Province-wide home electricity generation program announces the 100th Generate Choice Solar system installed in Calgary

CALGARY, May 30, 2012 /CNW/ - Calgarian Brian Keating today helped ENMAX Energy Corporation mark an early milestone for a new program that capitalizes on Calgary's status as one of the sunniest cities in Canada. The Generate Choice^® program is a one-stop shopping solution for Albertans who want to harness the renewable energy of the sun to generate a portion of their homes' electricity.

At the media event for this innovative program, ENMAX Energy staff installed 18 solar photovoltaic panels on the roof of Keating's home, making his the 100^th home in Calgary to participate in the program. As a result, Keating is now generating a portion of his own electricity from renewable sources while ENMAX Energy takes care of the permitting, installation and maintenance.

The Generate Choice^® program is the biggest of its kind in Alberta's history. It makes generating a homeowner's electricity from the sun or wind easy and affordable because of an innovative leasing arrangement that allows for three flexible down payment options, thanks in part to funding from Climate Change and Emissions Management Corporation (CCEMC). Click here for more details on pricing.

Keating was one of the first Calgarians to sign up for the program, and his appreciation for ENMAX Energy's renewable energy programs subsequently led to him becoming an official spokesperson for Generate Choice^®.

"I was keen to be a part of this program when I first heard about it a year ago, so when the opportunity arose, I happily came onboard. The idea of producing renewable energy from the sun at my own home is very exciting."

"Albertans now have an easy and affordable way to generate some of their own electricity thanks to the sun and wind," said Gianna Manes, President and CEO, ENMAX Energy Corporation. "This is not just the beginning of a consumer trend, the Generate Choice program also greatly accelerates the entire solar energy industry in this province."

ENMAX Energy completes a no-cost site evaluation to assess a home's suitability. Homeowners even have the option to buy the equipment at the end of the lease. For more details on the benefits of the program, go to www.generatechoice.ca/solar/benefits.

ENMAX Energy has installed 220 of the Generate Choice^® 1.3 kW solar photovoltaic systems on homes throughout the province, and worked with a number of municipalities to confirm permitting requirements. ENMAX Energy has also developed training programs with technical institutions like SAIT in Calgary, establishing a contractor network in most areas of the province, and working with equipment suppliers to help ensure availability.

Generate Choice^® lease pricing

	Option 1	Option 2	Option 3
Initial Fee	$0	$1500	$3500
Monthly Fee	$59.99±	$39.99±	$16.99±
End-of-term Buyout	$350	$350	$350
Removal Fee	$950	$950	$950
	6.11% APR based on 180 payments over a 15- year term.	4.52% APR based on 180 payments over a 15- year term.	0.029% APR based on 180 payments over a 15- year term.

GST is additional. Other charges may apply depending on the solar system installation
.±ENMAX Energy retains the rights to any renewable energy credits generated by all solar photovoltaic systems in the Generate Choice^® program.

±Taxes, including GST, and other charges apply to, but are not included in, the above cost structure. "Other Charges", which are due upon installation, are any additional charges that you have to pay for such items as materials or services related to development and building permits, additional wiring, conduits, addition of an electrical sub-panel, installation on roofs with clay tiles or wooden shingles, or any customer-requested materials or services. An ENMAX Energy representative will give you a better idea of what Other Charges may apply to your installation at the time of our no-cost site visit. At the end of the 15 year lease term, a customer may purchase the equipment for $350, or have it removed by ENMAX Energy for $950. The down payment and monthly amounts do not include the equipment buy-out or removal amounts.

About ENMAX Energy Corporation
ENMAX Energy Corporation, a subsidiary of ENMAX Corporation is one of Alberta's leading competitive electricity retailers. ENMAX Energy also provides natural gas and value-added services to residential, commercial and industrial customers throughout Alberta. Through subsidiaries, ENMAX Energy is one of Alberta's largest investors in renewable energy and with partial ownership of the McBride Lake Wind Farm and complete ownership of the Taber and Kettles Hill Wind Farms. ENMAX Energy was the first Canadian electricity retailer to offer customers the option to support wind generated energy.

Media only contact: 
Doris Kaufmann Woodcock
Sr. Media Relations Advisor
ENMAX Corporation
Media line: 403.689.6150 / [email protected] / www.generatechoice.ca