Residential, business and industrial customers of Kentucky Utilities Company and Louisville Gas and Electric will soon be able to share in local solar energy and receive credits on their monthly bill for doing so.
The Kentucky Public Service Commission has approved the utilities' Solar Share program, which will allow interested customers to enroll to support solar energy even if they cannot, or opt not to, install it on their own property. Such customers could include renters or those inhibited by shade.
“We’re excited to offer this new service to our customers interested in supporting more local solar in Kentucky,” said John P. Malloy, vice president of Customer Services, in a release announcing approval of the new program. “We’re continually measuring and evaluating the programs and services we offer our customers to ensure we’re delivering best-in-class service, and this is another area where we’re growing to meet our customers’ interests.”
The utilities will build, own and operate the regional Solar Share Facility on a 35-acre site located in Shelby County along Interstate 64, in the KU service territory and near LG&E. Customers participating in the Solar Share program will receive a credit on their monthly bills for the amount of solar energy produced based on their subscription.
The site is large enough to accommodate a four-megawatt solar field, but the program calls for Solar Share to be built in 500-kilowatt sections, based on customer interest. Construction will begin after a 500-kilowatt section is 100 percent subscribed.
Subscriptions will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for one or more shares of solar in 250 watt, also known as quarter-kilowatt, increments. Each subscription will include an initial, non-refundable subscription fee of $40 and a monthly fee of $6.29 per share of solar. Each share is currently estimated to produce between 18 and 38 kilowatt hours of energy per month, dependent on factors such as weather conditions.
Customers interested in the Solar Share program can complete an online interest form at https://lge-ku.com/environment/solar/solar-share/interest-form.