Government Energy Policy, Business and Technology

Apple's Government-Approved Solar Plans and What They Mean for Utilities

Renewable Energy World: Most people know Apple as a company that develops smartphones, computers and tablets, but recently the famous fruit dipped its toes into another market: energy. The U.S. government has granted Apple approval to sell the company's excess solar energy under the name Apple Energy LLC.

If Apple becoming an energy “provider,” in addition to consumer, doesn't serve as a proof point of the massive change happening in the utility industry today, not much else will. This move not only means Apple can now offload its surplus and make some extra cash; it also signals mounting pressure for traditional utilities to innovate, or else risk seeing customers turn elsewhere for energy services. Commercial customers make up over half the overall load and revenue at a typical utility — in smaller numbers and greater concentration than residential customers — and increasingly are taking matters into their own hands to meet their energy needs.

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