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Iowa

Incentives/Policies for Renewables & Efficiency

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Iowa - Net Metering
Last DSIRE Review: 12/04/2008  
Incentive Type: Net Metering
State: Iowa
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Municipal Solid Waste, Small Hydroelectric
Applicable Sectors: Commercial, Industrial, Residential
Applicable Utilities:Investor-owned utilities
System Capacity Limit:500 kW
Aggregate Capacity Limit:No limit specified
Net Excess Generation:Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate; carries over indefinitely
REC Ownership:Not addressed
Meter Aggregation:Not addressed
Authority 1: Iowa Code § 476.41 et seq.
Authority 2: IAC § 199-15.11(5)
Date Enacted:07/27/1984



Summary:
Iowa's statutes do not explicitly authorize the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) to mandate net metering, but this authority is implicit through the board's enforcement of PURPA and Iowa Code § 476.41 et seq. Iowa's net-metering subrule, adopted by the IUB in July 1984, applies to customers that generate electricity using alternate energy production facilities (AEPs). Net metering is available to all customer classes of Iowa's two investor-owned utilities -- MidAmerican Energy and Interstate Power and Light (IPL).  
 
There is no explicit limit on either the size of a net-metered system or on total enrollment in the IUB's subrule. However, separate rule waivers have allowed MidAmerican Energy and IPL to limit individual systems to 500 kilowatts (kW). Although Iowa's net-metering subrule requires utilities to purchase customers' net excess generation (NEG) at the utility's avoided-cost rate, subsequent rule waivers allow MidAmerican Energy and IPL customers to carry NEG (as a kilowatt-hour credit) forward for use in future months. A detailed description of the Iowa net metering policy background is available here.


 
Contact:
  John Pearce
Iowa Utilities Board
350 Maple Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
Phone: (515) 281-5679
E-Mail: John.Pearce@Iowa.gov
Web Site: http://www.state.ia.us/government/com/util/index.html
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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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