DOE Ranks PGE No. 1 in U.S. for Number of Renewable Power Customers

Portland General Electric has more renewable power customers than any other utility in the United States. That’s according to the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which last month released its annual rankings of the nation’s top utility green pricing programs. 

At the end of 2009, PGE had nearly 73,000 business and residential renewable customers, or 10.2 percent of its eligible customers, enrolled in a PGE renewable power program, which is well over the national average of 2 percent participation rate for other utilities.

This marks the first time PGE has received NREL’s No. 1 ranking for number of business and residential renewable power customers. PGE also continues to hold NREL’s top spot for selling more renewable power to residential customers than any other utility in the United States.

“Oregon is gaining a reputation as a leader in renewable energy resources, and PGE customers are pointing the way,” said Carol Dillin, vice president, customers and economic development, PGE.

“They’re making a conscious effort to reduce their environmental impact in their homes and businesses, and PGE is working to make it easier for them by providing a variety of renewable power options,” Dillin added.

“This elevates Oregon’s status as a leader in sustainability,” said Mark Long, director of the Oregon Department of Energy.  “We want to thank everyone who has invested not only in renewable energy, but in Oregon’s future.”

Separately, NREL released lists of the top 10 national Utility Green Power Programs in five categories based on 2009 data. PGE’s highlights include:

Renewable Energy Sales:  For the fifth consecutive year, PGE maintained its No 1 ranking of renewable energy sales to residential customers, and also holds the No. 2 ranking of total renewable energy sales to residential and commercial customers combined.  PGE customers purchased nearly 741 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of renewable energy in 2009, which is 9 percent more than in 2008, and equivalent to the entire output of a 200-megawatt wind farm.

Customer Participation Rate: PGE moved up from the No. 3 to the No. 2 position in the nation for the percentage of customers who purchase a renewable power option. At the end of 2009, PGE had 10.2 percent of eligible customers purchasing a renewable power option.

NREL rankings are based on raw numbers for calendar year 2009 and are not adjusted for the size of the utility. The full report can be accessed at www.greenpower.energy.gov.

Return to June 2010 Western Energy News

To sponsor Western Energy News, please contact WEI at 503 231-1994.