2012 Rhode Island General Laws
Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers
Chapter 39-26.4 - Net Metering
Chapter 39-26.4-3 - Net metering.

§ 39-26.4-3 Net metering. – (a) The following policies regarding net metering of electricity from eligible net metering systems and regarding any person that is a renewable self-generator shall apply:

(1) The maximum allowable capacity for eligible net metering systems, based on nameplate capacity, shall be five megawatts (5 mw).

(2) The aggregate amount of net metering in Rhode Island shall not exceed three percent (3%) of peak load, provided that at least two megawatts (2 mw) are reserved for projects of less than fifty kilowatts (50 kw).

(3) For ease of administering net metered accounts and stabilizing net metered account bills, the electric distribution company may elect (but is not required) to estimate for any twelve (12) month period:

(i) The production from the eligible net metering system; and

(ii) Aggregate consumption of the net metered accounts at the eligible net metering system site and establish a monthly billing plan that reflects the expected credits that would be applied to the net metered accounts over twelve (12) months. The billing plan would be designed to even out monthly billings over twelve (12) months, regardless of actual production and usage. If such election is made by the electric distribution company, the electric distribution company would reconcile payments and credits under the billing plan to actual production and consumption at the end of the twelve (12) month period and apply any credits or charges to the net metered accounts for any positive or negative difference, as applicable. Should there be a material change in circumstances at the eligible net metering system site or associated accounts during the twelve (12) month period, the estimates and credits may be adjusted by the electric distribution company during the reconciliation period. The electric distribution company also may elect (but is not required) to issue checks to any net metering customer in lieu of billing credits or carry forward credits or charges to the next billing period. For residential eligible net metering systems twenty-five kilowatts (25 kw) or smaller, the electric distribution company, at its option, may administer renewable net metering credits month to month allowing unused credits to carry forward into following billing period.

(4) If the electricity generated by an eligible net metering system during a billing period is equal to or less than the net metering customer's usage during the billing period for electric distribution company customer accounts at the eligible net metering system site, the customer shall receive renewable net metering credits, which shall be applied to offset the net metering customer's usage on accounts at the eligible net metering system site.

(5) If the electricity generated by an eligible net metering system during a billing period is greater than the net metering customer's usage on accounts at the eligible net metering system site during the billing period, the customer shall be paid by excess renewable net metering credits for the excess electricity generated beyond the net metering customer's usage at the eligible net metering system site up to an additional twenty-five percent (25%) of the renewable self-generator's consumption during the billing period; unless the electric distribution company and net metering customer have agreed to a billing plan pursuant to subdivision (3).

(6) The rates applicable to any net metered account shall be the same as those that apply to the rate classification that would be applicable to such account in the absence of net metering including customer and demand charges and no other charges may be imposed to offset net metering credits.

(b) The commission shall exempt electric distribution company customer accounts associated with an eligible net metering system from back-up or standby rates commensurate with the size of the eligible net metering system, provided that any revenue shortfall caused by any such exemption shall be fully recovered by the electric distribution company through rates.

(c) Any prudent and reasonable costs incurred by the electric distribution company pursuant to achieving compliance with subsection (a) and the annual amount of the distribution component of any renewable net metering credits or excess renewable net metering credits provided to accounts associated with eligible net metering systems, shall be aggregated by the distribution company and billed to all distribution customers on an annual basis through a uniform per kilowatt-hour (kwh) surcharge embedded in the distribution component of the rates reflected on customer bills.

(7) The billing process set out in this section shall be applicable to electric distribution companies thirty (30) days after the enactment of this chapter.

History of Section.
(P.L. 2011, ch. 134, § 2; P.L. 2011, ch. 147, § 2.)