New Nebraska Law Creates Statewide Net Metering
Customers can receive monetary credits for excess electricity from renewables
June 2009
A new Nebraska law sets a statewide standard for compensating utility customers who use on-site, renewable energy systems—like this array of solar collectors—to produce more electricity than they use.
Credit: James Mixon
A newly signed Nebraska law establishes a statewide net metering system, which allows utility customers to be compensated if they produce more electricity than they use, provided that the power comes from renewable sources.
The legislation, introduced by Sen. Ken Haar, applies to both residential and business utility customers with on-site power generation systems that produce electricity from methane, wind, solar, biomass, hydropower, or geothermal. It sets an across-the-board cap of 25 kilowatts (kW) per location, higher than most of the current, individual net metering programs in the state.
Customers will earn monetary credits, at the retail rate, for the amount of electricity they produce beyond what they consume. Credits will roll over from one month to the next until the end of the year, at which point the balance will be reconciled and a new, 12-month cycle will begin.
Utilities must provide qualifying customers with a metering system to measure the flow of electricity in both directions. Customers are responsible for the cost and installation of their own power generation systems.
Although the law goes into effect in September 2009, "We have already been hearing from a number of businesses who are looking to expand small, renewable energy generators for houses and businesses," said Tom Green, legislative aide to Sen. Haar.
For more information, read the full text of the legislation. (PDF 146 KB). Download Adobe Reader.
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