State and Utility Net Metering Rules for Distributed Generation
Information provided by the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE)
(Updated April 27, 2012)
| State (or Utility) | Eligible Renewable / Other Technologies | Applicable Sectors | Applicable Utilities | Limit on System Capacity | Limit on Aggregate Capacity | Net Excess Generation (NEG) | REC Ownership | Meter Aggregation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Municipal Solid Waste, Anaerobic Digestion, Small Hydroelectric, Tidal Energy, Wave Energy, Ocean Thermal | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government, Agricultural, Institutional | Utilities with annual retail sales of 5,000,000 kWh or more | 25 kW | 1.5% of average retail demand | Credited to customer's next bill at non-firm power rate; carries over indefinitely | Not addressed | Not addressed |
| American Samoa | Photovoltaics, Wind | Commercial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Agricultural, Institutional | ASPA | 30 kW; larger systems on case-by-case basis | 5% of utility's peak demand | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; granted to utility at end of 12-month billing cycle | Not addressed | Not addressed |
| Arizona | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Municipal Solid Waste, CHP/Cogeneration, Hydrogen, Anaerobic Digestion, Small Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Institutional | Investor-owned utilities, electric cooperatives | No capacity limit specified, but system must be sized to meet part or all of customer’s electric load and may not exceed 125% of customer’s total connected load | No limit specified | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; excess reconciled annually at avoided-cost rate | Customer owns RECs | Not addressed |
| Arizona | Photovoltaics, Wind, Geothermal Electric | Commercial, Residential | SRP | 100 kW | No limit specified | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; excess reconciled annually in April at average annual market price minus price adjustment of 0.00017/kWh | Not addressed | Not allowed |
| Arkansas | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Small Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels, Microturbines | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, General Public/Consumer, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government, Agricultural, Institutional | Investor owned utilities and electric cooperatives | 300 kW for non-residential; 25 kW for residential | No limit specified | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; granted to utility at end of 12-month billing cycle | Customer owns RECs | Not addressed |
| State (or Utility) | Eligible Renewable / Other Technologies | Applicable Sectors | Applicable Utilities | Limit on System Capacity | Limit on Aggregate Capacity | Net Excess Generation (NEG) | REC Ownership | Meter Aggregation |
| California | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Geothermal Electric, Fuel Cells, Municipal Solid Waste, Anaerobic Digestion, Small Hydroelectric, Tidal Energy, Wave Energy, Ocean Thermal, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Agricultural | All utilities except LADWP | 1 MW 5 MW for systems owned by, operated by, or on property under the control of, a local government or university | 5% of utility's peak demand (statewide limit of 112.5 MW for fuel cells) | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate. After 12-month cycle, customer may opt to roll over credit indefinitely or to receive payment for credit at a rate equal to the 12-month average spot market price for the hours of 7 am to 5 pm for the year in which the surplus power was generated. (If customer makes no affirmative decision, credit is granted to utility with no compensation for customer.) | Customer owns RECs. If customer receives payment for net excess generation at the end of a 12-month cycle, utility owns RECs associated with those electricity credits. | Virtual net metering allowed for multi-tenant properties. Meter aggregation allowed for local governments if all participating accounts receive a time-of-use rate. |
| California | Photovoltaics, Wind | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, General Public/Consumer, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government | LADWP | 1 MW | No limit specified | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate. | Customer owns RECs | Not Allowed |
| Colorado | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Small Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels | Commercial, Industrial, Residential | All utilities (except certain small municipal utilities) | IOU customers: 120% of the customer's average annual consumption. Municipality and co-op customers: 25 kW for non-residential; 10 kW for residential. | No limit specified | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate. After 12-month cycle, IOU customers may opt to roll over credit indefinitely or to receive payment at average hourly incremental cost. Municipality and co-ops provide annual reconciliation at a rate they deem appropriate. | Customer owns RECs | Allowed for IOU customers |
| Connecticut | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells, Municipal Solid Waste, Small Hydroelectric, Tidal Energy, Wave Energy, Ocean Thermal, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government, Multi-Family Residential, Agricultural, Institutional | Investor-owned utilities | 2 MW | No limit specified | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; excess reconciled annually at either avoided-cost rate or time-of-use/generation rate (for PV) | Customer owns RECs | Yes (virtual net metering allowed for municipal customers per SB 1243 July 2011) |
| Delaware | Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells, Anaerobic Digestion, Small Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government, Agricultural, Institutional | All utilities | 2 MW for non-residential Delmarva customers; 500 kW for non-residential DEC and municipal utility customers; 25 kW for all residential customers; 100 kW for all farm customers on residential rates | 5% of peak demand (utilities may increase limit) | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate. After 12-month cycle, customer may opt to roll over credit indefinitely or to receive payment for credit at the energy supply rate. | Customer owns RECs | Allowed, see below for details. |
| State (or Utility) | Eligible Renewable / Other Technologies | Applicable Sectors | Applicable Utilities | Limit on System Capacity | Limit on Aggregate Capacity | Net Excess Generation (NEG) | REC Ownership | Meter Aggregation |
| District of Columbia | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Fuel Cells, CHP/Cogeneration, Anaerobic Digestion, Small Hydroelectric, Tidal Energy, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels, Microturbines | Commercial, Residential | Investor-owned utilities | 1 MW | No limit specified | Credited to customer's next bill indefinitely at retail rate for systems 100 kW or less, and at avoided-cost rate for larger systems | Customer-generator unless indicated otherwise | Not addressed |
| Florida | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, CHP/Cogeneration, Hydrogen, Small Hydroelectric, Tidal Energy, Wave Energy, Ocean Thermal | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Tribal Government, Fed. Government, Agricultural, Institutional | Investor-owned utilities | 2 MW | No limit specified | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; excess reconciled annually at avoided-cost rate | Customer owns RECs | Not allowed |
| Georgia | Photovoltaics, Wind, Fuel Cells, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government, Agricultural, Institutional | All utilities | 100 kW for non-residential; 10 kW for residential | 0.2% of utility's peak demand during previous year | Credited to customer's next bill at a predetermined rate filed with the PSC | Not addressed | Not addressed |
| Guam | Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells, Small Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels, Microturbines | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Agricultural, Institutional | Guam Power Authority | Residential: 25 kW Non-residential: 100 kW | Not addressed | Determined by PUC | Not addressed | Not addressed |
| Hawaii | Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Small Hydroelectric | Commercial, Residential, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government | All utilities | 100 kW for HECO, MECO, HELCO customers; 50 kW for KIUC customers | 15% per circuit distribution threshold for distributed generation penetration | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; granted to utility at end of 12-month billing cycle | Not addressed | Not addressed |
| State (or Utility) | Eligible Renewable / Other Technologies | Applicable Sectors | Applicable Utilities | Limit on System Capacity | Limit on Aggregate Capacity | Net Excess Generation (NEG) | REC Ownership | Meter Aggregation |
| Idaho | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells, Small Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels | Commercial, Residential, Agricultural | Avista Utilities | 100 kW | 0.1% of utility's peak demand in 1996 (in Idaho) | Credited to customer's next bill; granted to utility at end of 12-month billing cycle | Not addressed | Not addressed |
| Idaho | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells, Small Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels | Commercial, Residential, Agricultural | Idaho Power | 100 kW for large commercial and agricultural; 25 kW for all others | 0.1% of utility's peak demand in 2000 (in Idaho) | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate for residential and small commercial customers; credited at 85% of avoided-cost rate for large commercial and agricultural customers | Customer | Not addressed |
| Idaho | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells, Small Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels | Commercial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government, Agricultural, Institutional | Rocky Mountain Power | 100 kW for non-residential; 25 kW for residential and small commercial | 0.1% of utility's peak demand in 2002 (in Idaho) | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate for residential and small commercial customers; credited at 85% of avoided-cost rate for all others | Not addressed | Not addressed |
| Illinois | Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Anaerobic Digestion, Small Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels, Microturbines | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government, Agricultural, Institutional | Investor-owned utilities, alternative retail electric suppliers | Current rules: 40 kW New rules per SB 1652/HB 3036: 2 MW | Current rules: 1% of utility's peak demand in previous year New rules per SB 1652/HB 3036: 5% of utility's peak demand in previous year | Current rules: Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; granted to utility at end of 12-month billing cycle New rules per SB 1652/HB 3036: Only non-hourly tariff customers in non-competitive classes; Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; granted to utility at end of 12-month billing cycle | Customer owns RECs | Allowed |
| Indiana | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells, Hydrogen, Small Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government, Multi-Family Residential, Low-Income Residential, Agricultural, Institutional | Investor-owned utilities | 1 MW | 1% of utility's most recent peak summer load | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; carries over indefinitely | Not addressed | Not addressed |
| State (or Utility) | Eligible Renewable / Other Technologies | Applicable Sectors | Applicable Utilities | Limit on System Capacity | Limit on Aggregate Capacity | Net Excess Generation (NEG) | REC Ownership | Meter Aggregation |
| Iowa | Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Municipal Solid Waste, Small Hydroelectric | Commercial, Industrial, Residential | Investor-owned utilities | 500 kW | No limit specified | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; carries over indefinitely | Not addressed | Not addressed |
| Kansas | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Small Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government, Agricultural, Institutional | Investor-owned utilities | 200 kW for non-residential; 25 kW for residential | 1% of utility’s retail peak demand during previous year | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; granted to utility at end of the calendar year | Utility owns RECs | Not addressed |
| Kentucky | Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Small Hydroelectric | Commercial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Agricultural, Institutional | Investor-owned utilities, electric cooperatives (except TVA distribution utilities) | 30 kW | 1% of utility's single-hour peak load during previous year | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; carries over indefinitely | Customer owns RECs | Not addressed |
| Louisiana | Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Small Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels, Microturbines | Commercial, Residential, Agricultural | Entergy New Orleans | 300 kW for commercial and agricultural; 25 kW for residential | No limit specified | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; carries over indefinitely | Not addressed | Not addressed |
| Louisiana | Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Small Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels, Microturbines | Commercial, Residential, Agricultural | All utilities | Commercial and agricultural: 300 kW Residential: 25 kW | .5% | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; carries over indefinitely | Not addressed as no REC program is established in Louisiana. | Not addressed |
| State (or Utility) | Eligible Renewable / Other Technologies | Applicable Sectors | Applicable Utilities | Limit on System Capacity | Limit on Aggregate Capacity | Net Excess Generation (NEG) | REC Ownership | Meter Aggregation |
| Maine | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Fuel Cells, Municipal Solid Waste, CHP/Cogeneration, Small Hydroelectric, Tidal Energy, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels | Commercial, Industrial, Residential | All utilities | 660 kW for IOU customers; 100 kW for muni and co-op customers (munis and co-ops may voluntarily offer net energy billing for systems up to 660 kW) | No limit specified | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; granted to utility at end of 12-month billing cycle | Not addressed | Allowed |
| Maryland | Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Fuel Cells, CHP/Cogeneration, Anaerobic Digestion, Small Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government, Agricultural, Institutional | All utilities | 2 MW (30 kW for micro-CHP); also limited to that needed to meet 200% of baseline customer electricity usage | 1,500 MW (~8% of peak demand) | Generally credited to customer's next bill at retail rate;* reconciled annually in April at the commodity energy supply rate | Customer owns RECs | Allowed for agricultural customers, non-profit organizations, and municipal governments or their affiliates |
| Massachusetts | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Fuel Cells, Municipal Solid Waste, CHP/Cogeneration, Anaerobic Digestion, Small Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels, Other Distributed Generation Technologies | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government, Agricultural, Institutional | Investor-owned utilities | 10 MW for net metering by a municipality or other governmental entity; 2 MW for all other "Class III" systems; 1 MW for all other "Class II" systems; 60 kW for all other "Class I" systems | 1% of utility's peak load in general; 2% of utility's peak load for net metering by municipalities or governmental entities. | Varies by system type and customer class | Customer owns RECs | Neighborhood net metering allowed |
| Michigan | Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Municipal Solid Waste, Anaerobic Digestion, Small Hydroelectric, Tidal Energy, Wave Energy | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government, Agricultural | Investor-owned utilities, electric cooperatives, alternative electric suppliers | 150 kW | 0.75% of utility's peak load during previous year | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate for systems 20 kW or less; credited to customer's next bill at power supply component of retail rate for larger systems. Carries over indefinitely. | Customer owns RECs | Not addressed |
| Minnesota | Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Municipal Solid Waste, CHP/Cogeneration, Anaerobic Digestion, Small Hydroelectric, Other Distributed Generation Technologies | Commercial, Industrial, Residential | All utilities | Less than 40 kW | No limit specified | Reconciled monthly; customer may opt to receive payment or credit on next bill at the retail utility energy rate | Not addressed | Not addressed |
| State (or Utility) | Eligible Renewable / Other Technologies | Applicable Sectors | Applicable Utilities | Limit on System Capacity | Limit on Aggregate Capacity | Net Excess Generation (NEG) | REC Ownership | Meter Aggregation |
| Missouri | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Wind, Hydroelectric, Small Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government, Agricultural, Institutional | All utilities | 100 kW | 5% of utility's single-hour peak load during previous year | Credited to customer's next bill at avoided-cost rate; granted to utility at end of 12-month period | Not addressed | Not addressed |
| Montana | Photovoltaics, Wind, Hydroelectric, Small Hydroelectric | Commercial, Industrial, Residential | Investor-owned utilities | 50 kW | No limit specified | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; granted to utility at end of 12-month period | Not addressed | Not addressed |
| Montana | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Wind, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Fuel Cells, Small Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels | Commercial, Residential | Electric cooperatives (MECA members) | 10 kW | No limit specified | Credited to customer's next bill; granted to utility at end of 12-month billing cycle | Not addressed | Not addressed |
| Nebraska | Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Anaerobic Digestion, Small Hydroelectric | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Agricultural | All utilities | 25 kW | 1% of utility's average monthly peak demand | Credited to customer's next bill at avoided-cost rate; excess reconciled annually at avoided-cost rate | Customer owns RECs | Not addressed |
| Nevada | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Small Hydroelectric | Commercial, Industrial, Residential | Investor-owned utilities | The lesser of 1 MW or 100% of the customer's annual requirements for electricity | Statewide cap of 2% of total peak capacity of all utilities in the state | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; carries over indefinitely | Customer owns RECs (unless utility subsidizes system) | Not addressed for most technologies. Meter aggregation allowed for hydro installations across contiguous properties owned by the customer generator. Meter aggregation allowed for very specific wind projects. See below. |
| State (or Utility) | Eligible Renewable / Other Technologies | Applicable Sectors | Applicable Utilities | Limit on System Capacity | Limit on Aggregate Capacity | Net Excess Generation (NEG) | REC Ownership | Meter Aggregation |
| Nevada | Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Geothermal Electric, Small Hydroelectric | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Agricultural | VEA | 30 kW (larger systems on case-by-case basis) | 0.5% of utility's annual peak load | At the end of each calendar year, VEA either shall carry forward any excess kWh credits for use against consumption in future months, or shall compensate the customer-generator for any excess kWh credits at the VEA’s average avoided cost of electricity supply over the same calendar-year period. | Customer owns RECs | Not addressed |
| New Hampshire | Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, CHP/Cogeneration, Small Hydroelectric, Tidal Energy, Wave Energy, Biodiesel, Other Distributed Generation Technologies | Commercial, Industrial, Residential | All utilities | 1 MW | 50 MW | Credited to customer's next bill at avoided-cost rate. (Default service customers may choose to receive annual payments.) | Customer-generator owns RECs | Not addressed |
| New Jersey | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Geothermal Electric, Anaerobic Digestion, Tidal Energy, Wave Energy, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Tribal Government, Fed. Government, Agricultural, Institutional | Investor-owned utilities (electric distribution companies), electric suppliers | No capacity limit specified, but system must be sized so that energy production does not exceed customer's annual on-site energy consumption | No limit specified (BPU may limit to 2.5% of peak demand) | Generally credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; excess reconciled annually at avoided-cost rate | Customer owns RECs | Not addressed |
| New Mexico | Photovoltaics, Wind, Small Hydroelectric, Other Distributed Generation Technologies | Residential | Farmington Electric | 10 kW | No limit specified | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate. After 12-month cycle, customer may opt to roll over credit indefinitely or to receive payment for credit at a rate determined by utility. | Not addressed | Not addressed |
| New Mexico | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Fuel Cells, Municipal Solid Waste, CHP/Cogeneration, Small Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels, Microturbines | Commercial, Industrial, Residential | Investor-owned utilities, electric cooperatives | 80 MW | No limit specified | Credited to customer's next bill at avoided-cost rate or reconciled monthly at avoided-cost rate | Utility owns RECs | Not addressed |
| State (or Utility) | Eligible Renewable / Other Technologies | Applicable Sectors | Applicable Utilities | Limit on System Capacity | Limit on Aggregate Capacity | Net Excess Generation (NEG) | REC Ownership | Meter Aggregation |
| New York | Photovoltaics, Wind, Fuel Cells, CHP/Cogeneration, Anaerobic Digestion, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels, Microturbines | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Agricultural, Institutional | LIPA | 2 MW for non-residential solar or wind; 500 kW for agricultural wind and 1 MW for agricultural biogas; 25 kW for residential solar or wind; 10 kW for residential micro-CHP and fuel cells | 1% (51.2 MW) of utility's 2005 demand for solar, agricultural biogas, residential micro-CHP and fuel cells; 0.3% (15.3 MW) of utility's 2005 demand for wind | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate, except seasonal avoided for micro-CHP and fuel cells; excess generally reconciled annually at seasonal avoided-cost rate, except annual excess for micro-CHP and fuel cells carries forward indefinitely | Not addressed | Not addressed |
| New York | Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Fuel Cells, CHP/Cogeneration, Anaerobic Digestion, Small Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels, Microturbines | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government, Agricultural, Institutional | Investor-owned utilities | Solar: 25 kW for residential; 2 MW for non-residential Wind: 25 kW for residential; 2 MW for non-residential; 500 kW for farm-based Micro-hydroelectric: 25 kW for residential; 2 MW for non-residential Fuel Cells: 10 kW for residential; 1.5 MW for non-residential Biogas: 1 MW (farm-based only) Micro-CHP: 10 kW (residential only) | 1% of utility's 2005 demand for solar, farm-based biogas, fuel cells, micro-hydroelectric, and residential micro-CHP; 0.3% of utility's 2005 demand for wind | Generally credited to customer's next bill at retail rate (except avoided-cost rate for micro-CHP and fuel cells); excess for residential PV and wind and farm-based biogas is reconciled annually at avoided-cost rate; excess for micro-hydro, non-residential wind and solar, and residential micro-CHP and fuel cells carries over indefinitely | Not addressed | Allowed for non-residential and farm-based customers |
| North Carolina | Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Hydrogen, Anaerobic Digestion, Small Hydroelectric, Tidal Energy, Wave Energy, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Tribal Government, Fed. Government, Agricultural, Institutional | Investor-owned utilities | 1 MW | No limit specified | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; granted to utility at beginning of summer billing season | Utility owns RECs (unless customer chooses to net meter under an unfavorable demand tariff) | Not addressed |
| North Dakota | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Municipal Solid Waste, CHP/Cogeneration, Small Hydroelectric | Commercial, Industrial, Residential | Investor-owned utilities | 100 kW | No limit specified | Reconciled monthly at avoided-cost rate* | Customer and utility own RECs | Not addressed |
| Ohio | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells, Small Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels, Microturbines | Commercial, Industrial, Residential | Investor-owned utilities | No capacity limit specified, but system must be sized primarily to offset part or all of customer's electricity requirements | No limit specified | Credited to customer's next bill at unbundled generation rate; customer may request payment for excess at end of 12-month billing period | Not addressed | Not addressed |
| State (or Utility) | Eligible Renewable / Other Technologies | Applicable Sectors | Applicable Utilities | Limit on System Capacity | Limit on Aggregate Capacity | Net Excess Generation (NEG) | REC Ownership | Meter Aggregation |
| Oklahoma | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Municipal Solid Waste, CHP/Cogeneration, Small Hydroelectric | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, General Public/Consumer | Investor-owned utilities, regulated electric cooperatives | 100 kW or 25,000 kWh/year (whichever is less) | No limit specified | Credited to customer's next bill or granted to utility monthly (varies by utility) | Not addressed | Not addressed |
| Oregon | Photovoltaics, Wind | Commercial, Residential | Ashland Electric | No limit specified | No limit specified | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; reconciled at end of year in December at 1.25 times the highest residential rate block (1,000 kWh limit), after 1,000 kWh, purchased at wholesale rate | Not addressed | Not addressed |
| Oregon | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells, Anaerobic Digestion, Small Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government, Agricultural, Institutional | All utilities (except Idaho Power) | 2 MW for non-residential and 25 kW for residential PGE and PacifiCorp customers; 25 kW for non-residential and 10 kW for residential muni, co-op and PUD customers | No limit specified for PGE and PacifiCorp; 0.5% of utility's historic single-hour peak load for munis, co-ops, PUDs | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate for IOU customers; varies for muni, co-op and PUD customers | Customer owns RECs (unless Energy Trust subsidizes system) | Allowed |
| Pennsylvania | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells, Municipal Solid Waste, CHP/Cogeneration, Anaerobic Digestion, Small Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels, Other Distributed Generation Technologies | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government, Agricultural, Institutional | Investor-owned utilities | 5 MW for micro-grid and emergency systems; 3 MW for non-residential; 50 kW for residential | No limit specified | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; reconciled annually at "price-to-compare" | Customer owns RECs | Virtual meter aggregation allowed |
| Puerto Rico | Photovoltaics, Wind, Other Distributed Generation Technologies | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Multi-Family Residential, Agricultural, Institutional | PREPA | 1 MW for non-residential; 25 kW for residential | No limit specified | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate (with certain limitations); excess reconciled annually | Not addressed | Not addressed |
| State (or Utility) | Eligible Renewable / Other Technologies | Applicable Sectors | Applicable Utilities | Limit on System Capacity | Limit on Aggregate Capacity | Net Excess Generation (NEG) | REC Ownership | Meter Aggregation |
| Rhode Island | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Anaerobic Digestion, Small Hydroelectric, Ocean Thermal, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government, Multi-Family Residential, Agricultural, Institutional | Investor-owned utilities | 5 MW (systems must be "reasonably designed" to generate only up to 100% of annual electricity consumption) | 3% of peak load (2 MW reserved for systems under 50 kW) | Credited at avoided cost; rolled over to next bill or purchased by utility | Not addressed | Yes |
| South Carolina | Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Small Hydroelectric | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Tribal Government, Fed. Government, Agricultural, Institutional | Duke Energy | 100 kW for non-residential; 20 kW for residential | 0.2% of utility's SC jurisdictional retail peak demand for previous calendar year | Credited to customer's next bill at applicable time-of-use rate or less; granted to utility annually on June 1 | Customer owns RECs until REC market emerges, at which point utilities own RECs | Not addressed |
| South Carolina | Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Small Hydroelectric | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Tribal Government, Fed. Government, Agricultural, Institutional | Progress Energy | 100 kW for non-residential; 20 kW for residential | 0.2% of utility's SC jurisdictional retail peak demand for previous calendar year | Credited to customer's next bill at applicable time-of-use rate or less; granted to utility annually on May 31 | Customer owns RECs until REC market emerges, at which point utilities own RECs | Not addressed |
| South Carolina | Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Small Hydroelectric | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Tribal Government, Fed. Government, Agricultural, Institutional | SCEandG | 100 kW for non-residential; 20 kW for residential | 0.2% of utility's SC jurisdictional retail peak demand for previous calendar year | Credited to customer's next bill at applicable time-of-use rate or less; granted to utility annually on June 1 | Customer owns RECs until REC market emerges, at which point utilities will own RECs | Not addressed |
| Texas | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Geothermal Electric, Municipal Solid Waste, Anaerobic Digestion, Small Hydroelectric, Tidal Energy, Wave Energy | Commercial, Residential | Austin Energy | 20 kW | No limit specified (program will be re-evaluated after 1% of load is met) | Credited to customer's next bill at avoided-cost rate | Not addressed | Not addressed |
| State (or Utility) | Eligible Renewable / Other Technologies | Applicable Sectors | Applicable Utilities | Limit on System Capacity | Limit on Aggregate Capacity | Net Excess Generation (NEG) | REC Ownership | Meter Aggregation |
| Texas | Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Microturbines, Other Distributed Generation Technologies | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, General Public/Consumer, Nonprofit, Schools, State Government, Agricultural, Institutional | City of Brenham | 10 MW | Not addressed | Monthly excess credited at utility's avoided cost rate. | Not addressed | Not addressed |
| Utah | Photovoltaics, Wind | Commercial, Residential, General Public/Consumer | City of St. George | 10 MW | No limit specified | Carried to customer's next bill at retail rate. After 12-month cycle, excess credited to next bill at avoided-cost rate. | Customer owns RECs (unless utility subsidizes system) | Not addressed |
| Utah | Photovoltaics, Wind, Small Hydroelectric | Commercial, Residential, General Public/Consumer | Murray City Power | 10 kW | No limit specified | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; granted to utility each April | Not addressed | Not addressed |
| Utah | CHP/Cogeneration, Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Fuel Cells, Hydrogen, Anaerobic Digestion, Small Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government, Agricultural, Institutional | Investor-owned utilities, electric cooperatives | 2 MW for non-residential; 25 kW for residential | 20% of 2007 peak demand for Rocky Mountain Power; 0.1% of utility's 2007 peak demand for co-ops | Rocky Mountain Power residential and small commercial customers: Excess kWh credits are applied to customer's next bill (retail rate); granted to utility at end of 12-month billing cycle Rocky Mountain Power Large commercial and industrial customers with demand charges: Customer has choice between valuing excess generation at an avoided cost based rate; or valuing excess generation at an alternative rate based on utility revenue and sales contained in FERC Form No. 1 Co-op customers: Credited at avoided-cost rate | Customer owns RECs | Allowed at same or adjacent location |
| Utah | Photovoltaics, Wind | General Public/Consumer | Washington City | 10 kW | 1% of utility's most recent annual peak load | Reconciled monthly at avoided-cost rate | Utility owns RECs | Not addressed |
| State (or Utility) | Eligible Renewable / Other Technologies | Applicable Sectors | Applicable Utilities | Limit on System Capacity | Limit on Aggregate Capacity | Net Excess Generation (NEG) | REC Ownership | Meter Aggregation |
| Vermont | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, CHP/Cogeneration, Anaerobic Digestion, Small Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels | Commercial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government, Agricultural, Institutional | All utilities | Current Rules: 2.2 MW for military systems; 20 kW for micro-CHP; 250 kW for all other systems New Rules per HB56: 2.2 MW for military systems; 20 kW for micro-CHP; 500 kW for all other systems | Current Rules: 2% of utility's 1996 peak demand or peak demand during most recent calendar year (whichever is greater). Systems installed on military property do not count towards the limit. New Rules per HB56: 4% of utility's 1996 peak demand or peak demand during most recent calendar year (whichever is greater). | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; excess credits not used within 12 months of generation granted to utility | Not addressed | Group net metering allowed |
| Virgin Islands | Photovoltaics, Wind | Commercial, Residential, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Tribal Government, Fed. Government, Institutional | VIWAPA | 500 kW for government; 100 kW for commercial; 20 kW for residential | 5 MW for St. Croix; 10 MW for St. Thomas, St. John, Water Island and other territorial islands | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; granted to utility at end of 12-month billing cycle | Not addressed | Not addressed |
| Virginia | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Municipal Solid Waste, CHP/Cogeneration, Small Hydroelectric, Tidal Energy, Wave Energy | Commercial, Residential | Danville Utilities | 10 kW residential and 500 kW non residential | less than 1% of the utility's most recent peak load for all interconnected renewable energy generators | A customer that would otherwise be a net metering customer shall receive no compensation for excess generation unless a power purchase agreement has been entered into with the utility. | Customer owns REC's. The utility is not obligated to purchase net metering RECs. | None addressed |
| Virginia | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Municipal Solid Waste, Small Hydroelectric, Tidal Energy, Wave Energy | Commercial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Institutional | Investor-owned utilities, electric cooperatives | 500 kW for non-residential; 20 kW for residential | 1% of utility's adjusted Virginia peak-load forecast for the previous year | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate. After 12-month cycle, customer may opt to roll over credit indefinitely or to receive payment at avoided-cost rate. | Customer owns RECs | Not addressed |
| Washington | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Wind, Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells, CHP/Cogeneration, Small Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels | Commercial, Industrial, Residential | Grays Harbor | 100 kW | 0.25% of utility's 1996 peak demand (increases to 0.5% on 1/1/2014) | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; reconciled annually at 50% of retail rate | Customer owns RECs | Allowed |
| State (or Utility) | Eligible Renewable / Other Technologies | Applicable Sectors | Applicable Utilities | Limit on System Capacity | Limit on Aggregate Capacity | Net Excess Generation (NEG) | REC Ownership | Meter Aggregation |
| Washington | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Wind, Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells, CHP/Cogeneration, Small Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels | Commercial, Industrial, Residential | All utilities | 100 kW | 0.25% of utility's 1996 peak demand (increases to 0.5% on 1/1/2014) | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; granted to utility at end of 12-month billing period | Customer owns RECs | Allowed |
| West Virginia | CHP/Cogeneration, Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Fuel Cells, Small Hydroelectric, Renewable Fuels, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels | Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Agricultural | All utilities | IOUs with more than 30,000 customers: 2 MW for industrial; 500 kW for commercial; 25 kW for residential. IOUs with fewer than 30,000 customers, municipal utilities and co-ops: 50 kW for commercial and industrial; 25 kW for residential. | 3% of peak demand during the previous year | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate with no annual true-up (perpetual rollover) | Not addressed | Allowed |
| Wisconsin | Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Municipal Solid Waste, CHP/Cogeneration, Small Hydroelectric, Other Distributed Generation Technologies | Commercial, Industrial, Residential | Investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities | 20 kW (some utilities allow net metering for systems up to 100 kW) | No limit specified | Varies by utility; Generally credited to customer's next bill at retail rate for renewables and avoided-cost rate for non-renewables Xcel: Credit is carried over monthly and reconciled annually, at the avoided-cost rate | Not addressed | Not addressed |
| Wyoming | Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Small Hydroelectric | Commercial, Industrial, Residential | Investor-owned utilities, electric cooperatives, irrigation districts | 25 kW | No limit specified | Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; excess reconciled annually at seasonal avoided-cost rate | Not addressed | Not addressed |
| IREC Model Rule | Solar, Wind, Biomass, Geothermal, Ocean, Hydro, Hydrogen produced from any of these sources | All | All | Customer-generator’s service entrance capacity | None | Indefinite rollover | Customer | Allowed on customer’s contiguous property |