California utility Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has launched a community solar program to help more of its customers generate half or all of their electricity from the sun.
“A recent survey found that more than 50% of PG&E customers say they want to go solar,” Greentech reports. “The community solar program allows customers to buy solar power from entirely new, locally sourced projects.”
“PG&E’s Solar Choice program is all about giving customers more choice and control over their energy, and bringing the benefits of solar to our communities,” said Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer Laurie Giammona. “Our customers already enjoy some of the cleanest power in the country. Now, they can directly contribute to bringing more renewable energy onto the electric grid.”
The program carries a price premium of 2.85 to 3.58¢/kWh. “This makes sure that other ratepayers or other customers who choose not to be part of the program aren’t paying for the program,” PG&E’s Ari Vanrenen told Pyper. For a typical homeowner, the surcharge would average US$18 per month for 100% solar electricity.
About half of U.S. households and businesses can’t install rooftop solar because of ownership, space, or shading issues, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
