Solar Net Metering

Rachel MeekBusiness Efficiency Program CoordinatorGainesville Regional Utilities

January 28, 2015

2

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)

3

Gainesville Regional Utilities• Municipally-owned Utility

(electric, gas, water/wastewater, telecom)

• 93,000 customers

• 409 MW Peak

• 598 MW Capacity

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

4

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

5

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

7

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

8

Challenges

• Limiting upward rate pressure

• Monitoring our circuits

• Fire Safety

• Reducing overall subsidies paid by customers

Contact Information:

Rachel MeekGainesville Regional

Utilitiesmeekrd@gru.com(352)393-1484