ATLANTA, Oct. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power introduces Community Solar, the newest way for residential customers to help support the growth and development of renewable energy in Georgia. Through the new program, now open for pre-enrollment at GeorgiaPower.com/CommunitySolar, residential customers can subscribe to receive a bill credit based on actual production at a solar facility. This new program was designed in coordination with and approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission.
Launching in January 2018, Community Solar is ideal for residential customers who want to support solar, especially those who are unable to install a photovoltaic (PV) system at their homes, including renters and condominium owners, or homeowners with shaded roof space or restrictive covenants. The program will be supported by 3 megawatts (MW) of new Georgia Power solar facilities including a 2 MW facility currently under construction near Athens, Georgia.
"The Community Solar initiative is the latest addition to a wide variety of Georgia Power programs available that make it possible for more customers to support the growth of solar energy," said Wilson Mallard, director of renewable development at Georgia Power. "Georgia is a national solar leader because of efforts like Community Solar that benefit all customers and diversify our fuel mix, while also driving the expansion of renewable energy resources in the state."
Participation in the program will cost $24.99 per 1 kilowatt (kW) block per month in exchange for a monthly credit based on a solar facility's production. Customers are limited to their estimated monthly energy usage and a maximum of 10 1-kW blocks, with a total of 3,000 blocks available for subscription. The monthly credit may only be used to offset a portion of the customer's electric consumption from Georgia Power for that month and has no cash value. The solar production of a 1 kW subscription block will vary due to season, number of cloudy days and other factors, but is estimated to be in the range of 130 – 240 kilowatt-hours per month.
Georgia Power's robust renewable development strategy includes innovative customer programs such as Simple Solar, as well as large-scale initiatives such as the Advanced Solar Initiative (ASI) and the Renewable Energy Development Initiative (REDI). The company continues to have the largest voluntary renewable portfolio in the country and now has approximately 900 MW* of solar capacity in operation, with accelerating growth year over year since 2013. Through continued expansion of solar at Georgia military bases, implementation of the new REDI, as well as other solar projects and programs, the company expects to add up to 1,600 MW* of additional renewable capacity by 2021.
For additional information about the new Community Solar program and to pre-enroll, visit the website at www.GeorgiaPower.com/CommunitySolar. Interested and eligible Georgia Power customers who submit a pre-enrollment application will be notified in December 2017 of program acceptance based on a first-come, first served basis, prior to their first Community Solar billing.
* REC Disclaimer: Every megawatt hour of electricity produced by an eligible solar generation resource creates a Renewable Energy Credit (REC). Georgia Power purchases only the null energy output from some renewable generating facilities that have contracted to sell that energy to Georgia Power. Ownership of the associated RECs is specified in each respective power purchase agreement. The party that owns the RECs retains the right to use them.
About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's premier energy company. 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, 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), Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power).
SOURCE Georgia Power