L.A. Solar Installations Obtain Only 45 Percent of Expected Wattage

A recent review of six major solar installations in Los Angeles showed that the L.A. Department of Water and Power (DWP) obtained an average of only 45 percent of the anticipated wattage. Two photovoltaic panels at the Los Angeles Convention Center generated less than 40 percent of design capacity--29 percent from one and 37 percent from the other. The report on DWP's "green" power program also revealed that costs per kilowatt hour on the sampled solar installations were roughly twice the market average of 40 cents. According to DWP, experts are investigating whether the shortfall indicates a broader problem with more than 500 solar installations citywide.

Since June, when the DWP temporarily froze its incentive plan because demand outpaced available funding, the utility has increased funding to $150 million through 2011. DWP has $11 million in confirmed funding to pay off this year and $109 million worth of requests on the waiting list. The DWP is restructuring the solar program to meet customer demand and could reduce the incentive grants that are offered. Customers now get $4.50 for every watt of solar energy generated by panels installed in L.A., but built outside the city. The funding is $6 per watt if the solar panels were built in L.A.