Walking the path to utility marketing of solar energy: a California regulator sees dangers as well as advantages

Journal Article · Tue Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1980 · Electr. Light Power (Boston); (United States)

OSTI ID:6972743

At a recent meeting of utility regulators, California Public Utility Commissioner Leonard M. Grimes, Jr. outlined some of the advantages as well as the dangers of electric-company involvement in the marketing of solar-energy systems. A major barrier to the new and developing solar market is customer concern about the reliability of solar systems. The electric utilities' long history of reliable service could reduce some of this concern. However, the utilities have been protected from competition over the years in return for providing reliable service. Another example of this advantage-disadvantage problem concerns access to customers. The utilities' access to potential solar energy customers (via monthly billings, advertising, etc.) would not be available readily to competitors. However, keeping utilities out of the solar market to allow for small cottage industry marketing may not benefit either the solar market or the customer. While Grimes doubts a cottage industry could meet the ambitious goals for solar utilization, other large corporations like Sears, Montgomery Ward, Exxon, or Arco could enter the market without regulation by state commissions. (SAC)

• OSTI ID: 6972743
• Journal Information: Electr. Light Power (Boston); (United States), Journal Name: Electr. Light Power (Boston); (United States) Vol. 58:7; ISSN ELLPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
296002 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Electric Power Transmission & Distribution-- (-1989)
299001* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Solar-- (1989-)
COMPETITION
CONSUMER PRODUCTS
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INDUSTRY
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
MARKET
PUBLIC UTILITIES
SOLAR INDUSTRY