green electricity prices

Green electricity is typically some cents more expensive per kW than traditional power. In some countries, government subsidies are offsetting that difference, but in most cases there is a small premium.

Premiums

Most green-power suppliers need premiums between 0,5 and 3 cents per kWh to be competitive. But some charge more (about 5 cents in some cases, namely in the case of companies linked to solar).

The additional

Green power is currently aimed at ecologically conscious consumers, willing to pay a small premium for renewable energy. That premium is basically a way of offsetting the additional costs incurred by green-power companies.

These additional costs reflect current technological costs and the small economies of scale associated with green electricity generation. But there are other elements, linked to regional or political reasons, or the type of renewable source (the hydro source is very competitive)...

Differences of prices between suppliers

In other words: there are small differences in the prices charged by the different utilities and green power suppliers.

In most cases the differences are small, but you may want to explore these differences, and contact different suppliers or consider several mixings in order to get a more advantageous price.

Different packages

Green electricity can be 100% wind or solar or geothermal or hydro or biomass, or can involve packages mixing different sources which can be 100% green or only partially green…

If you want to support some particular sources of green power you may have to pay more, but you can also look for a supplier offering mix packages to pay less.

The suppliers

For a list of green suppliers in USA, see: EERE Department of Energy

In other countries, see: Green Power Providers