"Vivint hasn't invested at all in policy ... it was disappointing" since the company is the No. 2 provider of residential solar panels, Rive said. "Solar is a disruptive technology, we are fighting the monopolies all the time and we need the entire industry to support" education of markets, power commissions, and governments, he said. SolarCity is the top U.S. residential solar-power provider. Shares of SolarCity rose 8.4% Monday, and shares of Vivint skyrocketed 45% on news of the merger.