In June 2011, Consumers Energy Company (Consumers Energy or the Company) announced the
completion of 102 projects contracted to provide approximately 2,000 kW of solar generated capacity to the Company
under the first two phases of the Experimental Advanced Renewable Program (EARP) pilot. On July 26, 2011, the
Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) approved an expansion of the EARP and further amended the program on
May 1, 2012.
The expanded EARP (Program) is part of the Amended Renewable Energy Plan prepared by Consumers Energy in
accordance with Public Act 295 of 2008 (2008 PA 295). This Program will be limited to 3,250 kilowatts (kW) of direct
current nameplate capacity with 1,625 kW reserved for residential systems and 1,625 kW reserved for non-residential
systems. Contracts issued under this Program will be awarded over a three-year period which began in the fourth
quarter 2011 for non-residential customers and in the first quarter 2012 for residential customers.
How Does the Program Work?
During each calendar quarter, Consumers Energy will issue a notice on its website and to various industry groups that it
is soliciting applications for participation in each phase of the expanded EARP.
If you qualify, and if the capacity of systems applying for contracts exceeds the capacity offered in any phase, applicants
will be selected based on a random selection system (or lottery system) for EACH phase. If your application has not
been selected from the current phase, you will need to submit a new application in order to be considered for the next
phase.
Who Qualifies for this Program? 1
To qualify for participation in the Program, the applicant must:
• be a Consumers Energy customer account holder;
• be willing to have a separate meter installed in addition to the existing meters at their service location;
• have a satisfactory payment history on their existing Consumers Energy account for the 12 months prior to the
application due date;
• own or lease the solar photovoltaic system (and install such system on the premises of the existing account or
on a contiguous adjacent property owned or leased by the account holder. The system must also qualify for the
Michigan Incentive Renewable Energy Credits for Michigan Workforce Labor OR Michigan Materials
What are the Limitations for EARP Systems?
Limitations which may prevent participation in the Program are that Participants must not:
• install a system smaller than 1 kW DC;
• install a system larger than 20 kW DC for residential customers and larger than 150 kW DC for non-residential
customers;
• have a battery backup system or other energy storage system;
• install a system that, combined with any other existing generation onsite, generates more kilowatt-hours
annually than is consumed annually.
For more information, please visit our website: www.consumersenergy.com/EARP
OR
E-mail us: [email protected]
1
Some additional limitations may apply. Consumers Energy will evaluate all applications for qualification and the applicant will be
notified if the application does not meet the requirements for participation in EARP.