The Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has updated its top-ten lists of utility programs that sell green power — electricity from renewable energy sources. NREL ranks the most effective of these programs based on customer participation, new renewable energy capacity, and cost premiums.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power ranked first for total number of customers. Its program has 87,000 participants, although about half are low-income customers signed up at no cost. Regarding percentages, Moorhead Public Service of Minnesota comes in first with 7% of its customers signed up. For new renewable power capacity, Austin Energy of Texas is first with 76.9 MW of wind and solar power installed. And there’s a three-way tie for lowest premium, with two California utilities — Roseville Electric and Sacramento Municipal Utility District — and the Texas-New Mexico Power Co. each charging customers just a penny more per kilowatt-hour for green power.

Publication date: 03/25/2002