Solar & Battery Regulation & Incentive Programs
Note: In September 2017 the Public Service Commission of Utah (PSC) approved a settlement stipulation between PacifiCorp (doing business as Rocky Mountain Power), regulatory and state agencies, and other intervenors that: 1) capped the generating capacity of net metering customer generation systems at the cumulative generating capacity of those systems for which interconnection applications were submitted by November 15, 2017 and established a grandfathering period for the net metering program customers through 12/31/2035; 2) established a “Transition Program” for customer generators who submit interconnection applications after November 15, 2017 until the date an aggregate capacity limit is reached or the PSC issues a final order in an Export Credit Proceeding. The Transition Programs runs from the November 15, 2017 until December 31, 2032; and 3) permitted PacifiCorp to file an application to initiate the Export Credit Proceeding to determine the compensation rate for exported power from customer generation systems, This rate will apply to new customer-generation customers and net metering program and transition program customers after the expiration dates of those programs.
Net metering customers take service under Electric Service Schedule 135, Net Metering Service. Transition Program Customers take service under Electric Service Schedule No. 136, Transition Program for Customer Generators, The summary below describes the rules for Schedule 136.
Eligibility and Availability
Utah law required the PSC to determine: 1) whether the costs of a net metering program exceed the benefits, or vice versa; and 2) a just and reasonable charge, credit, or ratemaking structure, including new or existing tariffs, in light of the costs and benefits, In August 2014 the PSC opened a docket to investigate the costs and benefits of PacifiCorp’s net metering program. In November 2016 the state's only investor-owned electric utility, PacifiCorp, doing business as Rocky Mountain Power, filed information requested by the PSC in support of the required analysis. In September 2017, the PSC approved Rocky Mountain Power's Transition Program, Schedule 136, which functions as net billing. Schedule 136 is available to customers who generate electricity using solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, hydrogen, biomass, landfill gas, or geothermal energy. The system capacity limit is 25 kilowatts (kW) for residential systems 2 megawatts (MW) for non-residential systems, whether owned by the utility customer or a third party.
Aggregate Capacity Limit
Schedule 136 is available on a first-come, first-served basis up to a cumulative cap of 170 MW for residential, small non-residential, and certain lighting customers, and up to a cumulative cap of 70 MW for large non-residential customers, or until the PSC issues a final order in the Export Credit Proceeding.
Net Excess Generation
Energy usage is netted in 15-minute intervals. Any excess electricity exported during a 15-minute interval will be credited to the customer at the following rates established for each standard service tariff:
Any net excess generation at the end of an annualized billing period will expire with no compensation to the customer. The annualized billing period is a 12-month billing cycle coinciding with the March billing period for most customers.
Meter Aggregation
If a customer generator has multiple meters at one location or an adjacent location, the meters may be aggregated for billing purposes. The customer must notify the utility of the order in which they want the kWh credits to be applied to the meters.
REC Ownership
All renewable energy credits associated with the electricity produced by the system remain with the customer, unless otherwise agreed to in a separate contract.
| Name | Enacted Date | Effective Date | Expired Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSC Order, Docket No. 14-035-114 | 09/29/2017 | 12/31/2032 |