AVAILABILITY
Schedules 11 & 12 apply to net metering agreements established prior to January 1, 2024.
This service is available on a “first-come, first-serve” basis to any customer that owns and operates a (1) solar, wind, fuel cell, or hydroelectric generating facility, (2) with a capacity of not more than twenty-five (25) kilowatts, (3) located on the Customer’s premises, (4) is interconnected and operates in parallel with the Cooperative’s existing transmission and distribution system and, (5) is intended primarily to offset part or all of the customer’s own electrical requirements. This provision shall be available until the time that the total rated generating capacity used by the eligible customer equals 167 kilowatts. This schedule is offered in compliance with ORS 757.262, as amended by HB 3219, July 8, 1999.
DEFINITIONS
Net Metering: Is the measurement of the difference between the electricity supplied to an eligible Customer by the Cooperative and the electricity (1) generated by an eligible Customer’s net metering facility and (2) fed back to the Cooperative over the applicable billing period.
Avoided Cost: Is the cost for wholesale electric power purchased by the Cooperative. This cost is typically based on separate capacity charges and energy charges. These charges vary over time (e.g., daytime vs. nighttime, summer season vs. winter season) in order to reflect differing wholesale market conditions. Excess energy generated by facilities can offset or displace a portion of these wholesale electric power purchases. Consequently, the value of excess energy from a facility is the calculated cost of equivalent wholesale electric power purchases that were offset or displaced (i.e., avoided).
Excess Energy: Means any electrical energy generated by the net metering facility that is surplus to the simultaneous electrical usage of the member. This electrical energy then flows into the Cooperative’s system and displaces wholesale electric power purchases. This energy will be measured in units of kW-hr.
MONTHLY BILLING
The Monthly Customer Charge shall be computed in accordance with the applicable standard rate schedule.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS FOR NET METERING SERVICE:
- In a given billing cycle, if the energy supplied to the Cooperative is less than the energy purchased from the Cooperative, the customer shall be billed for the appropriate monthly basic charge and the prices specified in the Energy Charges section of Residential Rate Schedule 1 or General Service Schedule 2 for non-residential consumers, shall be applied to the positive balance owed to the Cooperative.
- In a given billing cycle, if the energy supplied to the Cooperative is greater than the energy consumed from the Cooperative, the Customer shall be billed for the appropriate monthly basic charge and shall be credited for such net energy at the prices specified in the Energy Charges section of Residential Rate Schedule 1 or General Service Schedule 2 for non-residential consumers.
- At the annual true-up, at the end of the customer’s April billing cycle, any remaining unused energy credit from any excess generation shall be valued at the avoided cost and returned to the customer.
- The customer is responsible for all costs associated with its facility and is also responsible for costs related to any modifications to the facility that may be required by the Cooperative for purposes of safety, reliability, and reading meters except the cost of the actual meter(s). The customer-generator is not allowed to supply their own meter(s).
- Net Metering facility installations shall comply with the applicable standards established by the National Electric Code, the National Electric Safety Code, and shall meet all applicable safety and performance standards established in the Oregon State Building Code.
- Cooperative approved switching equipment, capable of isolating the net metering facility for the Cooperative’s system, shall be provided by the customer and shall be accessible to the Cooperative at all times and secured by a Cooperative owned padlock. The Cooperative shall also have the right, with or without notice, to (1) inspect the net-metering facility annually and (2) disconnect the net-metering facility from the cooperative’s system if there is a valid concern about system reliability or system performance. The Cooperative’s inspection fee is $35 per inspection. Once operational, the customer is subject to the Cooperative’s and OR-OSHA’s Lockout, Tag-out procedures.
- The Cooperative shall also have the ongoing right to adopt Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) or other standards that the Cooperative may deem necessary to ensure system reliability and performance and to maintain safety.
- The Cooperative shall not be liable directly or indirectly for permitting or continuing to allow an attachment of a net metering facility, or for the acts or omissions of the customer that cause loss or injury, including death (hereafter “loss”), to any third party, and the customer must defend, indemnify, and hold the Cooperative harmless from any such loss.
- Customers must execute a net metering agreement with the Cooperative before receiving net metering service.
- Any electric energy generated by the net metering facility that is surplus to the simultaneous electrical usage of the Customer is termed “excess energy.” This electric energy then flows into the Cooperative’s system and displaces wholesale electric power purchases. The Cooperative acquires ownership of the excess energy and all renewable attributes associated with it, including Renewable Energy Credits or RECs.
CONTINUING SERVICE
This Schedule is based on continuing service at each service location. Disconnect and reconnect transactions shall not operate to relieve a Customer from monthly minimum charges.
RULES AND REGULATONS
Service under this Schedule is subject to the rules and policies of Douglas Electric Cooperative.