Solar Electric Power Association forms Utility Solar Interest Groups

WASHINGTON, USA: The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA), a non-profit organization that helps utilities make smart solar decisions, recently formed Utility Solar Interest Groups (USIG) for its utility members. USIGs provide forums to identify industry concerns, examine potential solutions, share ideas, develop best practices, and more.

"The newly created Utility Solar Interest Groups are a great way for SEPA's utility members to exchange information and ideas, and to get updates on emerging issues," said SEPA Executive Director Julia Hamm. "The Interest Groups also provide opportunities to develop peer-to-peer relationships and provide feedback and strategic direction to SEPA on its research and education initiatives."

SEPA utility members can join one or more of the following groups to address solar issues of most importance to utilities:

Grid Integration: distributed and centralized grid analysis, design, operation, and management.
Policy: federal, state legislation, and regulation.
Program Management: customer incentive, marketing, or educational needs.
Strategic Issues: long-term, proactive interests such as workforce development, grid parity, and climate change.
Utility Solar Business Models: innovative program and projects that provide utility value streams.

Each USIG sets its own schedule and agenda on a consensus basis, and uses online tools so that participants can easily contact each other, share meeting summaries and other documents, and post announcements.