Solar & Battery Regulation & Incentive Programs

Net Metering

Program Overview

Category:: Regulatory Policy
Program Type:: Net Metering
Implementing Sector:: State
State:: Wisconsin
Eligible Storage Technologies:: Geothermal Electric, Solar Thermal Electric, Solar Photovoltaics, Wind (All), Biomass, Hydroelectric, Municipal Solid Waste, Combined Heat & Power, Wind (Small), Hydroelectric (Small), Other Distributed Generation Technologies
Website:: https://psc.wi.gov/Pages/ForUtilities/Energy/NetMeteringandBuyBackTariffs.aspx
Applicable Utilities:: Investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities
System Capacity Limit:: 20 kW (some utilities allow larger systems to net meter)
Aggregate Capacity Limit:: No limit specified
Net Excess Generation:: Varies by utility
Ownership of Renewable Energy Credits:: Not addressed
Meter Aggregation:: Not addressed
Applicable Sectors:: Commercial, Industrial, Residential
Utility:: Algoma Utility Comm, Arcadia City of, City of Argyle, Bangor City of, City of Barron, Village of Belmont, Village of Benton, Village of Black Earth, City of Black River Falls, Bloomer Electric & Water Co, City of Boscobel, Brodhead Water & Lighting Comm, Village of Cadott, Village of Cashton, Cedarburg Light & Water Comm, Village of Centuria, Clark Electric Coop, City of Clintonville, City of Columbus, Consolidated Water Power Co, City of Cornell, City of Cuba City, Cumberland City of, Dahlberg Light & Power Co, City of Eagle River, City of Elkhorn, City of Elroy, City of Evansville, City of Fennimore, Florence Utility Comm, Village of Gresham, Hartford Electric, Village of Hazel Green, Hustisford Utilities, Jefferson Utilities, Juneau Utility Comm, City of Kaukauna, City of Kiel, La Farge Municipal Electric Co, Lake Mills Light & Water, City of Lodi, Madison Gas & Electric Co, Manitowoc Public Utilities, City of Marshfield, Village of Mazomanie, City of Medford, City of Menasha, Merrillan Village of, Mt Horeb Village of, Village of Muscoda, Village of New Glarus, City of New Holstein, City of New Lisbon, New London Electric&Water Util, Northern States Power Co - Wisconsin, Northwestern Wisconsin Elec Co, Oconomowoc Utilities, Oconto Falls Water & Light Comm, Village of Pardeeville, Pioneer Power and Light Co, City of Plymouth, Village of Prairie Du Sac, City of Princeton, Reedsburg Utility Comm, Rice Lake Utilities, City of Richland Center, City of River Falls, Rock Energy Cooperative, Village of Sauk City, Shawano Municipal Utilities, City of Sheboygan Falls, City of Shullsburg, Slinger Utilities, Spooner City of, Stoughton City of, Village of Stratford, Sturgeon Bay City of, Sun Prairie Water & Light Comm, Superior Water, Light and Power Co, Village of Trempealeau, Two Rivers Water & Light, Village of Viola, Waterloo Light & Water Comm, Village of Waunakee, Waupun Utilities, City of Westby, Whitehall Electric Utility, Wisconsin Dells Electric Util, Wisconsin Electric Power Co, Wisconsin Power & Light Co, WPPI Energy, Wisconsin Public Service Corp, Wisconsin Rapids W W & L Comm, Wonewoc Electric & Water Util, Westfield Electric Co
Last Updated:: 11/30/2018

Summary

The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) issued an order on January 26, 1982, requiring all regulated utilities to file tariffs allowing net metering to customers that generate electricity with systems up to 20 kilowatts (kW)* in capacity.

Eligibility and Availability

The order applies to investor-owned utilities and municipal utilities, but not to electric cooperatives. All distributed-generation (DG) systems, including renewable energy and combined heat and power (CHP) systems, are eligible. There is no limit on total enrollment.

Net Excess Generation

The PSC has not adopted administrative rules for net metering.** Utilities' net-metering tariffs contain some variations. Customer net excess generation (NEG) is generally credited at the utility's retail rate for renewable energy, and at the utility's avoided-cost rate for non-renewable energy. NEG credit is carried over to the customer's next bill. If NEG credit exceeds $25, then the utility must issue a check for the amount, payable to the customer.

In December 2011, the PSC approved a process for Xcel Energy to reconcile NEG credits to customers on an annual basis at the avoided-cost rate.

Investor-Owned Utility Net Metering Tariffs

For more information on net metering, refer to the applicable utility net metering tariffs listed below. The Public Service Commission also maintains a listing of utility tariffs that can be used to access your utility's net metering tariff if it is not listed here.

Northern States Power Company d/b/a Xcel Energy - System size limit: 100 kW; NEG credits roll over monthly at the retail rate and are compensated at the end of calendar year at the avoided cost rate.
Wisconsin Electric Power Company d/b/a We Energies - System size limit: 300 kW; NEG credits reconciled monthly at the Customer's Buy-Back Energy Rate ($0.04245 per kWh).
Madison Gas and Electric - System size limit: 100 kW; NEG credits roll over monthly at the Energy Credit Rate.
Wisconsin Public Service Corporation - System size limit: 20 kW; NEG credits roll over monthly at a rate that includes energy, capacity, and transmission costs.

* Some utilities allow net metering for systems larger than 20 kW. In these cases, excess generation rates, carry-over processes, and capacity limits vary by utility. These provisions are specified in the utility tariffs.

** Subsequent PSC decisions issued June 21, 1983 in docket numbers 05-ER-11, 05-ER-12 and 05-ER-13, further implemented Sections 201 and 210 of the federal Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act of 1978 (PURPA). These decisions were confirmed by an order issued September 18, 1992, in docket number 05-EP-6. This last order addresses net metering as it applies to Wisconsin's investor-owned utilities.

Authorities

Name	Enacted Date	Effective Date	Expired Date
PSC Order, Docket No. 05-EP-6	09/18/1992
PSC Order, Docket 4220-UR-117	12/22/2011