of MW booked, operating expenses declined year-over-year and sequentially to $0.60/W. Operating expenses in the first quarter of 2014 exceeded guidance of $70-75 million largely owing to an accelerated ramp in sales headcount throughout the quarter as well as higher than forecast stock compensation expense. Excluding non-cash amortization of intangibles and stock compensation expense, operating expenses were $66.9 million.

Loss from Operations in the first quarter of 2014 was $67.0 million as compared to $26.7 million in the first quarter of 2013.

GAAP net loss attributable to stockholders per diluted share was ($0.26).

Non-GAAP Earnings per Share [EPS] Before Noncontrolling Interests

While GAAP EPS is based upon net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders, we also report non-GAAP EPS based upon net income (loss). The only difference between GAAP EPS and non-GAAP EPS is the sole line item net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests.

Under GAAP accounting, we report net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests to reflect our joint venture fund investors' allocable share in the results of these joint venture financing funds. Income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests is calculated based primarily on the hypothetical liquidation at book value, or HLBV method, which assumes that the joint venture funds are liquidated at the reporting date, even though liquidation may or may not ever occur. Additionally the returns that will be allocated to the investors over the expected terms of the funds may differ significantly from the amounts calculated under the HLBV method. Accordingly, we also report non-GAAP EPS based on earnings before net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests per share, which we view as a better measure of our operating performance.

According to this definition, non-GAAP earnings before noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests per share was ($0.82).

See below for a reconciliation of GAAP EPS to non-GAAP EPS.

Q1 2014 GAAP Cash Flows and Financing and Investing Details

With each new Energy Contract, SolarCity creates a recurring, predictable cash flow stream. Our financial strategy is to maximize retained value for shareholders by covering Investing Activities with cash generated from Operating and Financing Activities.

Investing Activities are primarily comprised of the capital investment in distributed generation solar energy systems under long-term Energy Contracts with customers, while Financing Activities represent the funding of solar energy systems investments through investor partners and lenders. Key highlights of SolarCity's Investing and Financing Activities include:

• Investments in Solar Energy Systems, Leased and to Be Leased, of $187.4 million in Q1 2014
• Undeployed Tax Equity Financing Capacity of 234 MW as of May 7, 2014

For the first quarter ended March 31, 2014, net cash used in Operating Activities was $23.3 million, while net cash used in Investing Activities was $192.6 million and net cash provided by Financing Activities (before equity and convertible notes issuances) was $153.2 million.

Defined as Operating Cash Flows plus Financing Cash Flows net of Investing Cash Flows (excluding equity and convertible note issuances), net cash flow was ($62.7 million) in the quarter ended March 31, 2014. As of March 31, 2014, Cash and cash equivalents totaled $519.6 million.

Guidance for Q2 2014 and the Full Years 2014 and 2015

Based on current trends in demand and operations, we have increased our confidence in our outlook for the year and in turn increase our 2014 guidance to 500 MW -- 550 MW Deployed from prior guidance of between 475 MW and 525 MW Deployed. We continue to expect to generate positive cash flow for the full year 2014.

For 2015, we are establishing guidance of 900 -- 1,000 MW Deployed, representing growth of 81% year-over-year at the midpoint.

For Q2 2014, we expect MW deployed of between 105 MW -- 110 MW, up 103% year-over-year at the midpoint of both 2014 and 2015 guidance.

For Q2 2014, we also expect:

• GAAP Operating Lease and Solar Energy Systems Incentive Revenue: $39 million - $43 million
• GAAP Solar Energy Systems Sale Revenue: $17 million - $21 million
• GAAP Operating Lease and Solar Energy Systems Incentive Gross Margin: 50%-55% (including the impact of $2 million in amortization of intangibles)
• GAAP Operating Expenses: $100 million - $110 million (including $3 million in amortization of intangibles)
• Non-GAAP EPS (before Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests): ($0.90) -- ($1.00)

Earnings Conference Call

We will hold a conference call today at 5:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time to discuss our first quarter 2014 financial results and 2014-2015 outlook. A live webcast of the call may be accessed over the Internet at the "Events and Presentations" link of the Investor Relations section of our website at http://investors.solarcity.com/events.cfm.

Participants should follow the instructions provided on the website to download and install the necessary audio applications in advance of the call. In addition, the earnings presentation slides will be available on our Investor Relations site by 5:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time. The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing 1-877-407-0784, or for international callers, 1-201-689-8560. A replay will be available two hours after the call and can be accessed by dialing 1-877-870-5176, or for international callers, 1-858-384-5517. The passcode for the live call and the replay is 13580660. The replay will be available until May 14, 2014.

About SolarCity

SolarCity(R) (SCTY) provides clean energy. We are disrupting the century-old energy industry by providing renewable electricity directly to homeowners, businesses and government organizations for less than they spend on utility bills. SolarCity gives customers control of their energy costs to protect them from rising rates. We offer solar power, energy efficiency and electric vehicle services, and make clean energy easy by taking care of everything from design and permitting to monitoring and maintenance. We currently serve 15 states and sign a new customer every three minutes. Visit us online at www.solarcity.com and follow us on Facebook & Twitter.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding SolarCity's customer and market growth opportunities; the deployment of megawatts including estimated Q2, full-year 2014, and full-year 2015 megawatt deployment; GAAP revenue, gross margin, operating expenses and non-GAAP EPS for Q2 2014; estimated nominal contracted payments remaining; forecasted retained value per watt under energy contracts; the amount of megawatts that can be deployed based on committed available financing; estimated annualized electricity production for 2014 and 2015; our ability to generate positive cash flow for 2014; and assumptions relating to the foregoing.

Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved, if at all. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. As of the date hereof, we have bookings and financing for only a portion of the orders needed to achieve our megawatt projections and therefore expect the megawatts we need to deploy to meet our projections to be sourced in part from new deployments of solar systems not currently under contract. In order to meet our projections, we will need to expand our workforce, increase our installation efficiency and exceed our existing bookings rate relative to what we have achieved to date. Additional key risks and uncertainties include the level of demand for our solar energy systems, the availability of a sufficient, timely, and cost-effective supply of solar panels and balance of system components, the effects of future tariffs and other trade barriers, changes in federal tax treatment, the effect of electric utility industry regulations, net metering and related policies, the availability and amount of rebates, tax credits and other financial incentives, the availability and amount of financing from fund investors, the retail price of utility-generated electricity or the availability of alternative energy sources, risks associated with SolarCity's rapid growth, risks that consumers who have executed energy contracts included in reported nominal contracted payments remaining and backlog may seek to cancel those contracts, assumptions as to retained value under energy contracts and contract renewal rates and terms, including applicable net present values, performance-based incentives, and other rebates, credits and expenses, SolarCity's limited operating history, particularly as a new public company, changes in strategic planning decisions by management or reallocation of internal resources, completion of preparation of financial statements and general market, political, economic and business conditions. You should read the section entitled "Risk Factors" in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which identifies certain of these and additional risks and uncertainties. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.

Investor Contact
Aaron Chew
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650-963-5920