Georgia Power may buy more solar power

By Michael E. Kanell

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Public Service Commission unanimously voted Tuesday to allow Georgia Power to buy more solar energy, a move that encourages both consumers and companies to invest in solar panels and other equipment.

The company, which had been permitted to buy 500 kilowatts in solar energy at a time, can now purchase up to 1.5 megawatts. Tuesday’s decision has no impact on the rates paid by the state’s roughly 2.3 million Georgia Power customers.

“I do believe that it was a watershed moment in Georgia for the solar industry,” said Michelle Conlon of Athens-based One World Sustainable, which designs, builds, installs and maintains solar systems. “We are trying to create a market for solar power in the state. The 5-0 vote is a demonstration that Georgia is making a commitment to solar.”

While solar has a vast, untapped potential, the nascent industry is growing, she said. “Last year, Georgia had eight companies doing solar installations. We have about 20 now. It is still not a lot.”

The PSC upped the ante after the commission staff recommended that the cap be raised from 500 to 700 kilowatts.

“The commission and Georgia Power were both looking to raise the cap, and the commission just raised it more than we expected,” said Georgia Power spokeswoman Carol Boatright. “We are certainly fine with that.”

The typical Georgia ratepayer averages 1,000 kilowatts per month of energy use. If customers add solar or other alternative energy devices and can produce more energy than they use, they can sell the excess energy to the company.

A tiny group of ratepayers opts into Georgia Power’s “green energy” program, and if that group grows, their contributions can fund more alternative energy. About 4,000 customers pay extra each month to be part of the program. Those who want solar power pay $4.50 per month.

To keep Georgia Power from relying only on a handful of larger operations, the commission has required that the company buys at least 35 percent of the energy from smaller systems — 25 kilowatts or less.