Investor-Owned Utility Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Programs
Background
The Commission authorized Southern California Edison (SCE), Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), and San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) to own and operate solar PV facilities (UOG) as well as to execute solar PV power purchase agreements with independent power producers (IPP) through a competitive solicitation process. In total, these programs will yield up to 1,100 megawatts (MW) of new solar PV capacity in California over the next five years. All energy produced under the Solar PV Programs is RPS-eligible procurement on the utility-side of the meter that contributes to the state’s RPS goals.
Overview
Each IOU has similar, but slightly different program rules. The table below shows the differences between each program as well as provides the current status of each program.
|
Program |
Eligible Project Size |
Program Size |
Participating Buyers and Sellers |
Eligible Technologies |
CPUC Status |
Market Opportunity |
|
1 – 2 MW |
500 |
250 MW UOG 250 MW IPP |
Solar PV primarily rooftop |
Fully implemented per D.09-06-049 and Resolution E-4299 |
At least 1 auction per year, first auction occurred in April 2010, second auction will occur in 2011 |
|
|
1 – 20 MW |
500 |
250 MW UOG 250 MW IPP |
Solar PV primarily ground-mount |
Fully implemented per D.10-04-052, ResolutionE-4368 and Advice Letters 3691-E and 3691-EA |
At least 1 auction per year, first auction will occur in Q1 2011 |
|
|
1 – 5 MW |
100 |
26 MW UOG 74 MW IPP |
Solar PV primarily ground-mount |
D.10-09-016 approved program, Advice Letters 2210-E and 2211-E are pending CPUC review and approval |
At least 1 auction per year, following CPUC approval of AL 2211-E |
SCE’s Solar PV Program
On June 18, 2009, Decision (D.) 09-06-049 authorized a five-year solar PV program to develop up to 500 MW of solar PV facilities in the range of 1 to 2 MW in SCE’s service area. Under the program, SCE is authorized to build and own 250 megawatts of utility-owned solar photovoltaic capacity and to execute contracts up to 250 MW for generation from similar facilities owned and maintained by IPPs through a competitive solicitation process. On January 21, the Commission adopted Resolution E-4299, which implements the IPP portion of the program.
- SCE filed its annual report on July 1, 2010. SCE filed an amended report on September 23, 2010 to include information about its first solicitation.
- SCE filed for approval of 29 PPAs resulting from its first solicitation. Advice Letter 2513-E, containing 28 PPAs, was approved by the Commission. Advice Letter 2514-E, requesting approval of one PPA ,requires a Commission resolution.
SCE held its first Program Forum on December 2, 2010. SCE will submit an advice letter with the CPUC in 2011 requesting program modifications based on stakeholder feedback. SCE's second auction will take place in 2011.
More information on SCE’s Solar PV Program can be found on SCE’s website.
PG&E Solar PV Program
On April 22, 2010, D.10-04-052 authorized a five-year solar PV program to develop up to 500 MW of solar PV facilities in the range of 1 to 20 MW in PG&E’s service area. Under the program, PG&E is authorized to install 250 megawatts of utility-owned solar photovoltaic capacity at a rate of 50 MW per year and to execute contracts up to 250 MW for generation from similar facilities owned and maintained by IPPs through a competitive solicitation process.
Advice letter 3691-E (supplemented by 3691-EA) requesting approval of implementation and administration details for PG&E's utility-owned generation portion of its Solar Photovoltaic Program was approved by disposition letter.
On December 16, 2010, the Commission adopted Resolution E-4368 which implements the IPP portion of the program.
More information on PG&E’s Solar PV Program can be found on PG&E’s Website:
SDG&E Solar Energy Project
On September 2, 2010, D.10-09-016 authorized a five-year solar PV program to develop up to 100 MW of 1-5 MW solar PV projects in SDG&E’s service area. Twenty-six MW will be developed by third-parties and owned by SDG&E, and SDG&E will execute power purchase agreements for the remaining 74 MW with independent power producers. On December 1, 2010, SDG&E filed Advice Letters 2210-E and 2211-E to establish the implementation and administration details of the competitive solicitation for IPPs and the utility-owned portion of the program.