Georgia Power launches new Customer-Connected Solar Program

Georgia Power continues to grow renewable energy through its new Customer-Connected Solar Program (CCSP), a 25-MW Distributed Generation customer-sited program. Working with the Georgia Public Service Commission on the program design, the Commissioners gave their approval in May 2020.

Georgia Power will purchase 100% of the solar energy generated, directly paying the customers. Renewable Energy Credits will be retired by Georgia Power on behalf of participating customers, allowing the customer to claim the renewable benefits of the locally produced solar energy.

The Customer-Connected Solar Program will accept applications on a first-come, first-served basis until January 2020 unless the 25 MWac portfolio is filled beforhand. Customers can choose agreement terms between 10 and 30 years and projects can be sized from 1 kilowatt up to 3 megawatt AC. The average price ranges from 4.3-6.7 cents per kilowatt hour.

The company also encourages customers who are not eligible to participate in CCSP to consider additional renewable programs such as Georgia Power’s Community Solar and Simple Solar programs. Community Solar gives residential customers who subscribe the opportunity to earn an energy credit on their bill based on actual solar energy production at Georgia Power’s Community Solar facilities. The Simple Solar program is a solar REC purchase program available to all customers that allow participants to claim solar benefits for either 50 percent or 100 percent of their energy usage.

In coordination with the Public Service Commission, Georgia Power is committed to maintaining a diverse generation portfolio while providing all customers with renewable energy options. With more than 1,625 megawatts* of solar capacity currently online, the company continues to have the most extensive voluntary renewable portfolio in the nation. Through continued development of CCSP, as well as other solar projects and programs, Georgia Power expects to add up to 1,400 megawatts* of additional renewable capacity by the end of 2021.

— Solar Builder magazine

[source: https://solarbuildermag.com/news/georgia-power-launches-new-customer-connected-solar-program/]