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(as of December 2007)
Which utilities are having the greatest success with their green power programs? NREL has compiled extensive data on utility green power programs and produced the following "Top Ten" lists of program characteristics and results: total sales of renewable energy to program participants; total number of customer participants; customer participation rates; and the lowest premium charged to support new renewables development.
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NREL Highlights Leading Utility Green Power Programs
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Previous Top Ten Lists -
December 2006, December 2005, December 2004, December 2003, December 2002, December 2001, June 2001, November 2000, April 2000
Green Pricing Program Renewable Energy Sales
(as of December 2007)
|
| Rank |
Utility |
Resources Used |
Sales (kWh/year) |
Sales (Avg. MW)a |
| 1 |
Austin Energy |
Wind, landfill gas |
577,636,840 |
65.9 |
| 2 |
Portland General Electricb |
Geothermal, biomass, wind |
553,677,903 |
63.2 |
| 3 |
PacifiCorpcde |
Wind, biomass, landfill gas, solar |
383,618,885 |
43.8 |
| 4 |
Florida Power & Lightb |
Biomass, wind, landfill gas, solar |
373,596,000 |
42.6 |
| 5 |
Xcel Energyef |
Wind |
326,553,866 |
37.3 |
| 6 |
Sacramento Municipal Utility Districte |
Wind, landfill gas, small hydro, solar |
275,481,584 |
31.4 |
| 7 |
Puget Sound Energye |
Wind, solar, biomass, landfill gas |
246,406,200 |
28.1 |
| 8 |
Basin Electric Power Cooperative |
Wind |
226,474,000 |
25.9 |
| 9 |
National Gridgh |
Biomass, wind, small hydro, solar |
180,209,571 |
20.6 |
| 10 |
PECOi |
Wind |
160,000,000 |
18.3 |
|
Source: NREL
Notes:
a An "average megawatt" (aMW) is a measure of continuous capacity equivalent (i.e., operating at a 100% capacity factor).
b Marketed in partnership with Green Mountain Energy Company. For Portland General Electric, some products marketed in partnership with Green Mountain Energy Company.
c Includes Pacific Power and Rocky Mountain Power.
d Some Oregon products marketed in partnership with 3Degrees Group, Inc.
e Product is Green-e certified. For Xcel Energy, the Colorado and Minnesota Windsource products are Green-e certified.
f Includes Northern States Power, Public Service Company of Colorado, and Southwestern Public Service.
g Includes Niagara Mohawk, Massachusetts Electric, Narragansett Electric, and Nantucket Electric.
h Marketed in partnership with Community Energy, Inc., EnviroGen, Green Mountain Energy Company, Mass Energy, People's Power & Light, and Sterling Planet.
i Marketed in partnership with Community Energy, Inc.
|
Total Number of Customer Participants
(as of December 2007)
|
| Rank |
Utility |
Program(s) |
Participants |
| 1 |
Xcel Energya |
Windsourceb
Renewable Energy Trust |
75,534 |
| 2 |
Portland General Electriccg |
Clean Wind
Green Source |
61,543 |
| 3 |
PacifiCorpde |
Blue Sky Blockb
Blue Sky Usageb
Blue Sky Habitat |
60,539 |
| 4 |
Sacramento Municipal Utility District |
Greenergyb |
43,543 |
| 5 |
PECOf |
PECO WIND |
38,548 |
| 6 |
Florida Power & Lightg |
Sunshine Energy |
37,184 |
| 7 |
National Gridhi |
GreenUp |
24,429 |
| 8 |
Los Angeles Department
of Water & Power |
Green Power for
a Green LA |
22,788 |
| 9 |
Puget Sound Energy |
Green Power Programb |
20,457 |
| 10 |
Energy East (NYSEG/RGE)f |
Catch the Wind |
19,520 |
|
Source: NREL
Notes:
a Includes Northern States Power, Public Service Company of Colorado, and Southwestern Public Service.
b Product is Green-e certified. For Xcel Energy, the Colorado and Minnesota Windsource products are Green-e certified.
c Some products marketed in partnership with Green Mountain Energy Company.
d Includes Pacific Power and Rocky Mountain Power.
e Some Oregon products marketed in partnership with 3Degrees Group, Inc.
f Marketed in partnership with Community Energy, Inc.
g Marketed in partnership with Green Mountain Energy Company.
h Includes Niagara Mohawk, Massachusetts Electric, Narragansett Electric, and Nantucket Electric.
i Marketed in partnership with Community Energy, EnviroGen, Green Mountain Energy Company, Mass Energy, People's Power & Light, and Sterling Planet.
|
Customer Participation Rate
(as of December 2007)
|
| Rank |
Utility |
Customer Participation Rate |
Program(s) |
Program Start Year |
| 1 |
City of Palo Alto Utilitiesab |
20.4% |
Palo Alto Green |
2003 |
| 2 |
Lenox Municipal Utilitiesc |
14.3% |
Green City Energy |
2003 |
| 3 |
Silicon Valley Powerab |
8.7% |
Santa Clara Green Power |
2004 |
| 4 |
Portland General Electricd |
8.5% |
Clean Wind
Green Source
Renewable Future |
2002 |
| 5 |
Sacramento Municipal Utility Districtb |
7.4% |
Greenergy |
1997 |
| 6 |
City of Naperville Public Utilitiese |
6.7% |
Renewable Energy Program |
2005 |
| 7 |
Montezuma Municipal Light & Powerc |
6.2% |
Green City Energy |
2003 |
| 8 |
Pacific Power (Oregon only)ab |
5.7% |
Blue Sky Usage, Habitat, Block |
2002 |
| 9 |
River Falls Municipal Utilitiesf |
5.3% |
Renewable Energy Program |
2001 |
| 10 |
Holy Cross Energy |
5.2% |
Wind Power Pioneers
Local Renewable Energy Pool |
1998
2002 |
|
Source: NREL
Notes:
a Marketed in partnership with 3Degrees Group, Inc.
b Product is Green-e certified.
c Program offered in association with the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities.
d Some products marketed in partnership with Green Mountain Energy Company.
e Marketed in partnership with Community Energy, Inc.
f Power supplied by Wisconsin Public Power Inc.
|
Green Power Sales as a Percentage of
Total Retail Electricity Sales (in kWh)
(as of December 2007)
|
| Rank |
Utility |
Program Name |
% of Load |
| 1 |
Edmond Electrica |
Pure & Simple |
5.7% |
| 2 |
Austin Energy |
GreenChoice |
5.0% |
| 3 |
City of Palo Alto Utilitiesbd |
PaloAltoGreen |
4.6% |
| 4 |
Portland General Electricc |
Clean Wind, Green Source, Renewable Future |
2.9% |
| 5 |
Silicon Valley Powerbd |
Santa Clara Green Power |
2.8% |
| 6 |
Sacramento Municipal Utility Districtd |
Greenergy |
2.6% |
| 7 |
Basin Electric Power Cooperative |
PrairieWinds |
1.9% |
| 7 |
Pacific Power
(Oregon only)bde |
Blue Sky Usage, Habitat, Block |
1.9% |
| 9 |
Emerald People's Utility District |
EPUD Renewables |
1.8% |
| 10 |
Public Service Company of New Mexico |
PNM Sky Blue |
1.5% |
| 10 |
Roseville Electricbd |
Green Roseville |
1.5% |
|
Source: NREL
Notes:
a Power supplied by Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority.
b Marketed in partnership with 3Degrees Group, Inc.
c Marketed in partnership with Green Mountain Energy Company.
d Product is Green-e certified
e Renewable portfolio options offered to Oregon customers.
|
Price Premium Charged for New, Customer-Driven
Renewable Powera
(as of December 2007)
|
| Rank |
Utility |
Resources Used |
Premium (¢/kWh) |
| 1 |
Edmond Electricbc |
Wind |
0.09 |
| 2 |
OG&E Electric Servicesb |
Wind |
0.10 |
| 3 |
Austin Energybe |
Wind, landfill gas |
0.16 |
| 4 |
Indianapolis Power and Light |
Wind, landfill gas |
0.20 |
| 5 |
Park Electric Cooperative |
Wind |
0.22 |
| 6 |
Avista Utilities |
Wind, landfill gas, biomass |
0.33 |
| 7 |
Xcel Energy
(Minnesota)bdf |
Wind |
0.58 |
| 8 |
Clallam County Public Utility Districtb |
Landfill gas |
0.70 |
| 9 |
PacifiCorpdg |
Wind, biomass, landfill gas, solar |
0.78 |
| 10 |
Portland General Electrich |
Biomass, Geothermal, Wind |
0.80 |
| 10 |
Emerald People's Utility District |
Wind |
0.80 |
|
Source: NREL
Notes:
a Includes only programs that have installed or announced firm plans to install or purchase power from 100% new renewable resources.
b Premium is variable; customers in these programs are exempt or otherwise protected from changes in utility fuel charges.
c Power supplied by Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority.
d Product is Green-e certified.
e The price for new customers enrolling in the program (fourth batch of renewable energy capacity).
f Net premium of the Minnesota Windsource program.
g Pacific Power Blue Sky Usage product; only available in Oregon. Product marketed in partnership with 3Degrees Group, Inc.
h Portland General Electric Green Source Product. Product marketed in partnership with Green Mountain Energy Company.
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For More Information -
Online Report: Utility Green Pricing Programs: What Defines Success?. NREL/TP-620-29831, August 2001. (PDF 1.1 MB) Download Adobe Reader
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