January 20, 2010

Alaska RCA Finalizes Net Metering Rules

On January 15 the Alaska RCA issued an order adopting finalized net metering rules. As we mentioned in previous IREC posts, these regulations allow net metering up to 1.5% of each electric utility’s average retail demand (roughly equivalent to 1% of peak demand). Systems must be owned or leased, and operated, by the consumer, and have…

On January 15 the Alaska RCA issued an order adopting finalized net metering rules. As we mentioned in previous IREC posts, these regulations allow net metering up to 1.5% of each electric utility’s average retail demand (roughly equivalent to 1% of peak demand). Systems must be owned or leased, and operated, by the consumer, and have a cumulative nameplate capacity 25 kW or less.  Net metered systems must be used primarily to offset part or all of the customer’s requirements for electricity and be controlled by an inverter or switchgear.  No month-to-month rollover is allowed of excess credits, rather month-end excess is credited at the utility’s avoided cost rate on the customer’s next bill.  Utilities may not assess additional charges or fees for net metering customers and must pay for the purchase and installation of any additional metering equipment that they deem necessary.

One additional issue to note is that, according to a footnote in the rules, only 5 of the 21 communities served by Alaska Power Company are subject to the rule.  For a list of utilities affected by this rule, please see the attached table:

Alaska Utilities Required to Allow Net Metering

To view the entire net metering rule, please refer to the following attachment:

Alaska Net Metering Rule Adoption 1/15/10