West Virginia Net Metering
| Program Type | Net Metering |
|---|---|
| Technologies |
Photovoltaics, Solar Thermal Electric, Landfill Gas, Wind Energy, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal, Fuel Cells, and Solar Hot Water Heating |
| Amount | Credited to customer generator’s monthly bill at retail rate |
| Required Documentation | Interconnection agreement with utility |
| Official Web Site | Check with utility |
Net metering in West Virginia went through an upgrade of sorts at the end of August 2010 as legislation, passed earlier this year, became effective. The new legislation clarified the state’s net-metering laws somewhat.
Under the new net-metering law, all utilities must offer net metering to residential customers with qualifying systems up to 25 kilowatts (kW) in size. Commercial customers of investor-owned utilities with more than 30,000 customers may net meter systems up to 500 kW and industrial customers of such utilities may net meter a system up to 2 megawatts.
For smaller investor-owned utilities and other utilities in the state, commercial and industrial customers may net meter systems up to 50 kW. Utilities must offer net metering to customers until net-metering generation reaches 3 percent of their electric generation. Potential customers must check with their utility to sign an interconnection agreement and to learn more about their net-metering program.
The net-metering law covers a wide variety of customers, including renewables, like solar and wind, but also some more nebulous forms of localized energy generation, which includes landfill gas and combined heat and power systems. Customers can use a bi-directional meter or two meters to net-meter.
Under the law, utilities credit forward any net excess generation from customers on a perpetual basis. Customers are credited for excess generation at their retail rate. Credits only apply to the energy portion of the bill, not demand charges, or other fees.
Customers with systems up to 50 kW in size must have $100,000 in liability insurance. Larger systems, those up to 500 kW, must carry $500,000 in liability insurance, and systems larger than 500 kW must carry $1 million in liability insurance.
