Recently, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced that it has received permission from California regulators to offer electric customers a new program that will provide as much as 100 percent solar power for what the company describes as a “modest cost premium.”
PG&E plans to begin enrolling customers at the end of 2015 for the new community solar program, which follows a popular new model which offers residential and business customers the chance to invest in a solar farm, rather than installing solar at their home. This option allows renters, homeowners on shady lots and those who can’t afford the high upfront cost to utilize green, locally produced solar energy.
photo:PG&E
“Our green option is all about giving customers the power to choose and about bringing the benefits of solar to our communities. Our customers already enjoy some of the cleanest power in the United States, but we want to help them do even more to support clean energy and the green economy. Our green option will let them buy into a pool of clean solar energy, locally produced in our service area, to meet all of their electricity needs,” said Chris Johns, president of PG&E.
PG&E will purchase energy from nearby small and mid-sized solar farms Customers will pay the incremental cost of the new solar energy they consume, as well as related program costs. The initial estimated premium is estimated to be 2-3 cents per kWh. Customers will also have the option to contract directly with independent third-party developers for a share of the output of a local solar project.
