Package and Price Variations Utilities offer their customers a range of packages and prices which are described further below. In most cases, the price of participation in a green power program is a monthly charge in addition to the regular bill. Block Package Customers purchase a block of kWh at a fixed price, in addition to their regular bill. The cost of the block is often the incremental cost of the renewable generation. Marketing costs may be included.
Some blocks also cover a contribution to local renewable projects or salmon habitat restoration.
Ten of the eighteen utilities in the survey use a block program. Percentage Package Customers designate the percentage of their usage that will come from renewables. Due to customer uncertainty over how much this will cost, some utilities are moving away from the percentage design. However, a successful alternative is EWEB's stable rate structure, which provides a percentage of usage from renewables at a fixed rate, guaranteed for five years. Four of the eighteen utilities offer percentage pricing packages.