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Green Mountain Energy Offering Texas Customers New Product, Rebate Program To Help Build New Solar

September 25, 2013

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Copyright 2010-13 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Karen Abbott • kabbott@energychoicematters.com

Green Mountain Energy has launched a new program in Texas that provides customers with 100% solar power, and directs a portion of customer payments to build new solar generation not sited at the customer's premises.

Green Mountain Energy's SolarSPARC (Smart People Accelerating Renewable Change) program offers a choice of several 100% solar products (of varying term lengths) that directs a portion of customer payments to solar development, and then rebates customers as that solar capacity is brought online. Although 100% solar, the EFLs for the products state that renewable content for SolarSPARC electricity is at least 4% from renewable sources in Texas, while 100% of SolarSPARC electricity is sourced from solar facilities in the U.S.

Specifically, Green Mountain will contribute $4 per month, for each SolarSPARC customer, towards developing new solar projects in Texas.

Starting January 1, 2014, after an initial kick-start project, Green Mountain will build a new solar project every six months, with the size of each array dependent on consumer demand for the product.

Customers will receive an annual bill credit of $11 per solar project they help fund (e.g. each project developed while the customer is on SolarSPARC). The credit increases each year as new facilities are funded, up to a maximum of $121 annually for customers who participate in the program for 5 years (two projects supported each year plus the kickstart times $11).

Customers signing up immediately would receive an $11 credit in January 2014 for the kick-start, then a total credit of $33 in January 2015 for the kick-start plus the two new projects built in 2014 (one every 6 months), etc.

Customers may elect a SolarSPARC product with 6 or 12 months fixed pricing, or with variable pricing.

For the 6-month fixed SolarSPARC product, the average all-in rate (at 1,000 kWh) is 11.9¢/kWh at Oncor and 12.8¢/kWh at CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric. A monthly base charge of $5.95 applies, and a $150 early termination fee applies.

For the 12-month fixed SolarSPARC product, the average all-in rate (at 1,000 kWh) is 13.0¢/kWh at Oncor and 14.1¢/kWh at CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric. There is no monthly base charge. A $200 early termination fee applies.

For the variable SolarSPARC product, the average all-in rate (at 1,000 kWh) is 11.5¢/kWh at Oncor and 12.9¢/kWh at CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric. A monthly base charge of $5.95 applies

According to an FAQ, the $11 solar credit includes the financial benefits of the electricity generated by each facility the customer helps fund. "It’s very unlikely, but if there was ever a situation where your share of the electricity revenue generated from each of those 11 projects exceeded $11, we would increase your credit to match the full realized value of the electricity generated," the FAQ states.

Green Mountain is kick-starting the effort by building the first project in advance of customer participation. A 10-kilowatt solar array is expected to break ground at the Green Mountain Energy Wind Farm—Elbow Creek near Big Spring in West Texas later this year.

Green Mountain said that the product allows customers to take advantage of solar without the commitment of putting distributed generation on their property, or if they do not own property or if their property is a poor location for solar.

Customers have the option of gifting their annual bill credit to Green Mountain Energy Sun Club, which donates solar to non-profit organizations

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