Net Metering

Eligibility: In the District of Columbia (DC), net metering is currently available to residential and commercial customer-generators with systems powered by renewable-energy sources, combined heat and power (CHP), fuel cells and microturbines. Effective January 1, 2021, systems must be sized to provide no more than 140% of the customer's historical 12-month usage. This limit will increase by 20 percentage points annually until 2024 when systems can be sized to provide no more than 200% of the customer's historical 12-month usage. The term "renewable energy sources" is defined as solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, biomass, hydroelectric facilities, and digester gas. Net Excess Generation: The District's net-metering rules specify that metering equipment must be capable of measuring the flow of electricity in two directions. Utilities are not prohibited from installing an additional meter on the facilities of eligible customer-generators, but utilities that choose to do so must pay for the added cost of the second meter and/or other necessary equipment. For systems 100 kW or smaller, NEG is credited to the customer's next bill at the full retail rate, which includes generation, transmission, and distribution components. Credits for NEG are expressed as a dollar value on the customer's bill and may be carried forward indefinitely. Any NEG remaining in December will be compensated at the generation rate only. Systems larger than 100 kW will be credited monthly at the generation rate. Utilities (i.e., Pepco) must offer a standard net-metering contract approved by the PSC. The District's net metering rules also contain sections addressing net metering for customers of competitive electricity suppliers. The rules for crediting NEG are essentially the same as those used for customer-generators that receive standard offer service, but it should be noted that competitive suppliers are not required to offer net metering if they do not choose to do so.More information can be found on Pepco's webpage dedicated to net metering.