PR-09-75 -- PSC Amends Net Metering Rules

Contact: Kevin Kelly (573) 751-9300

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- OCTOBER 30, 2008

JEFFERSON CITY---The Missouri Public Service Commission has amended its existing net metering rules establishing guidelines for customers of investor-owned electric utilities who have the ability to generate their own renewable energy.

These rules implement provisions of the Net Metering and Easy Connection Act which was part of Senate Bill 54 (SB 54).  SB 54 was passed during the 2007 legislative session and signed into law by Governor Blunt in June of 2007.

Under the amended rules adopted by the PSC, Missouri investor-owned electric utilities are required to permit qualified interconnection to customers with systems up to 100 kilowatts in capacity that generate electricity using renewable energy resources such as wind, solar-thermal, hydroelectric and photovoltaic cells and panels. 

Net metering customers (i.e. residential and small business customers) use their own systems to generate a portion or all of their electricity.  Generation in excess of what is used by the consumer is put out on the electric grid.  At the end of the billing period, the amount of electricity that is sent onto the grid offsets the electricity consumed by the net metering customer, thus lowering their electric bill.

In instances where the monthly energy generated exceeds the monthly energy used, the customer will receive a bill credit.  The bill credit can be used to reduce the customer’s cost per kilowatt-hour during the next 12 months.

The net metering rule adopted by the commission is expected to take effect early next year.

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