Source: http://www.solarserver.com/
Georgia Solar Utilities Inc. (Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.) has requested permission from the Georgia Public Service Commission (GPSC) to create a solar utility, with a 90 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project as its first power generation project and the first phase of 2 GW planned for the state.
The proposal will require regulatory changes as current law prohibits competition with Southern Company (Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.) subsidiary Georgia Power. Commissioner Lauren "Bubba" McDonald and a GPSC candidate have backed the plan.
Greater benefit in a solar utility than PPAs
Georgia Solar Utilities states that while it has been in negotiations for power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Georgia Power, it recognized that creating a monopoly on utility-scale PV similar to Georgia Power's monopoly on electricity distribution would bring greater benefit to ratepayers.
The company estimates that its plan to build utility-scale solar power in Georgia would save the state's ratepayers USD 10 billion over 40 years.
Georgia Solar Utilities presented the results of its analysis to the GPSC on August 30th, 2012, and filed a plan with GPSC on September 20th, 2012.
