Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia Adopts Amendments to Net Energy Metering Rules

Strategic Insights -

The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia has finalized amendments to the Net Energy Metering (NEM) rules, addressing concerns about the crediting process for excess generation from behind-the-meter customer-generators. The Commission has adopted changes to harmonize the rules for crediting excess generation for customers with capacities of 1000 kilowatts or less. The amendments aim to eliminate conflicts and customer confusion by introducing a uniform crediting process.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia (Commission) has adopted final rulemaking action adopting amendments to Chapter 9 (Net Energy Metering), of Title 15 (Public Utilities and Cable Television) of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR).
  • The amendments aim to harmonize the rules governing how credits related to excess generation should be accounted for individual behind-the-meter generators with a capacity of 1000 kilowatts or less.
  • The Commission has proposed changes to Sections 902 and 903 of the NEM rules to ensure a uniform crediting process for excess generation from individual behind-the-meter customer-generators.
  • Pepco has requested changes to the rules to address conflicts in the crediting process for excess generation from customergenerators.
  • The amendments will become effective upon publication of this Notice of Final Rulemaking in the District of Columbia Register.

Statistics:

  • The proposed changes will remove the distinction between system size capacities of 0kW to 100kW and those between 100kW and 1000kW.
  • The amendments will remove the distinction between customers supplied by SOS and those of competitive suppliers for NEM crediting purposes.
  • The rules will credit excess generation once per year expressed in dollar credits rolling forward until exhausted.
  • The Commission will issue a refund to customers if their credit is greater than $25 at the end of the calendar year.
  • A credit not greater than $25 will be carried over until such time as the full credit has been exhausted.

Sources:

  • 1 PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA NOTICE OF FINAL RULEMAKING RM9-2023-01-E, IN THE MATTER OF THE AMENDMENT TO CERTAIN NET ENERGY METERING RULES
  • 70 DCR 006432 (May 5, 2023), Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR)
  • 70 DCR 011170 (August 18, 2023), second NOPR
  • Chapter 9, NET ENERGY METERING, of Title 15 DCMR, PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CABLE TELEVISION.