clearwater power · • slotless, permanent, magnet brushless alternator • 240‐volt...

Clearwater PowerNet Metering Seminar

• About Us

• Agenda

• Basics

• Technical

• Economic

• Regulatory

• Other Energy Opportunities

• About Us

• Agenda

• Basics

• Technical

• Economic

• Regulatory


Introductions

• Bob Pierce, Manager of Member Services

• Jeff Marshall, Communications Specialist

• Greg Hansen, Member Services Technician

• About Us

• Agenda

• Basics

• Technical

• Economic

• Regulatory


About Clearwater Power

• We are a not‐for‐profit, member‐owned, rural electric co‐op founded in 1937.

• We are governed by a member‐elected board of directors.

• We purchase wholesale electricity from Bonneville Power Administration.

• We serve 11 counties throughout Idaho, Washington and Oregon.

• About Us

• Agenda

• Basics

• Technical

• Economic

• Regulatory


Net Metering Seminar Agenda:

• Net Metering Basics

• Technical Specifications

• Economics

• Regulatory Overview

• Other Renewable Opportunities

What is Net Metering?

Solar panels or other renewable energy generators*are connected to the Clearwater Power grid via abi‐directional meter.

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• Agenda

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• Technical

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* Clearwater Power will net meter electricity generated viasolar, wind or hydroelectric generation.


Any surplus power generated is transferred onto the grid, allowing consumers to offset the cost of power drawn from the utility.

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• Basics

• Technical

• Economic

• Regulatory



It can be viewed as a storage system: No batteries are needed because the power you generate is either used at the home or transferred directly to the power grid. The electric grid becomes your battery.

Batteries can store power generated at noon so you can use it at midnight. But they can’t store power made in July to use in December. They just don’t work that way.

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Lead/Acid Battery Bank, 2000 Tesla Power Wall, 2015


It can also be viewed as a billing mechanism: You are credited for electricity that you add to the grid.

Electricity moves backward through the electric meter and is credited at the applicable rate in kilowatt hours (kWh) at a 1:1 ratio.

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9.1₵/kWh 9.1₵/kWh

Technical Overview (Solar & Wind)

Clearwater Power completed this Net‐Metering project in 2009.

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• Agenda

• Basics

• Technical

• Economic

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Technical Overview(Solar Panels with Single Inverter)

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Technical Overview2.4 kW Wind Turbine

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• Agenda

• Basics

• Technical

• Economic

• Regulatory



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• Basics

• Technical

• Economic

• Regulatory


• This is a grid‐tied system with no batteries

• It does not provide back‐up powerduring a utility power outage

• Batteries can be added, but a propane or diesel generator is probably more cost effective


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• Off‐grid systems would have a large battery bank with charge controllers.

• System size would be much larger because it would be sized to meet load on the shortest day in December.

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Economic OverviewClearwater Power’s system construction costs

1kW Solar (2009)• Six 165‐Watt, 24‐Volt PV Modules• PowerFab Top‐of‐Pole Mount & Rack• DC Fused Disconnect Box• 1100 watt PV Power Inverter• 15 Amp AC Disconnect

PV Equipment $9,725Remote Monitoring $360Foundation $1,600Cabling & Conduit $825Electrician $2,500Total $15,010

2.4 kW Wind Turbine (2009)• 2.4 kW Downwind Rotor

• Stall Regulation & Control• 3 Fiberglass Blades• Braking System• Slotless, Permanent, Magnet Brushless Alternator• 240‐volt Single‐Phase 60hz Inverter

Skystream Turbine $6,00045' Monopole Tower $5,75012' x 36' Foundation $4,000Electrician $250Total $16,000

5 kW Solar in 2018 $15,700*Rough estimate via: news.energysage.com

5 kW Wind in 2018 $15,000 – $40,000Rough estimate via: www.windustry.org

Economic OverviewClearwater Power’s system output from 2010

Average Annual Output:

2.4 kW Wind Turbine 304 kWh $27.661 kW Solar Array 1240 kWh $112.84

Economic OverviewEstimated output provided by: pvwatts.nrel.gov

Average Annual Output:

1 kW Solar Array 1280 kWh $122.00

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Economic OverviewAverage wind turbine output

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Maintenance Schedule• About Us

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• Basics

• Technical

• Economic

• Regulatory


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Economic OverviewService Availability Charge

Clearwater Power’s system has a lower density of customer’s than your average utility, about 3.6 members per mile of power line. This means we maintain a lot of miles of power line for a small number of paying customers.

Our monthly Service Availability Charge is $28.75. This money goes toward the fixed costs of maintaining our grid so that you can use it for a battery when you are net metering.

Energy Costs42%

Fixed Costs58%

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Economic OverviewService Availability Fee

This sample net‐metered member buys very little power during the summer and fall. During this time the facility charge is their only cost.

Grid maintenance costs remain the same throughout the year.

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Economic OverviewResidential Alternative Energy

Tax Credits, Loans and Other Incentives

Renewable incentives are complex and subject to constant change. Historically incentives possibilities have included:

• Federal Tax Credits• State Tax Credits• USDA Credits• State Programs

• (Washington Renewable Energy System Incentive Program)

For current incentives, visit: www.dsireusa.org

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• Clearwater Power offers Net Metering by choice, not by state mandate.• No Tariffs• Equal monthly Service Availability Charge• Full retail value for kWh (1:1 ratio)• Credits can only be used to offset charges. Credits remaining

after December 31st will be forfeited

• There is no Net Metering Statute in Idaho

• The Idaho State Public Utilities Commission (PUC) does not require utilities to offer net metering policies.

Regulatory OverviewNet Metering Mandates

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Final Comments

Clearwater Power is committed to providing an transparent and equitable relationship to net‐metering consumers. We seek to be neither a barrier to nor a subsidy for net metering.

Future changes in utility rates and/or state regulations can affect financial payback of net metering systems

As consumers take advantage of net‐metering, other state PUCs have implemented a variety of net‐metering changes:

• Non 1:1 ratios• Alternate Rate Structures (Including Time‐of‐Use rates)• Initial interconnection fees• Capacity Limits• Grandfather clauses are often included

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Other Renewable Energy Opportunities

Community Solar

Solar Water Heaters

Green Power Sponsorship*

Conservation & Efficiency

Questions?

www.clearwaterpower.com/netmetering

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clearwater power · • slotless, permanent, magnet brushless alternator • 240‐volt...

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