Solar & Battery Regulation & Incentive Programs

Net Metering

Program Overview


Category:
Regulatory Policy
Program Type:
Net Metering
Implementing Sector:
State
State:
Montana
Eligible Storage Technologies:
Solar Photovoltaics, Wind (All), Hydroelectric, Wind (Small), Hydroelectric (Small)
Website:
http://deq.mt.gov/Energy/Renewable/NetMeterRenew.mcpx
Applicable Utilities:
Investor-owned utilities
System Capacity Limit:
50 kW
Aggregate Capacity Limit:
No limit specified
Net Excess Generation:
Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; granted to utility at end of 12-month period
Ownership of Renewable Energy Credits:
Not addressed
Meter Aggregation:
Not addressed
Applicable Sectors:
Commercial, Industrial, Residential
Utility:
NorthWestern Corporation
Last Updated:
08/08/2017

Summary

Eligibility and Applicability

Montana's net-metering law, enacted in July 1999, applies to all customers of investor-owned utilities. Systems up to 50 kilowatts (kW) in capacity that generate electricity using solar, wind or hydropower are eligible. No limit on enrollment or statewide installed capacity is specified. Utilities may not require customer-generators to comply with any additional standards or requirements beyond those established by the National Electric Code, National Electrical Safety Code, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), and Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

Net Excess Generation

Net excess generation (NEG) is credited to the customer's next monthly bill. The customer may choose to start the net metering period at the beginning of January, April, July or October to match seasonal farming cycles. At the beginning of the year -- either in January, April, July or October, depending on the customer's choice -- any remaining unused kilowatt-hour (kWh) credits accumulated during the previous year are granted to the utility.

Electric Cooparatives

Montana's electric cooperative utilities developed a draft net-metering agreement in 2001; this agreement has been adopted by most of the state's cooperatives. Contact your electric cooperative to find out if net metering is available.

Studies and Successor Tariff

The Legislature passed a joint resolution in April 2015 to conduct a study on the costs and benefits of net metering, noting it is necessary to determine such impacts before moving forward with changes to the state net metering program. The Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committee reviewed net metering issues, prepared a draft report to the legislature, and has drafted several proposed bills to implement changes to the state's net metering policy to be reviewed by the full legislature in the next session. Committee materials, including the draft bills, may be found here

In May 2017, H.B. 219 was signed into law, directing the state's public utilities to study the costs and benefits of customer-generators. After submission of these studies, the Public Service Commission may make a determination as part of a utility's general rate case that customer-generators should be served under a separate class of service with separate rates. Should the Commission make such a determination, existing net metering customers will be grandfathered under current rates for a certain length of time.


Authorities

NameEnacted DateEffective DateExpired Date
Mont. Code § 69-8-601 et seq.1999
SJ001204/27/2015
H.B. 21905/03/201705/03/2017