Net Metering
If your utility is rate-regulated, it must let you connect a renewable energy system of up to 25 kW and receive bill credits for extra power you send to the grid. Surplus is credited monthly in dollars at the non-firm power rate, and credits don't expire and carry over to later bills. Your utility can't add standby, capacity, or interconnection charges unless the RCA approves them, and it pays for any extra metering equipment, so contact your utility to start.
Customers with eligible renewable systems up to 25 kW (solar PV, small wind, hydro, biomass, and others) can net meter with economically regulated Alaska utilities, with no extra standby or interconnection fees unless the RCA approves them. Utilities bear the cost of any additional metering equipment, and small independent systems and utilities that generate 100% of their power from approved renewable sources are exempt. Total enrollment is capped at 1.5% of a utility's prior-year retail sales, so check remaining capacity with the utility before selling projects.
The Regulatory Commission of Alaska adopted these rules in October 2009, and they took effect January 15, 2010, requiring all economically regulated utilities to offer net metering to systems up to 25 kW. Aggregate enrollment is capped at 1.5% of the prior year's retail sales, and an RCA proceeding (R-24-003) is considering raising the cap to 20% of average retail demand and is still ongoing. Net excess generation is reconciled monthly and credited as dollars at the non-firm power rate with no expiration, and the program serves residential, commercial, industrial, government, nonprofit, school, and agricultural customers.
Program details
- Program ID
- 3734
- Last updated
- 3/3/2026
Eligibility
- Sectors
- commercial industrial local government nonprofit residential schools state government federal government agricultural institutional
- Technologies
- geothermal electric solar thermal electric solar photovoltaics wind (all) biomass hydroelectric municipal solid waste landfill gas tidal wave ocean thermal wind (small) hydroelectric (small) anaerobic digestion
Program summary
Note: In September 2024, the Regulatory Commission of Alaska opened a new proceeding (Matter No. R-24-003) to discuss the aggregate capacity limit for net metering. Proposed changes to the regulations would increase the cap from 1.5% to 20% of the electric utility's average retail demand. As of March 2026, this proceeding is still ongoing.
October 2009, the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) issued an order adopting net metering regulations. These rules were finalized and approved by the lieutenant governor in January 2010 and became effective January 15, 2010. All electric utilities subject to economic regulation are required to offer net metering. Independent systems with retail sales of less than 5,000,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) are exempt from offering net metering. Utilities that generate 100% of electricity from certain approved renewable energy sources and other sources approved by the RCA that have a low environmental impact are also exempt.
With these regulations, renewable energy systems with a capacity up to 25 kilowatts (kW) are eligible for net metering. Overall enrollment is limited to 1.5% of a utility's retail sales from the previous year. Utilities may require additional metering equipment, but the utilities are responsible for all costs associated with installing and maintaining this additional equipment.
Net excess generation is reconciled monthly, with the utility crediting the customer-generator's account for the excess kWh generation multiplied by the "non-firm power rate." These dollar amount credits do not expire and can be applied to subsequent monthly bills. Utilities cannot charge customer-generators additional standby, capacity, interconnection, or other charges unless approved by the RCA.
Contact & resources
- Contact email
- james.keen@alaska.gov
Please verify current program details with the administering agency before making any financial decisions.
