Net Metering

NOTE: On October 2016, the PA Public Service Commission (PUC) issued a second final rulemaking order amending net metering and Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards (AEPS) regulations. Changes include clarifying provisions for meter aggregation, revisions to the interconnection rules and other minor amendments. The documents associated with the case can be accessed at Docket L-2014-2404361.

In 2006 the PA Public Utilities Commission (PUC) adopted net-metering rules and interconnection standards for net-metered systems and other forms of distributed generation (DG) pursuant to the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards (AEPS) Act of 2004. In 2007, H.B. 1203 amended AEPS and expanded net metering. Revised

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Local Option - Property Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy and Electrical Energy Storage

New Hampshire allows cities and towns to offer an exemption from local property taxes for the assessed value of a solar energy system, electrical energy storage system, wind energy system, or wood-fired central heating system used on the property. A solar energy system is defined as a photovoltaic (PV) system or a system that "utilizes solar energy to heat or cool the interior of a building or to heat water for use in a building" and that includes one or more collectors and a storage container. Stoves and fireplaces do not qualify.

Cities and towns may adopt an exemption provision

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Renewable Energy Equipment Exemption

Iowa allows a sales tax exemption for solar, wind, and hydroelectricity equipment. As of July 2023, the Iowa sales tax rate is 6%.

Wind

For wind energy, the exemption includes the total cost of wind energy equipment and all materials used to manufacture, install, or construct wind energy systems. The exemption does not apply to equipment used to construct a plant to manufacture wind energy systems.

Solar

Effective July 1, 2006, solar energy equipment is also exempt from the state sales tax. Solar equipment means any equipment that is used to convert incident solar radiation to energy, or equipment used

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Renewable Energy Property Tax Exemption

Systems that generate energy using wind, hydropower, geothermal, and solar energy heating or cooling systems are exempt from property tax.* Systems using solar power devices—including solar thermal, photovoltaic (PV), and other solar energy—are exempt from property tax only if they were installed after December 31, 2011. 

For most eligible renewable energy systems, the assessed value of the system is exempt from property tax. One exception is solar energy heating or cooling systems which are exempt from property tax the amount equal to the out-of-pocket expenditures for the components and labor associated with the system. 

The property tax exemption is allowed

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Solar and Wind Energy Credit (Personal)

Originally enacted in 1976, the Hawaii Energy Tax Credits allow individuals or corporations to claim an income tax credit of 20% of the cost of equipment and installation of a wind system and 35% of the cost of equipment and installation of a solar thermal or photovoltaic (PV) system.* 

For solar thermal water heating systems, the maximum allowable credits are as follows:

  • Single family residential property is eligible for a credit of 35% of the actual cost or $2,250, whichever is less;
  • Multi-family residential property is eligible for a credit of 35% of the actual cost or $350 per unit
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Solar and Wind Energy Credit (Corporate)

Originally enacted in 1976, the Hawaii Energy Tax Credits allow individuals or corporations to claim an income tax credit of 20% of the cost of equipment and installation of a wind system and 35% of the cost of equipment and installation of a solar thermal or photovoltaic (PV) system.* 

For solar thermal water heating systems, the maximum allowable credits are as follows:

  • Single family residential property is eligible for a credit of 35% of the actual cost or $2,250, whichever is less;
  • Multi-family residential property is eligible for a credit of 35% of the actual cost or $350 per unit
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Wood-Burning Heating System Deduction

This statute allows individual taxpayers a deduction for the purchase and installation of a wood-burning heating system. The deduction is equal to the total cost of purchase and installation for the conversion from gas or electricity to wood when the system is used as the primary energy source for heating a home. The deduction must be taken for the taxable year during which the conversion was completed. Note that this incentive is for the conversion of an existing system and not for the first-time installation of a wood-burning system.

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Local Option - Property Tax Exemption

Vermont allows municipalities the option of offering an exemption from the municipal real and personal property taxes for certain renewable energy systems (Note: state property taxes would still apply). Eligible systems include, but are not limited to "windmills, facilities for the collection of solar energy or the conversion of organic matter to methane, net-metered systems ... and all component parts thereof including land upon which the facility is located, not to exceed one-half acre." Adoption of this exemption varies by municipality, but the exemption generally applies to the total value of the qualifying renewable energy system and can be applied

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Renewable Energy Systems Sales Tax Exemption

Vermont's sales tax exemption for renewable energy systems, originally enacted as part of the Miscellaneous Tax Reduction Act of 1999 (H.B. 0548), initially applied only to net-metered systems. The exemption now generally applies to systems up to 500 kilowatts (kW) in capacity that generate electricity using eligible "renewable energy" resources (as defined under 30 V.S.A. § 8002), to micro-combined heat and power (CHP) systems up to 20 kW, and to solar water-heating systems. The exemption is available for grid-tied systems and off-grid systems alike. Vermont's sales tax rate is 6%.

"Renewable energy" is defined under 30 V.S.A. §

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Net Metering

Eligibility 

In Delaware, net metering is available to any customer that generates electricity using solar, wind or hydro resources, anaerobic digesters, or fuel cells capable of being powered by renewable fuels. Grid-interactive electric vehicles are also eligible for net metering treatment for electricity that they put on the grid, although these vehicles do not themselves generate electricity. 

System size

The maximum capacity of a net-metered system is 25 kilowatts (kW) for residential customers; 150 kW for farm customers on residential rates (increased by S.B. 111 of 2023); two megawatts (MW) per meter for non-residential customers of Delmarva Power and Light

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