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).
View original content with
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/georgia-power-introduces-new-community-solar-program-300539892.html
SOURCE Georgia Power