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Connecticut

Connecticut

Incentives/Policies for Renewable Energy

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Connecticut - Net Metering
Last DSIRE Review: 02/06/2009  
Incentive Type: Net Metering
State: Connecticut
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells, Municipal Solid Waste, Small Hydroelectric, Tidal Energy, Wave Energy, Ocean Thermal
Applicable Sectors: Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government, Multi-Family Residential, Agricultural, Institutional
Applicable Utilities:Investor-owned utilities
System Capacity Limit:2 MW
Aggregate Capacity Limit:No limit specified
Net Excess Generation:Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; excess reconciled annually at either avoided-cost rate or time-of-use/generation rate (for PV systems)
REC Ownership:Customer owns RECs
Meter Aggregation:Not addressed
Web Site: http://www.ctenergyinfo.com/dpuc_net_metering.htm
Authority 1: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 16-243h
Date Enacted:1998 (subsequently amended)
Date Effective:7/1/1998



Summary:
Connecticut's two investor-owned utilities -- Connecticut Light and Power Company (CL&P) and United Illuminating Company (UI) -- are required to provide net metering to customers that generate electricity using "Class I" renewable-energy resources, which include solar, wind, landfill gas, fuel cells, sustainable biomass, ocean-thermal power, wave or tidal power, low-emission advanced renewable-energy conversion technologies, and hydropower facilities up to two megawatts (MW) in capacity. Legislation enacted in June 2007 (HB 7432, Section 39) raised the individual system capacity limit to 2 MW* and extended net metering to all customer classes. These changes took effect October 1, 2007.  
 
There is no stated limit on the aggregate capacity of net-metered systems in a utility's service territory. Any customer net excess generation (NEG) during a monthly billing period is carried over to the following month as a kilowatt-hour (kWh) credit. At the end of an annualized period, the utility pays the customer for any remaining NEG at the utility's avoided-cost rate. In January 2008, the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) ordered CL&P to calculate the reimbursement for PV systems, for any NEG at the end of an annualized period, on a time-of-use/generation basis. This significantly increases the financial benefits of net metering for PV system owners.  
 
Net-metered customers with systems greater than 10 kilowatts (kW) are assessed for the state's competitive transition assessment and the state's systems benefits charge, based on the amount of energy consumed by the customer from the facilities of the utility without netting any electricity produced by the customer.  
 
 
* Previously, the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) had approved programs designed by the state's investor-owned utilities to allow net metering for renewable-energy systems up to 100 kilowatts (kW) in capacity.


 
Contact:
  Mark Quinlan
Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control
Ten Franklin Square
New Britain, CT 06051
Phone: (860) 827-2691
Phone 2: (860) 827-1553
Fax: (860) 827-2613
E-Mail: mark.quinlan@po.state.ct.us
Web Site: http://www.state.ct.us/dpuc
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Please note: The information on the DSIRE web site provides an overview of incentives and other policies, but it should not be used as the only source of information when making purchasing decisions, investment decisions, tax decisions or other binding agreements. Please refer to the individual contact provided in each record to verify that a specific incentive or other policy is applicable to your specific project.

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