Reading Municipal Light Department (RMLD) is now accepting sign-ups for its second Solar Choice Project, which is currently under construction on an industrial building rooftop on Fordham Road in Wilmington. The project is expected to power on by February 1, 2018. Solar Choice, RMLD’s Community Shared Solar (CSS) program, allows customers who want to support locally produced clean energy but aren’t able or don’t wish to install solar panels on their own home the opportunity to share in the benefits of a large solar system installed within RMLD’s service territory.
RMLD customers who sign up for Solar Choice pay a monthly fee (about $5.00) to cover the difference between the cost of the energy produced by the Solar Choice project and RMLD’s projected average fuel cost. Starting by the second year, participating customers are anticipated to receive credits on their bill of approximately $2 to $4 per month. The credits that participating customers are anticipated to receive will be funded by the money RMLD expects to save from reducing transmission and capacity costs associated with the purchase of electricity from the wholesale market. Transmission and capacity costs are determined by RMLD’s total system load during critical peak times when the electrical grid is most stressed. Solar Choice generates electricity within RMLD’s service area, thereby reducing these costs. These anticipated savings will be divided among participating customers, with net credits estimated to be as much as $300 over a ten-year period. Both residential and commercial customers are welcome to sign-up.
RMLD launched its Solar Choice Program earlier this year, and the first Solar Choice project was completed and activated this past spring. The first project was very successful, resulting in customers being placed on a waiting list for future Solar Choice projects such as this one.
Participation in Solar Choice is a great way for RMLD customers to support clean, renewable energy that’s generated within the local community while potentially saving money on their electric bill. Enrollment in each Solar Choice project is limited; interested customers are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible.
For more information and to sign-up, visit http://www.rmld.com/customer-service/pages/solar-choice-program
