Nebraska Public Power District - Net Metering

July 02, 2009

Summary

The Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) offers retail electric service to 80 communities throughout Nebraska, totaling approximately 88,000 customers. Effective September 1, 2008, the utility is offering net metering to generating facilities of 25 kW or less that are certified as qualifying facilities (QFs) under the federal Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA). The definition of QF generally includes most renewable-energy technologies, as well as combined-heat-and-power (CHP) systems. The net metering rate schedule will remain available until aggregate net-metered capacity reaches 1% of the utility's annual retail peak demand. Under the tariff, net metering is available to retail electric customers of NPPD through a single bi-directional meter. Systems must be designed to supply all or a portion of the customer's electrical load. Net excess generation (NEG) produced during a billing period is carried forward as a monetary credit on the customer-generator's next bill. The customer-generator is paid for accumulated NEG credits at the end of the calendar year. The amount of the monetary credit is determined by the purchase rate schedule below.

Photovoltaics (PV): 7.81 cents/kWh (summer); 3.65 cents/kWh (winter)

Wind: 4.15 cents/kWh (summer); 2.82 cents/kWh (winter)

Baseload (e.g., biogas digesters): 3.86 cents/kWh (summer); 3.05 cents/kWh (winter) In this schedule, summer refers to the period beginning June 1 and ending September 30, while winter comprises the remainder of the year. The "baseload" rates apply to all technologies other than PV and wind. Customers are billed for non-energy charges (i.e., the customer charge for NPPD) according to applicable standard rate schedule, and NEG credits may not be used to offset non-energy charges. The customer maintains ownership of the renewable energy credits (RECs) or other environmental attributes produced by the system. Proof of QF certification from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is required prior to taking service under the net metering tariff. In addition, all net-metered facilities must comply with the NPPD's technical interconnection standards for distributed generation facilities. NPPD's interconnection standards generally embrace the technical criteria of the IEEE 1547 technical standard. The customer is responsible for expenses associated with interconnecting the system to the grid, including the replacement of an electric meter not capable of measuring the flow of electricity in two directions.

Program Overview

Implementing Sector:	Utility
Category:	Regulatory Policy
State:	Nebraska
Incentive Type:	Net Metering
Web Site:	http://www.nppd.com/My_Business/Commercial_Services/Additional_Files/distributed_generation.asp
Administrator:
Start Date:
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies:	Solar Photovoltaics Wind (All) Biomass Hydroelectric Municipal Solid Waste Combined Heat & Power Hydroelectric (Small) Anaerobic Digestion Other Distributed Generation Technologies
Applicable Utilities:	NPPD
System Capacity Limit:	25 kW
Aggregate Capacity Limit:	1% of utility's peak annual demand of retail customers
Net Excess Generation:	Credited to customer's next bill at varying rates; excess reconciled at end of calendar year
Ownership of Renewable Energy Credits:	Customer owns RECs
Meter Aggregation:	Not addressed

Authorities

Name:	Net Metering Service Rider
Effective Date:	09/01/2008

Name:	District Standard CSD-AM-ST-004 (DG Interconnection)
Effective Date:	09/24/2007

Contact

Name:	Kelly Beiermann
Organization:	Nebraska Public Power District
Address:	P.O. Box 519 Norfolk NE 68702-0519
Phone:	(402) 563-5415
Email:	klbeier@nppd.com

This information is sourced from DSIRE; the most comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the United States. Established in 1995, DSIRE is operated by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center at N.C. State University.