Net Billing

History of Net Metering in GeorgiaThe Georgia Cogeneration and Distributed Generation Act of 2001 allowed utilities to adopt net metering, but did not mandate it. The law requires all utilities -- whether investor-owned, municipal, or cooperative -- to offer bidirectional or single-directional metering for customer generators, depending on how their system connects to the grid. Eligible technologies include photovoltaic (PV) systems, fuel cells, and wind turbines, with residential systems capped at 10 kW and commercial systems at 100 kW. The total capacity for such systems is limited to 0.2% of a utility's peak demand from the previous year.In Georgia Power's 2019 rate case, the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) required the utility to offer monthly net metering to 5,000 rooftop solar customers or a 32 MW capacity cap, whichever was reached first. This cap was met in 2021. In 2022, the PSC upheld the cap and specified that starting January 1, 2023, Georgia Power would pay an avoided cost plus four cents per kWh for excess generation from both current and new customers on instantaneous net metering. This additional payment will remain in place until a review is conducted in Georgia Power’s 2025 rate case.Net BillingAfter Georgia Power reached the net metering customer threshold (described above in July 2021) it reverted to offering only net billing. Systems connected on the customer's side of the meter use a bi-directional meter, and any instantaneous net excess generation (NEG) is credited to the customer's next bill at a predetermined rate filed with the Georgia Public Service Commission (this is currently the Solar Avoided Cost for Georgia Power). Alternatively, a customer may choose to sell all electricity from a system (rather than using the electricity generated by the system) by connecting ahead of the meter.Net energy metering tariffs filed by cooperatives are recorded in Docket # 31536 on the Georgia Public Service Commission's website. Customers should contact their utility to see if it offers net metering.Georgia Power stipulates that commercial systems with a peak capacity of less than or equal to 250 kW are eligible and that systems between 100 and 250 kW may not exceed 125% of the previous year's demand. Fuel cell applications are limited to 100 kW or less.Third-Party Ownership H.B. 57 (2015) has allowed residential and commercial customers to work with third parties to install, operate, lease, and/or finance solar systems. The limit for residential customers is 10 kW and the limit for commercial customers is 125% of the actual or expected peak demand of the premises. All systems must meet applicable safety, power quality, and interconnection requirements. Commercial systems above 100 kW and residential systems above 10 kW are not explicitly prohibited at this time but may be subject to additional compliance requirements.