JEA and Florida Power & Light Co. both offer customers a way to reduce pollution by supporting solar power. However, the utilities have chosen different ways to achieve that goal. JEA encourages customers to invest in their own solar water heaters and pocket the savings. FPL lets customers pay extra on their bills for construction of solar-power facilities, but not specifically for the customer's home. Next month, FPL will expand its Sunshine Energy program to business customers.THE PROGRAMSJEA's Solar Incentive ProgramWHO'S IT FORResidential and business customersHOW IT WORKSJEA helps pay for installing solar hot-water heating systems. Residential customers get up to $800. JEA subsidizes business customers for up to 30 percent of the cost, at a maximum assistance of $5,000. Customers also can receive state rebates and federal income tax credits for going solar. JEA's program only applies to solar water-heating systems, not pool heating or photovoltaic systems.RESULTS SO FARJEA has paid for 328 solar water-heating systems since 2002. That equates to one solar hot-water system for each 1,250 JEA electric customers. Four of the systems are for commercial customers. The rest are in homes.WILL IT CUT ELECTRIC BILLS?Yes. A customer with a solar water heater can save an average of 3,000 kilowatt hours in electricity a year, though the exact amount depends on the size of the family. That equates to about $277 in electric bill savings at current rates. Eventually, those savings will recoup the cost of installing the solar water heater.WILL IT REDUCE POLLUTION?Yes. A customer getting 3,000 kilowatt hours of electricity from solar power would prevent the release of about 6,200 pounds of carbon dioxide from a coal-fired power plant. Carbon dioxide is the key pollutant linked to global warming.WHAT'S NEW?JEA has been reviewing all its programs, including the solar incentive package, but hasn't decided on any changes.FOR MORE INFORMATIONCall (904) 665-4673 or go to jea.com and click on "For Your Home."THE PROGRAMSFlorida Power & Light's Sunshine EnergyWHO'S IT FORResidential customers. Starting April 1, business customers can participate, too.HOW IT WORKSCustomers have the option of paying $9.75 each month on top of their regular bill. FPL uses the money to pay for generation of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and biomass. The $9.75 payment ensures 1,000 kilowatt hours of "clean energy" will be generated in Florida and other states.RESULTS SO FAR30,800 customers are enrolled in Sunshine Energy, which began in 2004. That equates to one Sunshine Energy participant for every 129 residential customers.WILL IT REDUCE POLLUTION?Yes. A Sunshine Energy customer avoids the release of about 8,800 pounds of carbon dioxide over a year, which is equal to the pollution from a car driven 9,800 miles.WILL IT CUT ELECTRIC BILLS?No. Sunshine Energy participants pay more. FPL says customers choose to do so because they favor renewable energy that helps the environment.WHAT'S NEW?FPL will build what it calls the largest solar energy facility in Florida. The 250-kilowatt Solar Array at Rothenbach Park in Sarasota will prevent 680,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year. FOR MORE INFORMATIONCall (888) 375-4733 or go to www.fplsunshineenergy.comWHAT OTHER UTILITIES OFFERGainesville Regional Utilities gives customers the option of paying an additional amount for the generation of electricity from landfill gas, wind and solar photovoltaic sources. The payments can be any amount over $5 per month. Gainesville also offers rebates of up to $600 for solar water heaters.Beaches Energy is giving its customers free compact fluorescent light bulbs this month. Compact fluorescent bulbs are much more energy-efficient and longer-lasting than conventional bulbs. Beaches Energy is considering a program for rebates on solar system installations.Clay Electric Co-op offers $5,000 loans for installation of energy-efficient equipment, including solar water heaters.Sources: JEA, FPL and other regional utilities.

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