Lincoln Electric Cooperative - Net Metering

Summary

Lincoln Electric Cooperative (LEC) approved a net metering policy in July of 2003. Under the policy, customers generating their own electricity using (but not limited to) wind, solar, geothermal, hydro, biomass or fuel cells may participate in LEC's net metering program. Net Metering is defined as the interconnection of member owned generation from a renewable source to Cooperative facilities, in which the generation output of energy not used at the service is netted against the energy delivered by the Cooperative. The Cooperative’s intent is to encourage, on a trial basis, the development of customer owned renewable sources of generation. The Cooperative will monitor the economic effects of the policy and may change it at any time should they find that net metered customers are being unduly subsidized by other members of the Cooperative. Net metering will be allowed within the following guidelines: - The Cooperative will not purchase energy produced by the member. - Nameplate generating capacity shall not exceed 10 kW. - Member generation is intended primarily to offset part or all of the member’s own electrical requirements at the service. - A standard non-detent meter may be allowed to turn the direction the power flows. - Two detented meters may be required for automated meter reading systems. The cooperative will contribute up to $500 to provide second meter and meter base if required. Any additional costs for metering will be the customer’s responsibility. - Charges for energy delivered by the Cooperative in excess of the energy flowed back onto the system shall be billed monthly at the energy rate from the applicable rate schedule. Customer generation in excess of monthly usage will be banked* for use later in the current twelve-month period. At the end of the current period any remaining unused kilowatt-hours credit accumulated during the previous twelve months will be given to the cooperative without any compensation to the customer. Net metering customers will be subject to all other terms of the appropriate rate schedule including payment of the monthly Basic Charge even if no energy is billed. - The Generator will be required to sign an interconnection and operating agreement with the Cooperative. LEC is in the process of finalizing their interconnection requirements. * Banking is a method of accounting, within an annual billing period, for energy produced for export into the distribution system for later use at that customer’s service.