Top 10 Utilities for Solar Energy in the US by avra

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We all complain about our utility companies when the power goes out, when they’re doing construction on our streets, or when they just aren’t answering our calls. But how much do we really know about them?  Many utility companies are beginning to shed their traditional roles and increase solar electricity options. Julie Hamm, executive director of the Solar Electric Power Association says “solar electricity is finally on the radar screen of utilities across the country,  solar plants large and small are ready for significant build-out, and the utility industry is moving quickly toward mass adoption to meet a variety of business needs.”

So how do you know if your utility is on the cutting edge of renewable energy?

The Solar Electricity Power Association just released the 2008 Top Ten Utility Solar Integration Rankings.  The report evaluates utilities based on annual and cumulative installations. It shows that overall, installed solar capacity of the Top 10 ranked utilities rose 25% from 711 MW to 882 MW.

While there are many California utility companies in the Top 10, other states including Colorado, New Jersey, Hawaii, and Arizona made the cut as well. Pacific Gas and Electric Company and San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), both based in San Francisco, were number one and two for 2008 total installation and watts per customer, respectively.  Here are highlights from The Top 5 Utilities for Solar Installation in 2008, and their plans for the future.

	#1 Pacific Gas & Electric Co. – CA (84.9 Megawatts) For the annual rankings, Pacific Gas and Electric Company was the most solar-integrated utility in 2008, installing or interconnecting approximately 85 MW of new capacity, equaling 44% of total installed solar.
	#2 Southern California Edison – CA (32.4 Megawatts) Although #2 for 2008, SCE has the most cumulative total solar at  441.4 megawatts.  That’s enough to power over 350,000 homes
	#3 San Diego Gas & Electric Co. – CA (16.0 Megawatts) SDG&E is proposing to invest up to $250 million over the next five years in utility-owned solar photovoltaic generation.  This proposed project could develop up to 80 megawatts of direct-current solar electricity.
	#4 Public Serv. Co. of CO (Xcel Energy) – CO (14.2 Megawatts) By the end this year, Xcel will be purchasing electricity from the new 8.2-megawatt Alamosa Central Solar Plant that it already under construction.  The plant will generate enough electricity to power 1500 homes.
	#5 Public Service Electric & Gas Co. – NJ (5.5 Megawatts) PSE&G proposed a unique and comprehensive Solar 4 All Program with one segment that includes the largest pole-attached solar installation in the country.

Check out the Cumulative TOP TEN UTILITY COMPANIES FOR SOLAR

Images and information from Solar Electric Power Association