City of New Orleans - Net Metering
If you install solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biomass or similar renewable generation up to 25 kW at your home, Entergy New Orleans will credit extra power you send to the grid at the retail rate and carry the credit forward to your next bill indefinitely. You pay a one-time $50 installation charge for metering and interconnection, and you must give the utility at least 90 days' notice before connecting. Applications and details are on the Entergy New Orleans website.
Customers can offset their bills with eligible renewable systems up to 25 kW residential or 300 kW commercial and agricultural, with excess generation credited at retail rate and carried forward. Systems must meet NEC, IEEE, UL, NESC and any other codes set by the City Council, include a manual external disconnect accessible to the utility 24 hours a day, and use the City Council-approved standard interconnection agreement. Customers must give 90 days' notice before interconnection and pay $50 residential or $75 commercial installation charges, and the utility covers the meter itself.
The New Orleans City Council adopted these rules in 2007, modeled on the Louisiana PSC's 2005 rules, and Entergy New Orleans must offer net metering to eligible customers. Size caps are 25 kW for residential and 300 kW for commercial and agricultural systems, the latter raised via SB 359 in 2008 and adopted by the Council in 2009. Net excess generation is credited at retail and rolled over indefinitely, with any balance paid at avoided cost when the customer leaves service, and the utility pays for the bidirectional meter while customers pay the installation charge, with no separate program funding described.
Program details
- Program ID
- 2484
- Last updated
- 3/3/2026
Eligibility
- Sectors
- commercial residential agricultural
- Technologies
- geothermal electric solar photovoltaics wind (all) biomass hydroelectric hydroelectric (small) fuel cells using renewable fuels microturbines
Program summary
Origin
In May 2007, the New Orleans City Council adopted net-metering rules that are similar to rules adopted by the Louisiana Public Service Commission (PSC) in November 2005. The City Council's rules require Entergy New Orleans, an investor-owned utility regulated by the city, to offer net metering to customers with systems that generate electricity using solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, geothermal or biomass resources. Fuel cells and microturbines that generate electricity entirely derived from eligible renewable resources are also eligible.
System Size Limits
The City Council's rules apply to residential facilities with a maximum capacity of 25 kilowatts (kW), and to commercial and agricultural systems with a maximum capacity of 300 kW. In June 2008, Louisiana SB 359 increased the maximum capacity of commercial and agricultural systems to 300 kW. In September 2009, the New Orleans City Council formally adopted this change and it is now effective for customers of Entergy New Orleans. These limits and other details are specified in Louisiana’s net-metering law, which applies to all utilities in the state. Applications and other relevant information are located on the Entergy New Orleans website.
Net Excess Generation
Net excess generation (NEG) is credited at the utility's retail rate and carried over to the customer’s next bill indefinitely. For the final month in which the customer takes service from the utility, the utility will pay the customer for the balance of any credit at the utility’s avoided-cost rate.
System Interconnection
Utilities must provide customer-generators with a meter capable of measuring the flow of electricity in both directions, or, if the existing meter is incapable of registering bi-directional electricity flow, an additional meter or meters capable of registering bi-directional electricity flow. Utilities must pay for the cost of the meter itself, but utilities may assess a “one-time customer charge” to cover the installation costs. The “customer charge” may include the cost of a mandatory accuracy test of the customer's meter or meters, performed by the utility. Net metering customers are required to have a manual disconnect located on the outside of their building and accessible to Entergy New Orleans 24 hours a day.
Customers must pay for “installation costs,” which constitute the cost of metering and interconnection, but not the cost of the meter. Installation costs are $50 per residential installation, and $75 per commercial installation. Network interconnection is limited in certain instances, and prohibited in others.
Customers must notify the utility at least 90 days prior to the date of interconnection. The utility must use a standard interconnection agreement approved by the City Council. Systems must meet all safety and performance standards established by local and national electric codes and performance standards, including the NEC, IEEE, UL, NESC and any other relevant codes specified by the City Council. An external disconnect switch is required.
Contact & resources
Please verify current program details with the administering agency before making any financial decisions.
