Guam - Net Metering

Note: As of October 2015, the net metering program had around 700 customers. According to the Guam Daily Post, the program is expected to reach the current 1,000-customer cap in mid-2016. This cap does not apply to school customers.

Eligibility and Availability
In 2004, Guam enacted legislation requiring the Guam Power Authority (GPA) to allow net metering for customers with fuel cells, microturbines, wind energy, biomass, hydroelectric, solar energy or hybrid systems of these renewable energy technologies. In 2010, Guam amended net metering and raised the system capacity limits to 25 kilowatts (kW) for residential systems and 100 kW for non-residential systems.*
 

Net Excess Generation

Customer-generators may be billed on a monthly basis, or with their written consent, on a quarterly, semi-annual or annual period. If a system has produced net excess generation at the end of the billing period the customer-generator is entitled to compensation at a rate to be determined by the Guam Public Utility Commission (PUC). The PUC was required to adopt rules to implement net metering within 120 days of the effective date of the authorizing legislation. As of April 2008, the PUC has not adopted rules for net metering but is considering them through their work on an Integrated Resource Plan.

Public Law 32-095, enacted November 27, 2013, raised the net metering cap for vendors who will install solar panels at public or private schools. The law allows the Guam Dept. of Energy to enter into power purchase agreements with all schools, administrative, and ancillary buildings for up to 25 years.

Cost-Effectiveness and Program Evaluation 

GPA must provide customer-generators with a bi-directional energy meter and may, at its own expense, install additional meters. GPA may not charge customer-generators any fees above and beyond those it charges to other customers in the same rate class that do not use a net-metered energy system.

Electric Demand and Energy Reduction Standard

Net-metered systems must meet all applicable safety and power quality standards established by the National Electric Code, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). The utility may not require customer-generators whose systems meet these standards to meet further requirements, install additional controls or purchase supplemental liability insurance.

*Note: the original net metering law system capacity limit was 25 kW, regardless of customer class.