EWEB - PV Eugene

Summary

The Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) began a pilot program called PV Eugene in 2000. The five-year work plan for PV Eugene was developed with a goal to acquire 150 kW of PV resources. Under this program, customers who install photovoltaic systems have all electricity generated by the system go directly into the grid. The customer's individual needs are not offset by the electricity generated. PV Eugene is intended to test the current market to see if retail customers can get access to financing, designers, equipment and installers to install modern, large (>10kW) photovoltaic generation systems with no financial assistance from the local utility beyond a power purchase agreement for the output of the system as it occurs for a ten year period. Under the purchase power agreement, EWEB retains all rights to the power and any "green tags" for a 10-year term. In exchange, EWEB pays a premium for the power generated of $ 0.25 per kWh generated. The estimated expected production is described in the purchase power agreement, however, EWEB pays for the actual measured output over the ten year contract period. There is no monthly minimum or maximum payment. EWEB meters the output and the meter is read monthly by EWEB and the generation recorded. The generator/customer receives payment from EWEB once a year. PV Eugene is currently fully subscribed. There is one, active 25 kW system on a local historic building. A 46 kW system and two 25 KW sytems are being installed on an institutional building and commercial buildings respectively for the tax year 2003. One 25 kW system is planned for the future.