Net Metering - Interconnection of Electric Generating Facilities
How to net meter with Tacoma Power
The following are the steps required for net metering - connecting a
renewable energy system to Tacoma Power's electricity grid.
1. First, review the customer checklist to get a basic understanding of
the steps involved.
Customer
Checklist for Tacoma Power Interconnection
2. Next, review the
Tacoma Power Net Metering
Standards - Overview Document and agreements below.
Call us at 502-8619 if you' like additional information.
3. Finalize the design and plans for your system
4. Submit the application to net meter with Tacoma Power
Application for Net
Metered Electrical Generation
5. Submit the signed
Net Metering
Interconnection Agreement
6. Financial incentives - If you plan to apply for
financial incentives you must also submit a signed
Production Metering
Agreement for Power Generation Facilities. Your
installation must include a meter to measure your renewable energy
production.
7. Have your renewable energy system installed.
8. Call Tacoma Power for a final inspection of the
installation 253-502-8541.
Net
metering and solar installation fact sheet
Solar installation drawing template
For additional information or questions, please call
Energy Services at 253-502-8619.
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What is net metering?
Net metering is the interconnection of electricity generating
devices such as solar modules to the utility electricity grid. Net metering means that on a home with
the standard
primary utility meter, this meter records the net of the
customer's use of utility electricity and their electricity
generation. For example, if a customer with a 1000 Watt
photovoltaic system generates 150 kWh in July, and also uses 600 kWh
in their home that month, the net that will be recorded on their
utility meter will be 450 kWh. The customer will pay for 450 kWh
on their utility bill. By slowing the meter down with their
electricity production, the customer is receiving the retail rate for
their production - about 6.3 cents per kWh. Financial incentives for
solar
Tacoma Power is participating in the state
Renewable Energy Annual Incentive Payment Program. Net metered
customers who track their energy production with a second meter may
apply to Tacoma Power for an annual payment based on their electricity
production. In Tacoma,
as of August 2006, we have nine residential customers connected and
contributing renewable energy to the utility grid. All of these
customers are generating power with solar electricity - photovoltaics
- and one also contributes with a small wind generator. Several
of our net metered customers are very active with a local renewables
and conservation advocacy group, the Northwest
Solar Group. This group meets monthly and is very helpful in
providing solar and conservation information to the public, and
assisting others with solar and net metering projects. More
on net metering...
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Links
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- Solar
Washington - The key solar advocacy group in Washington,
Solar Washington is a private not-for-profit 501(c)3 association
of solar energy equipment manufacturers, system integrators,
distributors, dealers, designers, consultants, students, and
interested people. Solar Washington is a chapter of the American
Solar Energy Society.
- Northwest
Solar Group - The NWSG is a Pierce County based non-profit organization dedicated
to educating people of all ages in the use and merits of solar
energy systems by providing volunteers, information, and
demonstrations to schools and community groups.
- Northwest
Solar Center - A project of Washington State University, the Northwest Solar
Center advocates for solar and distributed renewable energy in
Washington state.
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Solar Electricity and Net Metering
PV Systems and Net Metering was prepared by the
Center for Energy Analysis and Applications for the Office of Utility
Technologies (OUT) of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Net
Metering Programs - National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
There has been a recent surge of interest from the renewable energy industry
and environmental groups in net metering. The
reason for this interest is that net metering is a simple, low-cost, and easily
administered method to encourage direct customer investment in renewable energy
technologies. The renewable energy industry supports net metering because it
removes an economic disincentive for potential customers by increasing the value
of the electricity generated by renewable energy technologies. Environmental
groups support net metering because it promotes clean energy production.
The concept of net metering programs is to allow the electric meters of
customers with generating facilities to turn backwards when their generators are
producing more energy than the customers' demand. Net metering allows customers
to use their generation to offset their consumption over the entire billing
period, not just instantaneously. This offset would enable customers with
generating facilities to receive retail prices for more of the electricity they
generate. Without a net metering program, utilities usually install a second
meter to measure any electricity that flows back to the utility grid and
purchase it at a rate that is much lower than the retail prices.
The strength of net metering lies in its simplicity: the use of a single
meter. It does not need constant regulatory interaction or supervision after the
program is in place. No requirements are made of utilities. It allows customers
to make renewable energy technology choices and only impacts the customer's
meter. As a policy option, net metering provides economic incentives to
encourage renewable energy technologies without public funding. Because more of
the customer-generated electricity can receive a utility's retail price, it can
lower the economic threshold of small renewable energy facilities.
There are various net metering programs in the country. Most are available to
customer-owned small generating facilities only, some further restrict the
eligibility to renewable energy technologies. This Topical Issues Brief
discusses how these net metering programs have been implemented by different
utilities and states, what the rationales are behind many net metering programs,
and what the potential impact of net metering may be on the deployment of
renewable energy technologies.
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