Experimental Advanced Renewable Program
| Program Type | Performance-based Incentive |
|---|---|
| Technologies | Photovoltaics |
| Amount |
$0.525 per produced kilowatt-hour for residences, $0.65 per produced kWh for residential systems installed prior to May 10, 2010. |
| Required Documentation | Download both Instructions and Application from website |
| Official Web Site | http://www.consumersenergy.com/content.aspx?id=1801 |
This popular program offered incentives for up to 2 megawatts (MW) of solar power to be added to Consumers Energy’s production mix. Already it has received applications for more than 6 MWs of solar to be added. However, of that 2 MW, 500 kilowatts was carved out for residential solar, and the company continues to accept applications for the program in case other projects drop out or additional funding becomes available.
Under the program Consumers Energy will contract for up to 12 years to purchase electricity from participants’ PV systems at $0.65 per kWh—for systems installed before May 10, 2010—and $0.525 per kWh for systems installed after that. The program is not a net-metering program but a performance-based incentive program. The system must be manufactured in Michigan or installed by a Michigan work force to qualify.
To be eligible for the program, residents must be customers of Consumers Energy. The installed system must have nameplate capacity of at least 1 kW and a maximum capacity of 20 kW. Nonresidential systems must have a minimum nameplate capacity of 20 kW, with a maximum capacity of 150 kW. Systems must be grid-tied and cannot include a battery backup.
The program requires that participants have two meters, one for energy the customer purchases from Consumers Energy and another for energy produced by PV system. Consumers Energy also will own renewable energy credits produced by the system for the duration of the contract.
The PV system must be owned by the Consumers Energy customer and be installed on the premises of the account or on a contiguous property owned or leased by the account holder.
