GPS Generation Partners Questions & Answers
GPS Generation Partners Questions & Answers
GPS Generation Partners Questions & Answers
Green Power Switch is an energy option that allows local power companies throughout
the Tennessee Valley to provide their customers the choice to buy electricity produced
by renewable resources. TVA owned generation in the Green Power Switch® Program
includes solar, wind, and methane gas from waste water treatment. See
www.greenpowerswitch.com for more information on Green Power Switch®.
What are the benefits for the participants of GPS Generation Partners?
Program participants support the environment by helping keep the Tennessee Valley
clean and green. For example, a 3 kilowatt (kW) system's annual benefits are equal to
planting an acre of trees or taking a car off the road for 4 months. In addition, solar
systems help improve air quality by reducing emissions of fine particulate matter,
nitrogen oxide, and sulfur dioxide. They also benefit by defraying the costs of their
renewable system installation and lowering their monthly energy bills through the
revenue they receive from the sale of the green power. TVA likes to call GPS
Generation Partners a Win-Win-Win for the end-use customer, the power company, and
TVA.
Customers should contact their local power company to apply for participation in the
program prior to purchasing a renewable generation system.
What renewable resources and technologies are eligible for the program?
Projects that generate electricity from technologies using any one of the following
sources are eligible for the program: solar, wind, low impact hydropower, and biomass.
Biomass includes all solid, liquid, and gaseous forms of the following fuels:
• All woody waste
• All agricultural crops or waste
• All animal or other organic waste
• All energy crops
• Landfill gas and wastewater methane
Go to the Renewable Energy Resources page to learn more about each technology.
What size renewable systems are eligible for the GPS Generation Partners
program?
To maintain consistency among TVA offerings and to provide consumers with a standard
offer, the minimum size for all eligible generation systems is 500 watts and the maximum
size is 999 kilowatts. Systems 1 MW or larger will be negotiated on a case-by-case
basis.
Where can customers buy these systems? Is there a list of qualified vendors?
TVA does not recommend or require specific contractors and installers. However, we do
recommend researching contractors to ensure quality work. System sizing tips, cost
estimations, supplier/installer information, and related information can be researched at
the following Websites:
Note: The listings provided here are for informational purposes only. The listing of any group or organization is not to be
considered as an endorsement by TVA. TVA assumes no responsibility for actions taken by the mentioned groups or
organizations.
Be sure to call your local power company prior to purchasing and installing renewable
generation.
Having your system meet these national standards means that your system is very safe.
In addition to these national standards, GPS Generation Partners requires an outside
lockable disconnect device that provides additional security and peace of mind in the
event of a power outage. The lockable disconnect device must be accessible by
personnel from the local power company, who have the ability and authority to lock out
the power from the grid via the disconnect device. For more information about safety,
see the following sites:
TVA
Customer
Why are there different premiums for the various renewable sources?
Solar systems receive a higher premium than other projects. This recognizes that solar
systems cannot be successful under the same premium for other renewable sources.
The cost of installing solar energy is generally much more expensive than other
renewable technologies. All premiums will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
For example, a 2 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) installation averages 200 kWh per month or
roughly $44 per month Generation Credit:
200kWh + $0.22/kWh (average retail rate of $0.10 + premium $0.12) = $44 X $0.22/kWh
Are GPS Generation Partners installations certified for Green Power Switch?
Yes. In the previous program, end-use installations were not included in the verification
process. For the expanded offering, these installations will be accredited.
As a result, GPS Generation Partners participants will not be able to supply power to
their homes during the event of an outage due to safety concerns and should discuss
other outage options with their local power company.