(A) Applicable.
(1) This rate is available to consumers on a first come, first served basis, who own and operate qualifying consumer-generator facilities designed to operate in parallel with the city's electric distribution system.
(2) Consumers served under this rate must also take service under the applicable standard service rate (E1, E2, E3, LP, L2, PP, P2).
(B) Character of service.
(1) A qualifying consumer is one whose generating facility complies with all the following requirements:
(a) Is fueled by solar, wind, biomass, landfill gas, or hydropower, or uses a microturbine (with a total rated generating capacity of 100 kW or less) or a fuel cell;
(b) Is owned and operated by the consumer and is located on the consumer-generator's premises;
(c) Is designed and installed to operate in parallel with the city's system without adversely affecting the operation of equipment and service of the city and its consumers and without presenting safety hazards to city and consumer personnel; and
(d) Is intended primarily to offset part or all of the consumer-generator's electricity needs.
(2) The consumer's generating equipment shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications as well as all applicable provisions of the National Electrical Code. All equipment and installations shall comply with all applicable safety and performance standards established by the National Electrical Code, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, and Underwriters Laboratories.
(3) The consumer or the consumer's authorized representative shall make an application for interconnection and execute an interconnect agreement with the city's electric department.
(4) The consumer must provide the city reasonable opportunity to inspect the generation facilities prior to initial operation and witness the initial testing and commissioning of the generation facilities. Following the initial testing and inspection of the generation facilities, the consumer shall comply with the terms identified in the interconnect agreement.
(C) Rate.
(1) Energy charge. The consumer's generated electricity (kWH) shall only apply to the city's standard service rate energy charge. All other standard service rate charges will be based upon the energy delivered by the city to the customer.
(a) If the city supplies more kWH of electricity to the consumer than the consumer-generator's facility feeds back to the city's system during the billing period, the consumer energy charge shall be based upon the kWH difference.
(b) If the consumer-generator's facility feeds more kWH of electricity back to the city's system than the city supplies to the consumer during the billing period, the consumer energy charge will be credited based upon the kWH difference.
(c) If the consumer's net billing under the standard service schedule is negative during the billing period, the negative net billing shall be allowed to accumulate as a credit to offset billing in the next billing period.
(d) The intent of this rate code is to allow consumers the ability to offset part or all of the consumer's electric generation requirements through the use of onsite renewable energy resources. On an annual basis, the electricity (in kWH) generated by onsite generation and delivered to the city's electric system shall not exceed electricity (in kWH) supplied by the city to the consumer. Due to this requirement, credits shall only be applied to the next billing period and the city will not refund credits from net metering.
(D) Metering. Net energy metering shall be accomplished using a single meter capable of registering the flow of electricity in each direction. If the existing electrical meter installed at the consumer's facility is not capable of measuring the flow of electricity in two directions, the consumer shall be responsible for all expenses for the purchase and installation of an appropriate meter with such capability. The city may, at its own expense and with written consent of the consumer, install one or more additional meters to monitor the flow of electricity.
(Ord. 2012-108, passed 12-11-12)