El Paso Electric Company - Net Metering

El Paso Electric offers net metering for residential solar and other distributed renewable systems up to 50 kW if your system generates no more than your annual electricity consumption. EPE installs a bi-directional meter at no cost and credits your monthly bill for excess power at the avoided cost rate; any credits over $50 are refunded as a check, though a $30.25 minimum monthly bill applies. Submit an application with a one-line diagram and site diagram; the $85 application fee (for systems 1–100 kW) starts the interconnection process, which requires local building permits and EPE field inspection before you energize the system.

Your customers must have systems rated at 50 kW or less and cannot exceed the customer's annual consumption. Submit the Standard or Expansion Interconnection Application electronically with a one-line diagram and site diagram (maximum 10 MB); application fees are $85 for systems 1–100 kW or $230 over 100 kW. After receiving EPE design approval and obtaining local building permits, install according to EPE specifications and the approved one-line diagram. Once local electrical inspection is complete, contact smallrenewables@epelectric.com to request EPE's field inspection and meter replacement; do not energize until EPE approves. Verify the customer is not enrolled in Community Solar or Budget Billing, and confirm phase matching (single phase service requires single phase inverter; three-phase Y-connected systems require three-phase inverters).

Net metering has been in effect since September 2011 under Rate Schedule No. 48 (Non-Firm Purchased Power Service). Eligible customer-generators operate systems of 50 kW or less and must generate no more than estimated or prior annual consumption; low-income apartment buildings with master metering are eligible if systems produce at least 50% of building consumption. EPE provides bi-directional meters and REC meters at no installation cost to customers. Credits for net excess generation are issued monthly at the avoided cost rate; balances exceeding $50 are refunded by check. The program covers residential, commercial, nonprofit, schools, local government, and institutional customers. Application fees ($85 or $230 depending on size) fund processing; field inspections verify compliance with technical requirements before system energization.