Net Metering & Renewable Generation

What is Net Metering?

Net metering describes any electrical energy generated at your account that is surplus to the electrical usage at that account. This electricity flows into the Cooperative’s system and is used to serve other members. Your meter will record the difference between the electricity you buy from Clearwater Power Company (CPC) and the electricity you generate using your renewable generating equipment. Net metering facilities are intended to offset or meet all of your own electrical requirements.

To qualify for net metering, the generating source must be an approved renewable such as:

• Solar
• Wind
• Small Hydro

Customer-generated power is then credited at the applicable rate in kilowatt-hours (kWh) at a 1:1 ratio. These credits are applied in the billing period following the billing period of production.

Clearwater Power’s On-Site Demonstration

The Clearwater Power renewable generation and net-metering demonstration project was completed in 2009 with two specific goals:

• The first goal was to demonstrate how to install and connect a renewable energy project to the CPC grid safely and legally.
  • These units are “net metered” to our headquarters building.
  • Show the general public how much the materials and installation actually cost.
  • The 1 kilowatt (kW) solar array generated 1244 kWh in its first full year of operation. This comes out to around $113.
  • The 2.4 kW Skystream wind turbine generated 258 kWh in its first full year of operation. This comes out to about $23.
• The second goal was to gather real-time data for solar and wind production, which can be seen in the table below: