Section 362-A:9 Net Energy Metering.
I. A standard contract or tariff providing for net energy metering shall be developed and made available to eligible customer-generators by each electric distribution utility within 90 days of the start of retail choice of electric suppliers, or within 90 days of the final approval of net metering regulations issued by the commission, whichever comes first. Such tariffs or contracts shall be available on a first-come, first-served basis within each electric utility service area under the jurisdiction of the commission until such time as the total rated generating capacity owned and operated by eligible customer-generators totals one percent of the annual peak energy demand distributed by each such utility as determined by the commission from time to time.
II. Net energy metering shall be accomplished using a single meter capable of registering the flow of electricity in two directions. However, an additional meter or meters to monitor the flow of electricity in each direction may be installed, provided that it is not at the expense of the customer-generator unless requested by the customer-generator, and provided that such metering shall be used only to provide the information necessary to accurately bill the customer-generator pursuant to the provisions of this section, or for research purposes. If an additional meter or meters are installed, the net energy metering calculation shall yield the same result as when a single meter is used. The net energy metering calculation shall be made by taking the difference between the electricity supplied over the electric distribution system and the electricity generated by the eligible customer-generator and fed back into the electric distribution system over the billing period.
III. Each net energy metering contract or tariff offered by an electric distribution utility shall be identical, with respect to rates, rate structure, and periodic charges, to the contract or tariff to which the same customer would be assigned if such customer was not an eligible customer-generator. Electricity suppliers may voluntarily determine the terms, conditions, and prices under which they will agree to provide generation supply to and purchase net generation output from eligible customer-generators; however, electricity suppliers who provide default service or transition service to such a customer shall only bill for the net energy supplied as calculated in accordance with this section.
IV. The following rules shall apply to net energy measurement:
(a) The net energy produced or consumed on a monthly basis shall be measured in accordance with normal metering practices.
(b) Where the electricity supplied to the customer-generator over the electric distribution system exceeds the electricity generated by the customer-generator during the billing period, the customer-generator shall be billed based on the net energy supplied for distribution services and other charges in accordance with this section and standard applicable rates.
(c) Where the electricity generated by the customer-generator exceeds the electricity supplied by the electric grid, the customer-generator shall be credited over subsequent billing periods for the excess kilowatt hours generated in accordance with this section.
V. The commission shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, to establish reasonable interconnection requirements for safety, reliability, and power quality as it determines the public interest requires. Such rules shall not exceed applicable test standards of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or Underwriters Laboratory (UL).
VI. The commission, by order, may waive any of the limitations set forth in this chapter for targeted net energy metering arrangements that are part of a utility strategy to minimize distribution costs.
VII. Once the commission has established standards for equipment used by eligible customer-generators, electric distribution utilities shall not require any additional standards or testing for transmission equipment as a condition of net energy metering.
Source. 1998, 261:10. 2000, 148:1, 2. 2007, 174:2-4, eff. Aug. 17, 2007.