FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Virginia Nicols, Corporate & Community Relations, EcoMotion

(949) 450-7153, vnicols@ecomotion.us

Moreno Valley  August 28, 2008

Moreno Valley Utility (MVU) Announces “2008 Solar Special”

Rebate for Solar Systems Installed by Year-end Is Among Best in Southern California Solar Special Available for MVU Customers Only

Customers of Moreno Valley Utility now have another reason to consider solar – a rebate that can cut the cost of their installation by 40% or more. On August 26, 2008, the City Council approved the “2008 Solar Special Program,” designed to help MVU customers at the same time it is helping the City meet its renewable energy goals.

“Our Solar Special reflects the basic standards set by the California Solar Initiative,” declared George Hanson, Moreno Valley Electric Utility Manager. “But we wanted to make our rebate more generous, and our process simpler, to encourage more participation.”

Moreno Valley Utility customers who take advantage of the 2008 Solar Special can get a rebate of $4.00/AC Watt. Like the program offered through Southern California Edison, solar installations must be on the customer’s premises, and offset part or all of the customer’s own electricity demand. Systems must have a meter that measures how much electricity is generated and therefore how much credit the customer earns against the monthly utility bill. Under California’s net metering law, customers can only “zero out” their bill – they cannot earn credit for excess electricity production.

Michelle Pierce, MVU Program Coordinator, worked with consulting firm EcoMotion to design a straightforward application process. “We have a seven-step process that is as simple as we could make it. It starts with a completed Application that will reserve your rebate.”

The maximum rebate for a residential installation is $25,000; the maximum for a commercial or industrial system is $100,000. Money for the rebates comes from the Public Purpose Program Fund set up when MVU began providing service to customers in 2004. A part of each customer’s bill goes into the Fund, and the money is required to be used for programs or discounts that support energy efficiency and renewable energy.

According to Ted Flanigan, President of EcoMotion, MVU’s 2008 Solar Special competes favorably with other municipal utility rebate programs, such as those in Riverside, Anaheim, Glendale, Pasadena and Burbank. The program is also timed to take advantage of the Federal Income Tax credit. Based on 30% of the cost of the new system, capped at $2,000 for residential systems but with no cap for commercial systems, the credit is scheduled to last only through December, just like the Solar Special.

Applications and information are available by calling Michelle Pierce at 951-413-3511.