ATLANTA — Georgia Power executives say the utility firm plans to substantially boost the amount of solar power it distributes to customers.

Company officials say the utility will buy more than 10 times the amount of solar electricity it now gets from solar farms and rooftop equipment by 2017.

Company officials tell The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (http://bit.ly/PGtayA) that factors in the decision include declining solar costs, pressure from customers, the solar industry and some utility regulators.

Georgia Power disclosed the plan in a proposal Wednesday to the state Public Service Commission, which must approve it. Utility officials say customer bills would not be affected.