Net Metering

 

Net Metering is the billing arrangement which allows a solar powered customer to receive credit on

their electric bills for the electricity that they send out to the electrical grid, beyond what is used

by their house or business.

 

As a customer of LG&E-KU you can benefit by receiving credit for the excess solar power you

produce.  Net metering is allowed by state law if your system is no more than 30kW,

and the great majority of residential systems are approximately 5kW.

 

 

How this works is fairly simple.   During the times of the day when your solar PV system generates

more power than you use, you will send the excess electricity to the grid via the electrical

interconnection.  Your electricity meter automatically keeps track of how much electricity went out.  

Your utility statement will show how much this credit is each month.  In cloudy winter months, if you

use more than you generate, you will use up some of your accumulated credits, (assuming that you

have actually generated some credits, and you will have if your system is sized correctly).

 

 

The LG&E-KU web site has their information about  net-metering at

lge-ku.com/customer-service/ways-manage-your-bill/net-metering.  [< make this a hyperlink]

There you can download a pdf file with the regulations pertaining to net metering which have been

created by the Public Service Commission.

 

You can also sell your total energy credits as Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) for added

revenue that, along with tax credits and reduced utility bills, will help to offset the initial investment

costs for your system.

 

Most U.S. states have adopted net-metering policies (see DSIRE -  Net Metering Policies Map [make

this a hyperlink]

Kentucky currently has a maximum limit of 30kW systemgenerating capacity for system owners to

have net-metering.  Legislation is being discussed to expand this limit in the 2016 legislative session.