Escambia River Electric Cooperative does allow the safe interconnection of renewable energy to their power system.
Solar Energy FAQs
Escambia River Electric Cooperative will allow renewable energy systems up to 25 kW to be safely interconnected to our system. There are different requirements and policies for renewable systems larger than 25 kW.
Net metering is the policy of allowing a member’s generated kilowatt hours to be used at another time, effectively canceling out kilowatt hours that would normally have to be purchased from Escambia River Electric Cooperative at a time when the member-owned generation system is not generating. This is like keeping a ledger of how much energy you produce and use. For example, one could produce energy with solar panels during the day to add credits to the ledger and consume energy at night, taking credits off of the ledger. Escambia River Electric Cooperative does not net meter.
Net billing is the policy of allowing a member’s generated kilowatt hours to be used for their own personal use while their system is generating and sell any excess energy to Escambia River Electric at wholesale or “avoided cost” prices while purchasing power at the retail rate. Escambia River Electric Cooperative does net bill.
Escambia River Electric Cooperative does not calculate the payback of renewable energy systems. As a service to our membership, if asked we will look over the estimation given by the renewable energy sales company to help our members better understand the estimate.
Escambia River Electric Cooperative does not charge a fee for interconnecting renewable energy systems. However, in an effort to recover the costs incurred by Escambia River Electric Cooperative during the connection process, there is a new meter charge of $50 required at the time of application.
There are no extra fees that are charged to a member who have a renewable energy system installed. A member may lose certain discounts afforded to them, depending on their billing rate or for the size or type of load they have had prior to the system being connected. Also, members may be charged a minimum ‘facility charge’. This charge accounts for the cost of maintaining the power lines and systems up to your home and does not include the cost of energy used.
Your billing rate is designated to your account depending on the type and amount of energy you use as well as any discounts afforded to you by any special programs you may participate in. A renewable energy system could change the billing rate designation for your account. Please check with our staff prior to committing to a renewable energy project.
Escambia River Electric Cooperative requires a one-hundred-thousand dollar liability policy to be kept on the renewable energy system for the longevity of the installation. Escambia River Electric Cooperative requires notification of any changes or cancellations to the insurance policy as well as yearly renewals in order to have the most accurate and up-to-date information on file. This policy protects the power grid and service employees to which the member connects his/her renewable energy system.
Escambia River Electric Cooperative requires an interconnection agreement to be signed. This agreement includes but is not limited to, keeping insurance on the system, compliance with laws, rules, and regulations, and ensuring that the system will operate properly in case of an outage. For instance, in the event of an outage, your renewable energy system could feed power onto the lines that could damage electronics in a neighbor’s home or hurt a lineman attempting to repair the outage.