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Funding Resources
Funding Resources
| MA Net Metering Standards | |
|---|---|
| Type of Incentive | Net Metering |
| Eligible States | MA |
| Eligible Technology | Backpressure Turbine, Boiler, Combustion Turbine, Condensing Turbine, Extracting Turbine, Fuel Cell, Microturbine, Other, Reciprocating Engine, Heat Recovery Generator, Stirling Engine |
| Eligible Fuel | # 2 Fuel Oil, # 6 Fuel Oil, Biogas, Biomass, Coal, Hydrogen, LFG, Municipal Solid Waste, Natural Gas, Other, Tire-Derived Fuel, Waste heat Recovery |
| Eligible Project Size | 2 |
| Number of Awards | |
| Size of Award | Eligible Technologies: Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Fuel Cells, Municipal Solid Waste, CHP/Cogeneration Size Limitations: 2 MW for "Class III" systems; 1 MW for "Class II" systems; 60 kW for "Class I" systems Overall Enrollment Restrictions: None Net Excess: Credited to customer's next bill at average monthly market rate |
| Start Date | 6/15/1997 |
| End Date |
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| Minimum Efficiency(%) |
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| Additional Information | Massachusetts's initial net-metering rules were created in 1982 by the state's Department of Public Utilities through 220 Code of Massachusetts Regulation, Section 8.04(2)(C). The Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy (DTE) amended the program in 1997. Originally, renewable-energy systems and combined-heat-and-power (CHP) facilities with a generating capacity up to 30 kilowatts (kW) were eligible for net metering, and net excess generation (NEG) was purchased at the utility's avoided-cost rate. The 1997 amendments increased the maximum individual system capacity to 60 kW and allowed customer-generators to carry NEG -- credited at the "average monthly market price of generation" -- to their next bill. In July 2008, net metering was significantly expanded by S.B. 2768 and the DPU adopted amended net-metering rules in July 2009. Furthermore in August 2009, the DPU issued its model net metering tariff so that customers in Massachusetts are subject to the same net metering tariffs regardless of utility. In Massachusetts, there are several categories of net-metering facilities: "Class I" facilities - generally defined as systems up to 60 kW in capacity. "Class II" facilities - generally defined as systems greater than 60 kW and up to one megawatt (MW) in capacity that generate electricity from agricultural products, solar energy or wind energy. "Class III" facilities - generally defined as systems greater than 1 MW and up to 2 MW in capacity that generate electricity from agricultural products, solar energy or wind energy. Massachusetts also allows "neighborhood net metering" for neighborhood-based Class I, II or III facilities that are owned by (or serve the energy needs of) a group of 10 or more residential customers in a single neighborhood and served by a single utility. The neighborhood facility may also serve additional customers (including commercial) as long as the base requirements are met. All net-metered facilities must be behind a customer's meter, but only a minimal amount of load located on-site is required. The treatment of customer net excess generation (NEG) varies by facility class and customer type. In general, NEG at the end of a billing period is slightly less than the utility's full retail rate for Class I solar and wind facilities, Class II facilities, and Class III facilities used by government customers. Class III facilities and neighborhood facilities that are used by customers other than government entities do not receive credit for the distribution component of each kilowatt-hour of NEG. The state's investor-owned utilities must offer net metering. Municipal utilities are not obligated to offer net metering, but they may do so voluntarily. The aggregate capacity of net metering is limited to 1% of each utility's peak load. For the purpose of calculating the aggregate capacity, the capacity of a net-metered solar facility is 80% of the facility's DC rating at standard test conditions (STC) and the capacity of a net-metered wind facility is the name plate capacity. |
| Web Site |
http://www.dsireusa.org/library/includes/ incentive2.cfm?Incentive_Code=MA01R&state=MA&CurrentPageID=1&RE=1&EE=1  |
| Primary Contact |
Barry Perlmutter 100 Cambridge Street Room 1210 Boston, MA 02202 U.S.A. Barry Perlmutter (barry.perlmutter@state.ma.us) (617) 305-3659 |