What is the purpose of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA)?

The Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) of 1978 is a federal law that has been implemented in many states across the U.S., including Georgia. PURPA’s purpose is to encourage investment in renewable energy by providing more options to customers, enabling them to purchase electricity from suppliers other than their traditional utility. The act also establishes “federally mandated programs” that provide incentives to renewable energy technologies and make it easier for consumers to access renewable energy. These incentives include the “Right to Interconnect” which allows customers to purchase electricity from any supplier they chose in the state and the “Must Offer Obligation” which requires utilities to purchase electricity from renewable energy suppliers that match the terms and rates they provide to customers. In addition, PURPA also requires utilities to provide open access to their transmission systems, meaning that customers and other energy suppliers can use the same systems to move electricity from one location to another. This helps promote competition among energy suppliers, ultimately resulting in lower prices for consumers. PURPA is an important law for Georgia’s energy policies as it helps to increase the amount of renewable energy used in the state, as well as providing economic benefits to customers. By making it easier for customers to access renewable energy, PURPA helps to ensure that Georgia’s energy policy is up to date and in line with the evolving goals of the state.

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