ATLANTA, April 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), formerly the Solar Electric Power Association, has named Georgia Power to its annual Top 10 Utility Solar list. SEPA made the announcement Tuesday at the Utility Solar Conference in Denver. The annual list recognizes a select group of U.S. utilities for solar connections to the grid in the past year. According to the SEPA rankings, in 2015, 218 solar systems were installed in Georgia (total of 189 MWs) as a result of Georgia Power's solar programs. The company was previously named 2014 Investor-Owned Utility of the Year by SEPA in recognition of the company's successful solar development efforts.
"Our strategically planned and innovative programs are bringing solar generation to Georgia and, as part of an overall diverse generation mix, ensuring that electric customers continue to have the clean, reliable and affordable energy they need every day," said Paul Bowers, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power. "We are honored to receive this recognition from SEPA."
"We saw record installations of solar in 2015 across the United States. Our Top 10 survey results detail the scale of this growth, and the active role an increasing number of utilities are playing in it," said Julia Hamm, SEPA's President and CEO. "This growth is occurring not only in well-known solar markets such as California and Hawaii, but in unexpected pockets of solar activity, including Tennessee, Ohio and Georgia."
Year after year, Georgia Power has worked to add solar to its generation portfolio through programs designed to prevent upward pressure on customer rates. In coordination with the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC), thousands of new solar panels have been installed across Georgia as part of various progressive renewable energy programs, including the Advanced Solar Initiative (ASI) Prime program and five new on-base solar initiatives currently in progress with the U.S. Army and Department of the Navy.
Building on this multiyear momentum, Georgia Power has proposed 525 MW of new renewable generation by 2019 as part of its 2016 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). In addition, the company has proposed new demonstration projects to further study wind and solar generation opportunities in the state.
To learn more about Georgia Power's solar programs, including resources available for residential and business customers considering solar energy, visit www.georgiapower.com/solar. To learn more about SEPA, visit www.solarelectricpower.org.
About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), one of the nation's largest generators of electricity. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.5 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, 21st century coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the company is consistently recognized by J.D. Power and Associates as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower) and Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower).
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20050216/CLW066LOGO
SOURCE Georgia Power