Transcript Document

Solar Net Metering
Rachel Meek
Business Efficiency Program Coordinator
Gainesville Regional Utilities
January 28, 2015
The Gainesville Community
• City population of 130,000
• More than 60 square miles
• Home to the University of
Florida (Gators)
• Low tax base - rely heavily
on municipal utility (GRU)
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Gainesville Regional Utilities
• Municipally-owned Utility
(electric, gas, water/wastewater, telecom)
• 93,000 customers
• 409 MW Peak
• 598 MW Capacity
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History of Solar
• Solar Water Heating
– Rebate from 1997 to 2012
• Solar PV (FIT)
– 2009 to 2013 (varying prices)
• Solar PV (NEM)
– First Systems 2002
– Rebates from 2007- 2012
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Solar Program Stats
• 20.8 MW installed
– 18.5 MW FIT
– 2.3 MW NEM
• 455 Systems installed (combined)
• 1.6 MW largest single rooftop system
• 3 MW largest ground mount system
• Average monthly production
2,019,727 kWh
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NEM Program
• Energy production credited monthly as a
blended rate in dollars
• Retail rate paid for any excess generation
(customer request required)
• Customer could avoid paying fixed charges
each month
• No fees to participate in NEM
What Has Changed…
• Upward rate pressures
• Suspended FIT for Fiscal Year 2015
• Continue to have no rebates for Solar
• City Commission directed staff to adopt
the Florida PSC model for net metering
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Current NEM Program
• Energy credits roll over monthly
• Avoided Cost paid to customer at year's end for
unused credits
• Customer pays fixed charges each month
• Application fees to cover administrative costs
– Tier I: (0KW-10KW) – No Application Fee
– Tier II: (10KW – 100KW) - $400 Application Fee
– Tier III: (100KW – 2MW) - $1,000 Application Fee
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Challenges
• Limiting upward rate pressure
• Monitoring our circuits
• Fire Safety
• Reducing overall subsidies paid by
customers
Contact Information:
Rachel Meek
Gainesville Regional Utilities
[email protected]
(352)393-1484