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(as of December 2008)
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 Utility Green Power Leaders
Previous Top Ten Lists -
December 2007, 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 2008)
|
| Rank |
Utility |
Resources Used |
Sales (kWh/year) |
Sales (Avg. MW)a |
| 1 |
Austin Energy |
Wind, landfill gas |
723,824,901 |
82.6 |
| 2 |
Portland General Electricb |
Wind, biomass |
681,943,576 |
77.9 |
| 3 |
PacifiCorpcde |
Wind, biomass, landfill gas, solar |
492,892,222 |
56.3 |
| 4 |
Xcel Energyef |
Wind |
362,040,082 |
41.3 |
| 5 |
Sacramento Municipal Utility Districte |
Wind, solar, biomass, landfill gas, hydro |
325,275,628 |
37.1 |
| 6 |
Puget Sound Energye |
Wind, solar, biomass, landfill gas, hydro |
291,166,600 |
33.2 |
| 7 |
Public Service Company of New Mexico |
Wind |
176,497,697 |
20.1 |
| 8 |
We Energiese |
Wind, landfill gas, solar |
176,242,630 |
20.1 |
| 9 |
National Gridgh |
Biomass, wind, small hydro, solar |
174,612,444 |
19.9 |
| 10 |
PECOi |
Wind |
172,782,490 |
19.7 |
|
Source: NREL
Notes:
a An "average megawatt" (aMW) is a measure of continuous capacity equivalent (i.e., operating at a 100% capacity factor).
b 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 2008)
|
| Rank |
Utility |
Program(s) |
Participants |
| 1 |
Xcel Energya |
Windsourceb
Renewable Energy Trust |
71,571 |
| 2 |
Portland General Electricc |
Clean Wind
Green Source |
69,258 |
| 3 |
PacifiCorpde |
Blue Sky Blockb
Blue Sky Usageb
Blue Sky Habitat |
67,252 |
| 4 |
Sacramento Municipal Utility District |
Greenergyb |
45,992 |
| 5 |
PECOf |
PECO WIND |
36,300 |
| 6 |
National Gridgh |
GreenUp |
23,668 |
| 7 |
Energy East (NYSEG/RGE)f |
Catch the Wind |
22,210 |
| 8 |
Puget Sound Energy |
Green Power Programb |
21,509 |
| 9 |
Los Angeles Department of Water & Power |
Green Power for
a Green LA |
21,113 |
| 10 |
We Energies |
Energy for Tomorrowb |
19,615 |
|
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 Includes Niagara Mohawk, Massachusetts Electric, Narragansett Electric, and Nantucket Electric.
h 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 2008) |
| Rank |
Utility |
Customer Participation Rate |
Program(s) |
Program Start Year |
| 1 |
City of Palo Alto Utilitiesab |
21.0% |
Palo Alto Green |
2003 |
| 2 |
Lenox Municipal Utilitiesc |
10.5% |
Green City Energy |
2003 |
| 3 |
Portland General Electricd |
9.7% |
Clean Wind
Green Source
Renewable Future |
2002 |
| 4 |
Madison Gas and Electric Company |
9.6% |
Green Power Tomorrow |
1999 |
| 5 |
Silicon Valley Powerab |
8.4% |
Santa Clara Green Power |
2004 |
| 6 |
Sacramento Municipal Utility District |
7.8% |
Greenergy |
1997 |
| 6 |
City of Naperville Public Utilitiese |
7.8% |
Renewable Energy Program |
2005 |
| 8 |
Pacific Power (Oregon only)ab |
6.2% |
Blue Sky Blockb
Blue Sky Usageb
Blue Sky Habitat |
2002 |
| 9 |
River Falls Municipal Utilitiesbf |
5.3% |
Renewable Energy Program |
2001 |
| 10 |
Lake Mills Light & Waterbf |
5.0% |
Renewable Energy Program |
2001 |
|
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 WPPI Energy.
|
Green Power Sales as a Percentage of
Total Retail Electricity Sales (in kWh)
(as of December 2008)
|
| Rank |
Utility |
Program Name |
% of Load |
| 1 |
Edmond Electrica |
Pure & Simple |
6.4% |
| 2 |
Austin Energy |
GreenChoice |
6.0% |
| 3 |
River Falls Municipal Utilitiesbe |
Renewable Energy Program |
5.8% |
| 4 |
City of Palo Alto Utilitiesce |
PaloAltoGreen |
5.7% |
| 5 |
Portland General Electricd |
Clean Wind
Green Source
Renewable Future |
3.9% |
| 6 |
Madison Gas and Electric Company |
Green Power Tomorrow |
3.8% |
| 7 |
Sacramento Municipal Utility Districte |
Greenergy |
3.0% |
| 8 |
Fort Collins Utilitiesf |
Green Energy Program |
2.6% |
| 9 |
Pacific Power (Oregon only)c |
Blue Sky Blocke
Blue Sky Usagee
Blue Sky Habitat |
2.3% |
| 10 |
Emerald People's Utility District |
EPUD Renewables |
2.2% |
|
Source: NREL
Notes:
a Power supplied by Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority.
b Power supplied by WPPI Energy.
c Marketed in partnership with 3Degrees Group, Inc.
d Marketed in partnership with Green Mountain Energy Company.
e Product is Green-e certified.
f Power supplied by Platte River Power Authority.
|
Price Premium Charged for New, Customer-Driven
Renewable Powera
(as of December 2008)
|
| Rank |
Utility |
Resources Used |
Premium (¢/kWh) |
| 1 |
OG&E Electric Servicesb |
Wind |
-1.01 |
| 2 |
Edmond Electricbc |
Wind |
-0.94 |
| 3 |
Avista Utilities |
Wind, landfill gas, biomass |
0.33 |
| 4 |
Park Electric Cooperative |
Wind |
0.44 |
| 5 |
Indianapolis Power and Light |
Wind, landfill gas |
0.65 |
| 6 |
PacifiCorpdg |
Wind, biomass, landfill gas, solar |
0.78 |
| 7 |
Emerald People's Utility District |
Wind |
0.80 |
| 7 |
Basin Electric Power Cooperativeh |
Wind |
0.80 |
| 7 |
Clallam County Public Utility Districtb |
Landfill gas |
0.80 |
| 10 |
Xcel Energy (Minnesota)bdf |
Wind |
0.91 |
|
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 (fifth batch of renewable energy capacity).
f Net premium of the Minnesota Windsource program.
g Pacific Power Blue Sky Usage and Blue Sky Habitat products; only available in Oregon. Product marketed in partnership with 3Degrees Group, Inc.
h A number of Basin Electric Power Cooperatives offer green power at a premium of 0.8¢/kWh
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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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