Last DSIRE Review: 02/01/2010
Program Overview:
| State: |
Florida |
| Incentive Type: |
Net Metering |
| Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: |
Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, CHP/Cogeneration, Hydrogen, Small Hydroelectric, Tidal Energy, Wave Energy, Ocean Thermal |
| Applicable Sectors: |
Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Tribal Government, Fed. Government, 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 avoided-cost rate
| | REC Ownership: | Customer owns RECs
| | Meter Aggregation: | Not allowed
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Date Effective: 07/01/2008 |
Summary:
In March 2008, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) adopted rules for net metering and interconnection for renewable-energy systems up to two megawatts (MW) in capacity. The PSC rules apply only to the state's investor-owned utilities; the rules do not apply to electric cooperatives or municipal utilities. Net metering is available to customers who generate electricity using solar energy, geothermal energy, wind energy, biomass energy, ocean energy, hydrogen, waste heat or hydroelectric power.
Customer net excess generation (NEG) is carried forward at the utility's retail rate (i.e., as a kilowatt-hour credit) to a customer's next bill for up to 12 months. At the end of a 12-month billing period, the utility pays the customer for any remaining NEG at the utility's avoided-cost rate. Renewable energy credits (RECs) are the property of the system owner, and customers may sell RECs back to the utility. There is no stated aggregate capacity limit for net-metered systems.
Utilities must file with the Florida PSC annual reports indicating the number of customer-generators and the size, type and location of their renewable energy systems, the aggregate capacity of net-metered generation, the amount of energy delivered to and generated from interconnected customers, and the total energy payments made to interconnected customers.
In June 2008, Florida enacted legislation ( H.B. 7135) confirming that the PSC had the authority to adopt the March 2008 rules related to interconnection and net metering for investor-owned utilities. In addition, H.B. 7135 required municipal utilities and electric cooperatives to "develop a standardized interconnection agreement and net metering program for customer-owned renewable generation" by July 1, 2009.* However, the law does not provide clear standards or define net metering for municipal utilities and electric cooperatives. Municipal utilities and electric cooperatives are required to file an annual report with the PSC detailing customer participation, although the PSC does not have direct authority over these utilities.
* Prior to the enactment of H.B. 7135, several municipal and cooperative utilities -- including Lakeland Electric, JEA and Orlando Utilities Commission -- voluntarily offered net metering to their customers. For information on the current net metering programs offered by these utilities, see their websites: JEA Net Metering, Orlando Utilities Commission Net Metering
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Contact:
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Public Information - FL PSC
Florida Public Service Commission
2540 Shumard Oak Blvd .
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0850
Phone: (850) 413-6600
Fax: (850) 487-1716
Web Site: http://www.psc.state.fl.us
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