We Energies - Solar-Electric Development (SED) Program

Summary

We Energies, an investor-owned utility, offers up to $5.00 per watt-AC for large photovoltaic (PV) systems installed by its business customers. The Solar Electric Development (SED) Program supports new PV systems ranging from 100 kilowatts-AC to 400 kilowatts-AC in capacity. Payments will be made based on the expected energy production of the system. The maximum payment is $2 million per system; the spending cap for the SED Program is $4 million. Applications received after the cap is reached will be placed on a waiting list. System components must be installed on or after January 1, 2007, and PV modules and inverters must be currently certified as eligible by the California Energy Commission (CEC). PV modules must be certified to the UL 1703 standard, and inverters must be certified to the UL 1741 standard. These components also must have completed the CEC's required weighted efficiency testing. Systems must be designed and installed in accordance with all applicable National Electric Code (NEC) requirements, and must be permitted and inspected as required by local and state codes. In addition, all systems must have a minimum five-year warranty and must be installed by a licensed, bonded and insured contractor. Systems must be sized so that the amount of electricity produced by the system primarily offsets part or all of the customer's electrical needs at the site of installation. Systems should not exceed the on-site customer demand for more than 100 hours per year, resulting in a net energy flow from the customer to the utility's distribution system. Customers will not be credited for any net energy delivered to the We Energies’ system in excess of consumption during any billing period. System owners must agree to transfer all renewable-energy credits (RECs) to the utility. System owners must sign an interconnection agreement, and meet all We Energies interconnection requirements, as well as the requirements of Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter PSC 119. System owners must install an approved meter socket and associated wiring, as appropriate, to allow measurement of customer energy production. We Energies will provide and install current transformers and associated meter wiring within the socket. System owners must install a lockable, manual disconnect switch. The incentive is $5.00 per watt-AC (approximately $3.85 per watt-DC) for a PV system with the “optimal” performance, as defined in the program agreement. The CEC's standard solar-electric equipment ratings are used to determine the AC rating of the system, subject to field verification and a production test.