New York Public Service Commission on Aug. 2 approved Consolidated Edison Co. of New York Inc.'s plan to install solar panels on the roofs and grounds of its buildings.

The Consolidated Edison Inc. utility will use its office buildings located in Brooklyn, Queens and Westchester County, N.Y., to produce 3 MW of solar power, in the initial phase, that will be supplied its low-income customers through a bill assistance program.

The $10 million first phase of the project is expected to start providing renewable energy to customers in 2018. CECONY said in the news release that it can build up to 11 MW of solar capacity over five years for low-income customers. The project is consistent with New York's "Reforming the Energy Vision" initiative, according to the news release.

CECONY plans to select developers to deploy the panels through a competitive bidding process.