TEAM-UP PV-friendly pricing projects: validation of market research and market development

More than two dozen electric utilities in the USA have initiated renewable energy programs funded in total or in part by customers willing to pay a premium to either have their utility develop and use renewable technologies or have part of their own electric service needs supplied by renewable energy sources. These programs are beginning to answer key questions regarding the numbers and characteristics of customers that are willing to pay these premiums for clean, nonpolluting energy. Also, economic viability, level of revenue support and other questions are critical to successful programs. This paper provides information on a number of utility efforts now underway which use photovoltaic (PV) power systems and are part of the government-utility industry TEAM-UP program; it will also provide some early findings and perspectives that are coming from these utility efforts around the USA