We Energies - Solar Buy-Back Rate

Summary

We Energies, a utility serving portions of Wisconsin and Michigan, offers to purchase electricity and the associated renewable energy credits (RECs) generated by Wisconsin customers with qualifying solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Under a 10-year contract,* We Energies purchases 100% of the system output at a rate of 22.5¢ per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for electricity generated. PV systems must have a rated capacity of at least 1.5 kilowatts (kW) and not more than 100 kW to be eligible. Customers will receive a monthly credit for the energy and RECs sold to We Energies, and will receive a check whenever any net accumulated amount exceeds $100. Customers participating in this program may not net meter. The program, which began operation October 2005, initially allowed customers to begin participating until September 2008 or until the program reached a total of 500 kilowatts (kW) of installed PV capacity. However, We Energies gained approval from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin for an expansion of their existing solar buy-back rate effective May 14, 2007. The cap has now been increased to 1,000 kW, and eligible customers may enroll in this experimental tariff through September 30, 2011, for a 10-year term. All other program terms remain the same. Participating customers must comply with applicable national, state and local electrical codes, rules and regulations; the electric service rules and regulations of We Energies; the requirements of Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter PSC 119; the state's Distributed Generation Interconnection Agreement, and the "Energy for Tomorrow" Power Partner Program Agreement. A second meter is required in order to measure a PV system's output. Customers on a time-of-use (TOU) tariff must pay $2.50 per month for the additional meter; other customers must pay $1.00 per month. Additional meter charges may apply for systems greater than 40 kW in capacity. The minimum monthly charge under this program is the applicable facilities charge, plus the meter charge. There is no separate facilities charge for customers with PV systems 20 kW or less. (Note that these facility charges apply to customers selling electricity to the We Energies. The charges are in addition to the normal monthly facilities charge applicable to the rate schedule under which the customer takes electric service as a purchaser from the company.) System owners must enroll in the utility's "Energy for Tomorrow" program, a green-power program that allows customers the option to pay an additional sum on their monthly bills to support renewable energy. We Energies will use the solar electricity purchased from customers with PV systems to supply a portion of the energy sold under the "Energy for Tomorrow" program. Application information, the revised tariff sheet, and other information on We Energies renewable energy programs can be found online at the program website shown above. *We Energies will honor contracts of up to 10 years. Participating customers with PV systems may opt out of a contract, but We Energies may not opt out.