ZELIENOPLE — The borough is considering allowing residents and businesses that use solar energy to supplement the borough’s electric supply.

Council on Monday voted to advertise an ordinance that would set regulations for solar panels and how much credit the solar panel owner would receive for contributing to the borough’s power grid.

Council is expected to discuss the proposed Customer Generated Renewable Electricity ordinance later this month.

Don Pepe, borough manager, said there has been a push for renewable energy uses.

Some of the larger power companies, including Allegheny Power and the Duquesne Light, provide for renewable energy generation.

At the Pennsylvania Municipal Electric Association meeting in September, the issue was discussed.

There are only two municipal-operated electric systems, Chambersburg and Perkasie, that provide for renewable energy but several others are considering it.

Pepe said when he returned from that meeting, by coincidence he received a request from a borough construction company about installing a solar panel.

Dilts Enterprises, operated by Adam Dilts, has proposed building a solar panel that would generate electricity for its business and as a model for customers, according to Pepe.

The four-decade-old company on Towne Hill Drive does electrical work, carpentry and remodeling for garage door installation and home generators.

Dilts was at the council meeting.

Borough councilman Russ Robertson said the proposed ordinance is “an excellent document.”

According to the ordinance, the credit for the solar panel owner would be 50 percent of the annual wholesale cost based on the prior year.

The ordinance also would cap the amount of electricity that a solar installation could send to the borough system at 5 megawatts.