West Virginia

West Virginia - Net Metering

Last DSIRE Review: 02/09/2007  

Incentive Type: Net Metering Rules
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Fuel Cells, Small Hydroelectric
Applicable Sectors: Commercial, Residential
Limit on System Size:25 kW
Limit on Overall Enrollment:0.1% of utility's total load participation (utility tariff provision)
Treatment of Net Excess:Credited to customer's next bill at utility's retail rate
Utilities Involved:All utilities
Interconnection Standards for Net Metering?Yes
Authority 1: West Virginia PSC Order, Case No. 06-0708-E-GI
Date Enacted:12/12/2006
Authority 2: West Virginia PSC Order, Case No. 06-0708-E-GI
Date Enacted:1/26/2007



Summary:
  The West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC) approved consensus filings regarding net metering and interconnection standards in December 2006. The approved consensus provisions include proposed rules that apply to all electric utilities in the state. New utility tariffs incorporating the consensus net-metering provisions will take effect March 1, 2007. The PSC will adopt new rules and regulations for net metering and interconnection.  
 
The approved consensus for net metering applies to residential and commercial systems up to 25 kilowatts (kW) in capacity that generate electricity using photovoltaics (PV), wind, biomass, landfill gas, hydropower or fuel cells. Net excess generation (NEG) will be carried over to a customer-generator's next bill, for up to 12 months, as a kilowatt-hour (kWh) credit. Net-metering tariffs must be identical in rate structure, retail-rate components, and monthly charges, to the contract or tariff for which the customer would qualify if that customer were not a customer-generator. Customers on a time-of-use (TOU) tariff are permitted to net meter.  
 
Each net-metered customer-generator must carry a minimum of $100,000 in liability insurance; utilities may not require customers to carry additional liability insurance. No contracts or tariffs may require customers to (1) comply with any additional safety or performance standards beyond those established by the NEC, IEEE, UL, PSC rules and the standard wiring rules and customer requirements for electric service for each utility; or (2) perform or pay for any additional tests, if the system is pre-certified as complying with technical standards.  
 
Net metering is accomplished using a single, bi-directional meter. However, a customer must pay for such a meter if one is not already in place. Although the consensus provisions do not include an aggregate cap on net-metered systems, each utility's tariff will limit the aggregate capacity to 0.1% of the utility's total load participation. An external disconnect switch is required for net-metered systems.

 
Contact:
  Jim Ellars
West Virginia Public Service Commission
201 Brooks Street
P.O. Box 812
Charleston, WV 25323
Phone: (304) 340-0331
Fax: (304) 340-0325
E-Mail: jellars@psc.state.wv.us
Web site: http://www.psc.state.wv.us



Wisconsin

Wisconsin - Net Metering

Last DSIRE Review: 02/27/2007  

Incentive Type: Net Metering Rules
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Municipal Solid Waste, CHP/Cogeneration, Other Distributed Generation Technologies
Applicable Sectors: Commercial, Industrial, Residential
Limit on System Size:20 kW (We Energies allows net metering for wind-energy systems up to 100 kW)
Limit on Overall Enrollment:None
Treatment of Net Excess:Varies by utility. Generally credited at retail rate for renewables; generally credited at avoided cost for non-renewables.
Utilities Involved:Investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities
Interconnection Standards for Net Metering?Yes
Website: http://psc.wi.gov/
apps/tariffs/content/elelist.aspx
Authority 1: PSCW Order, Docket No. 05-EP-6
Date Enacted:9/18/1992



Summary:
  The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) issued an order on January 26, 1982, requiring all regulated utilities to file tariffs allowing net metering to customers that generate electricity with systems up to 20 kilowatts (kW) in capacity. The order applies to investor-owned utilities and municipal utilities, but not to electric cooperatives. All distributed-generation (DG) systems, including renewables and combined heat and power (CHP), are eligible. There is no limit on total enrollment.  
 
The PSC has not adopted administrative rules for net metering.* Utilities' net-metering tariffs contain some variations. Customer net excess generation (NEG) is generally credited at the utility's retail rate for renewables, and at the utility's avoided-cost rate for non-renewables. NEG credit is carried over to the customer's next bill. If NEG credit exceeds $25, then the utility must issue a check for the amount, payable to the customer.  
 
In January 2006, the PSC approved a proposal by We Energies, an investor-owned utility, to offer net metering to customers with wind turbines greater than 20 kW but no greater than 100 kW in capacity. This offer is available to the first 25 eligible applicants, for a term of 10 years. For more information, see www.we-energies.com/cg.  
 
 
* Subsequent PSC decisions issued June 21, 1983, in docket numbers 05-ER-11, 05-ER-12 and 05-ER-13, further implemented Sections 201 and 210 of the federal Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act of 1978 (PURPA). These decisions were confirmed by an order issued September 18, 1992, in docket number 05-EP-6. This latter order addresses net metering as it applies to Wisconsin's investor-owned utilities.
 
Contact:
  Paul Helgeson
Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
610 North Whitney Way
P.O. Box 7854
Madison, WI 53707-7854
Phone: (608) 266-3905
Fax: (608) 266-3957
E-Mail: paul.helgeson@psc.state.wi.us
Web site: http://psc.wi.gov/