Stellar solar law
Norrie McKenzie is vice president of renewable development for Georgia Power.
In May, Gov. Nathan Deal signed into law Georgia House Bill 57, or the Solar Power Free-Market Financing Act of 2015. As the state’s leading utility serving more than 2.4 million customers, Georgia Power supports this law and the protection it brings for Georgia customers.
Homeowners have always been able to add solar generation using an installer of their choice and pay for the installation upfront or through a home improvement or equity loan. However, as more Georgians consider solar for their homes, we expect this new law to stimulate the residential market by further enhancing renewable options for customers.
Georgia Power supports this law because of the benefits for customers and for three primary reasons.
- The law provides clarity for solar companies seeking to enter the market, lease or finance a system to a homeowner and base the payments on the system's output. This allows the homeowner to purchase or lease a solar system without a downpayment and puts the risk of the system's performance on the financing party.
- It requires that solar installers meet all local and state laws, as well as safety, power quality and utility interconnection requirements.
- It clearly defines the difference between a solar installer or financing agent and an electric utility like Georgia Power, which has the obligation to provide reliable service 24 hours a day.
The law goes into effect July 1 of this year – a landmark date for solar in our state and an opportunity for Georgia Power to continue to meet the changing needs of our customers. Georgia Power solar energy experts will be available to walk customers through the process step by step, starting with basic questions like:
- Do you own your own home? Typically, you must own a home to make major renovations or improvements.
- Are you planning on living in your home at least five years? You will want to enjoy the benefits of a solar investment for many years.
- Is your roof structurally sound and in good condition? Once solar panels are installed, you don't want to have to remove them to repair or replace your roof.
- Is your roof mostly sunny or is it shaded? The more sunlight your panels receive, the more energy the panels will generate.
Georgia Power recommends that customers who desire solar generation at their residences use a solar installer certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). On July 1, Georgia Power will be offering solar sales and installation services, further delivering on our more than 100-year history of energy expertise in Georgia.
We remind customers to remain in contact with their utility to ensure that they receive the most value from solar. That utility will help you with interconnection processes and explain any special rates or services that may be available for customers with solar generation installed. Many utilities, including Georgia Power, also offer Green Energy programs for customers who want to support renewable energy, but don’t want to install their own solar generation system.
