12.15.2015 Community Solar Slides Final
Community Solar Program Performance Trends December 15, 2015
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Webinar FAQs • Recording & slides will be sent to all registered attendees within two business days. • Submit questions in the questions or chat window at any time. • Questions will be answered following the presentation.
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Upcoming Events New Webinar:
The Future of Distribution Planning – Incorporating DER for Active Grid Management Wednesday, January 27, 2016 ─ 2 pm - 3 pm ET
Join SEPA in Denver at USC 2016! April 11 – 14, 2016 Registration is now open! www.sepausc.org
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Speaker
Dan Chwastyk Utility Strategy Manager Solar Electric Power Association
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Customer Benefits
• Leverages economies of scale • Ability to hedge energy costs • Increase customer access to and participation in solar • Available to all customers, no matter their roof conditions or credit rating.
Utility Benefits
Community solar is a voluntary, solar ownership alternative for groups of participants accessible to all.
• Support the local PV industry • Can be strategically sited • Proactive customer engagement • Opportunity to gain understanding of solar resource
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Community Solar Program Design Models Report Aims to expand public understanding of the different community solar program design models that exist through identifying the program decision points, providing case studies, and examining what existing programs have done.
Sections:
1. Community Solar Market 2. Program Design Decisions 3. Survey of Existing Programs
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Survey of Existing Programs • 25 total programs responded to the survey (37% of total) • Program responsible for 79 MW of capacity (87% of total)
Public Power 7
IOU 2
Co-op 16
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
MARKE TING
COSTS
DEVELOPME NT TIMELINE
SUBSCRIPTION
Survey Instrument 1) What is your community solar program’s current percent subscription rate (capacity subscribed Watts / total capacity Watts)? If your program has multiple phases, please provide the rate for the latest phase open for subscription and list each phase's subscription in the comments section.* 2) What is your community solar programs total percent subscription rate, including all phases of the community solar program? If your community solar program only has 1 phase then this answer is the same as the answer to question #1. 3) To the best of your knowledge, what is the average subscription size in kiloWatts for subscribers? 4) How does a subscriber benefit from your community solar program? 5) To the best of your knowledge how many months from the energize date did the first phase take to reach the following subscription rates, if applicable? 6) If your program has multiple phases, to the best of your knowledge how many months from the energize date did the most current phase take to reach the following subscription rates? 7) Of the subscribed capacity, what percent is subscribed by residential customers?* 8) To the best of your knowledge, how many months lapsed between the decision of your organization to proceed with a community solar program and when the solar array was energized?* 9) At the onset of your community solar program, how much did you spend on the following development costs? If you did not construct your community solar array, please just note this in the comment. 10) How much do you spend annually on or have budget for the following administrative costs? If a 3rd party administers your program please note this in the comment. 11) What media tactics have you used to market your program to potential subscribers (check all that apply)? 12) What are the key messages you have conveyed to potential subscribers when marketing your program (select only the top 3)? 13) Do you have plans to expand the community solar program? Please provide additional details below including your expected time frame and capacity for any expansions.
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Survey Results - Subscription • 8 programs with 100% subscription • No connection between subscription rates and the program design, customer cost, marketing tactics, or length that the program has existed • “Pre-selling”, and “Interest Lists” mentioned as tactics for helping subscription rates. Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Survey Results - Subscription Average Subscription Size
40
Subscription Share 12%
Residential C&I
88%
1.8
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Survey Results – Development Timeline
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Survey Results – Program Costs
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Survey Results – Billing Costs • Costs ranged from $0.01 to $0.05 per installed Watt for utilities that in-housed this effort • Two utilities reported spending $40k + • Affected by: • existing CIS, • customer credit tactic, • billing tactics (i.e. hand bill vs auto bill)
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Survey Results – Marketing Mailer Web Low to NoCost
On-bill Message Social Media Newspaper Email
Only 1 program conducted TV ads
Radio Spot TV Spot 0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Survey Results – Marketing Promotes renewable energy Works for all homeowners and renters Energy generation is local No maintenance involved It can save you money Panels are not on your roof Easy and Affordable on bill financing Promotes jobs and local economy
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
• Report on Consumer Market Research (Spring of 2016) • Community Solar Workshop (USC 2016) • Solicitation for Entities pursuing community solar program (Early 2016)
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Q&A Q&A: Please enter questions in the question or chat box
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Thank You
Thank you for your time today!
www.solarelectricpower.org
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Webinar FAQs • Recording & slides will be sent to all registered attendees within two business days. • Submit questions in the questions or chat window at any time. • Questions will be answered following the presentation.
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Upcoming Events New Webinar:
The Future of Distribution Planning – Incorporating DER for Active Grid Management Wednesday, January 27, 2016 ─ 2 pm - 3 pm ET
Join SEPA in Denver at USC 2016! April 11 – 14, 2016 Registration is now open! www.sepausc.org
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Speaker
Dan Chwastyk Utility Strategy Manager Solar Electric Power Association
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Customer Benefits
• Leverages economies of scale • Ability to hedge energy costs • Increase customer access to and participation in solar • Available to all customers, no matter their roof conditions or credit rating.
Utility Benefits
Community solar is a voluntary, solar ownership alternative for groups of participants accessible to all.
• Support the local PV industry • Can be strategically sited • Proactive customer engagement • Opportunity to gain understanding of solar resource
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Community Solar Program Design Models Report Aims to expand public understanding of the different community solar program design models that exist through identifying the program decision points, providing case studies, and examining what existing programs have done.
Sections:
1. Community Solar Market 2. Program Design Decisions 3. Survey of Existing Programs
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Survey of Existing Programs • 25 total programs responded to the survey (37% of total) • Program responsible for 79 MW of capacity (87% of total)
Public Power 7
IOU 2
Co-op 16
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
MARKE TING
COSTS
DEVELOPME NT TIMELINE
SUBSCRIPTION
Survey Instrument 1) What is your community solar program’s current percent subscription rate (capacity subscribed Watts / total capacity Watts)? If your program has multiple phases, please provide the rate for the latest phase open for subscription and list each phase's subscription in the comments section.* 2) What is your community solar programs total percent subscription rate, including all phases of the community solar program? If your community solar program only has 1 phase then this answer is the same as the answer to question #1. 3) To the best of your knowledge, what is the average subscription size in kiloWatts for subscribers? 4) How does a subscriber benefit from your community solar program? 5) To the best of your knowledge how many months from the energize date did the first phase take to reach the following subscription rates, if applicable? 6) If your program has multiple phases, to the best of your knowledge how many months from the energize date did the most current phase take to reach the following subscription rates? 7) Of the subscribed capacity, what percent is subscribed by residential customers?* 8) To the best of your knowledge, how many months lapsed between the decision of your organization to proceed with a community solar program and when the solar array was energized?* 9) At the onset of your community solar program, how much did you spend on the following development costs? If you did not construct your community solar array, please just note this in the comment. 10) How much do you spend annually on or have budget for the following administrative costs? If a 3rd party administers your program please note this in the comment. 11) What media tactics have you used to market your program to potential subscribers (check all that apply)? 12) What are the key messages you have conveyed to potential subscribers when marketing your program (select only the top 3)? 13) Do you have plans to expand the community solar program? Please provide additional details below including your expected time frame and capacity for any expansions.
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Survey Results - Subscription • 8 programs with 100% subscription • No connection between subscription rates and the program design, customer cost, marketing tactics, or length that the program has existed • “Pre-selling”, and “Interest Lists” mentioned as tactics for helping subscription rates. Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Survey Results - Subscription Average Subscription Size
40
Subscription Share 12%
Residential C&I
88%
1.8
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Survey Results – Development Timeline
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Survey Results – Program Costs
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Survey Results – Billing Costs • Costs ranged from $0.01 to $0.05 per installed Watt for utilities that in-housed this effort • Two utilities reported spending $40k + • Affected by: • existing CIS, • customer credit tactic, • billing tactics (i.e. hand bill vs auto bill)
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Survey Results – Marketing Mailer Web Low to NoCost
On-bill Message Social Media Newspaper Email
Only 1 program conducted TV ads
Radio Spot TV Spot 0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Survey Results – Marketing Promotes renewable energy Works for all homeowners and renters Energy generation is local No maintenance involved It can save you money Panels are not on your roof Easy and Affordable on bill financing Promotes jobs and local economy
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
• Report on Consumer Market Research (Spring of 2016) • Community Solar Workshop (USC 2016) • Solicitation for Entities pursuing community solar program (Early 2016)
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Q&A Q&A: Please enter questions in the question or chat box
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
Thank You
Thank you for your time today!
www.solarelectricpower.org
Helping Utilities Make Smart Solar Decisions
