Net Metering
Wisconsin's net metering policy allows you to offset your electricity costs by generating power with solar, wind, geothermal, or other eligible systems up to your utility's capacity limit (ranging from 20 kW to 300 kW depending on your provider). Excess electricity you produce is credited at your utility's retail rate or avoided-cost rate and rolls over to your next bill; if credits exceed $25–$100 (depending on your utility), you'll receive a check. Contact your specific utility to file net metering tariffs and learn the exact system-size limits and credit rates available in your area.
Net metering in Wisconsin allows your customers to interconnect distributed-generation systems including renewables and combined heat and power, with system limits varying by utility (20 kW to 300 kW). You must ensure customer systems comply with the applicable investor-owned or municipal utility's filed tariff, which specifies excess generation rates, monthly or annual reconciliation schedules, and payout thresholds; note that electric cooperatives do not participate in Wisconsin's net metering framework.
Wisconsin's net metering mandate, established by PSC order in 1982 and implemented under PURPA, requires investor-owned and municipal utilities to file tariffs crediting net excess generation at retail rates for renewables or avoided-cost rates for non-renewable systems. Utility tariffs vary—some reconcile credits monthly at retail with annual true-ups at avoided cost (e.g., Xcel Energy), while others credit monthly at avoided cost or energy rates with minimum thresholds ($25–$100) before issuing checks. System-size eligibility ranges from 20 kW (baseline) to 300 kW (We Energies), with no enrollment cap; cooperatives are excluded from this requirement.
Program details
- Program ID
- 235
- Last updated
- 3/31/2026
Eligibility
- Sectors
- commercial industrial residential
- Technologies
- geothermal electric solar thermal electric solar photovoltaics wind (all) biomass hydroelectric municipal solid waste combined heat & power wind (small) hydroelectric (small) other distributed generation technologies
Program summary
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) issued an order on January 26, 1982, requiring all regulated utilities to file tariffs allowing net metering to customers that generate electricity with systems up to 20 kilowatts (kW)* in capacity.
Eligibility and Availability
The order applies to investor-owned utilities and municipal utilities, but not to electric cooperatives. All distributed-generation (DG) systems, including renewable energy and combined heat and power (CHP) systems, are eligible. There is no limit on total enrollment.
Net Excess Generation
The PSC has not adopted administrative rules for net metering.** Utilities' net-metering tariffs contain some variations. Customer net excess generation (NEG) is generally credited at the utility's retail rate for renewable energy, and at the utility's avoided-cost rate for non-renewable energy. NEG credit is carried over to the customer's next bill. If NEG credit exceeds $25, then the utility must issue a check for the amount, payable to the customer.
In December 2011, the PSC approved a process for Xcel Energy to reconcile NEG credits to customers on an annual basis at the avoided-cost rate.
Investor-Owned Utility Net Metering Tariffs
For more information on net metering, refer to the applicable utility net metering tariffs listed below. The Public Service Commission also maintains a listing of utility tariffs that can be used to access your utility's net metering tariff if it is not listed here.
- Northern States Power Company d/b/a Xcel Energy - System size limit: 100 kW; NEG credits roll over monthly at the retail rate and are compensated at the end of calendar year at the avoided cost rate.
- Wisconsin Electric Power Company d/b/a We Energies - System size limit: 300 kW; NEG credits reconciled monthly at the Avoided Energy Cost Rate ($0.03636 per kWh).
- Madison Gas and Electric - System size limit: 100 kW; NEG credits roll over monthly at the Energy Credit Rate.
- Wisconsin Public Service Corporation - System size limit: 20 kW; NEG credits roll over monthly at a rate that includes energy, capacity, and transmission costs. A payment will be made if in a given month, the customer has a credit balance of more than $100.
- Wisconsin Power & Light d/b/a Alliant Energy- System size limit: 20 kW. NEG compensated monthly at avoided cost.
- Superior Water, Light, and Power - System size limit: 20 kW. NEG compensated monthly at avoided cost.
- Northwestern Wisconsin Electric Company - System size limit: 20 kW. NEG compensated monthly at avoided cost.
* Some utilities allow net metering for systems larger than 20 kW. In these cases, excess generation rates, carry-over processes, and capacity limits vary by utility. These provisions are specified in the utility tariffs.
** Subsequent PSC decisions issued June 21, 1983 in docket numbers 05-ER-11, 05-ER-12 and 05-ER-13, further implemented Sections 201 and 210 of the federal Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act of 1978 (PURPA). These decisions were confirmed by an order issued September 18, 1992, in docket number 05-EP-6. This last order addresses net metering as it applies to Wisconsin's investor-owned utilities.
Contact & resources
- Contact email
- corey.singletary@wisconsin.gov
- Additional resources
Please verify current program details with the administering agency before making any financial decisions.
