Under Vermont’s net-metering law, as of August 2010, residents and organizations are eligible to net meter renewable-energy generating systems up to 250 kWs. Excess net generation during a month period is credited to the customer’s monthly electric bill at their retail rate on a rolling 12-month basis, not at the end of a year. Under the net-metering law, customers are not otherwise reimbursed for net excess generation.

The law also allows for inclusion via a group metering arrangement. Under such an arrangement, “a group of customers, or a single customer with multiple electric meters,” may chose to operate as a “single billing entity in order to offset that billing against a net metered system.”

To qualify for a net-metering arrangement in the state, applicants must apply for a Certificate of Public Good from the state’s Public Service Board prior to preparing a site for, or building the net-metered system.

If a system owner plans to regularly generate more electricity than needed at a site, he or she may opt to apply for Vermont’s Standard Offer feed-in tariff program, which requires much more paperwork and time. Under the Standard Offer, applicants agree to a 25-year purchasing agreement with a utility for excess produced energy with the utility and perform a project evaluation.