MECO and HECO in nation’s top 10 for solar power

Maui Electric Co. and Hawaiian Electric Co. ranked among the top 10 utilities nationwide in the amount of photovoltaic generating capacity installed by their customers, an industry trade group said Tuesday.

MECO, with 100.2 watts of PV installed per customer, ranked seventh, according to the Solar Electric Power Association. That was up from 93.5 watts per customer installed in 2010. HECO’s 82.9 watts per customer in 2011 was 10th highest, up from 65.7 watts the year before.

Vineland Municipal Electric Utility in New Jersey led the nation in 2011 with 768.5 watts of installed PV generating capacity per customer, according to SEPA.