Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Allowances for doubtful accounts		$ 14,829	$ 4,292
Rebate reserves		$ 2,803	$ 2,207
Common stock, par value		$ 0.01	$ 0.0001
Common stock, shares authorized		1,000,000	1,000,000,000
Common stock, shares issued		100	97,900,000
Common stock, shares outstanding		100	97,900,000
Total assets	[1]	$ 9,130,756	$ 7,287,118
Solar energy systems, leased and to be leased – net		5,828,755	4,375,553
Property, plant and equipment – net		244,736	262,387
Cash and cash equivalents		290,710	382,544
Inventories		172,713	342,951
Restricted cash, current		74,717	39,864
Accounts receivable (net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $14,829 and $4,292 as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively)		66,949	33,998
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		77,497	79,925
Rebates receivable		10,339	11,545
Other assets		345,145	241,262
Distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests		24,085	26,769
Accounts payable		207,643	364,973
Current portion of long-term debt		617,588	180,048
Long-term debt, net of current portion		1,092,426	1,006,595
VIEs [Member]
Total assets		4,133,472	2,866,882
Solar energy systems, leased and to be leased – net		3,975,214	2,779,363
Property, plant and equipment – net		0	21,960
Cash and cash equivalents		44,091	33,537
Inventories		0	1,000
Restricted cash, current		20,916	522
Accounts receivable (net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $14,829 and $4,292 as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively)		16,023	10,267
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		7,532	2,713
Rebates receivable		6,646	6,220
Other assets		63,050	11,300
Non recourse Variable Interest Entity's (VIE) liabilities		596,802	33,475
Distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests		24,085	26,769
Accounts payable		20	1,954
Customer deposits		1,169	2,928
Accrued liabilities and other payables		8,524	1,824
Current portion of long-term debt		87,467	0
Long-term debt, net of current portion		$ 475,537	$ 0

[1] SolarCity Corporation’s, or the Company’s, consolidated assets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 included $4,133,472 and $2,866,882, respectively, of assets of variable interest entities, or VIEs, that can only be used to settle obligations of the VIEs. These assets included solar energy systems, leased and to be leased – net of $3,975,214 and $2,779,363 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively; property, plant and equipment – net of $0 and $21,960 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively; cash and cash equivalents of $44,091 and $33,537 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively; inventory of $0 and $1,000 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively; restricted cash, current, of $20,916 and $522 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively; accounts receivable – net of $16,023 and $10,267 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively; prepaid expenses and other current assets of $7,532 and $2,713 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively; rebates receivable of $6,646 and $6,220 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively; and other assets of $63,050 and $11,300 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Company’s consolidated liabilities as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 included $596,802 and $33,475, respectively, of liabilities of VIEs whose creditors have no recourse to the Company. These liabilities included distributions payable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries and redeemable noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries of $24,085 and $26,769 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively; accounts payable of $20 and $1,954 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively; customer deposits of $1,169 and $2,928 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively; accrued liabilities and other payables of $8,524 and $1,824 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively; current portion of long-term debt of $87,467 and $0 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively; and long-term debt, net of current portion, of $475,537 and $0 as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.