Rocky Mountain Power – Net Metering

Program Overview

Implementing Sector Utility
Category Regulatory Policy
State Idaho
Incentive Type Net Metering
Web Site https://www.rockymountainpower.net/savings-energy-choices/customer-generation.html
Utilities PacifiCorp
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies Solar Thermal Electric, Solar Photovoltaics, Wind (All), Biomass, Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Non-Renewable Fuels, Wind (Small), Hydroelectric (Small), Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels
Applicable Sectors Commercial, Industrial, Local Government, Nonprofit, Residential, Schools, State Government, Federal Government, Agricultural, Multifamily Residential, Low Income Residential, Institutional
Applicable Utilities Rocky Mountain Power
System Capacity Limit 100 kW for non-residential; 25 kW for residential and small commercial
Aggregate Capacity Limit None
Net Excess Generation Credited to customer's next bill at retail rate for residential and small commercial customers; credited at 85% of non-firm energy rate for all others
Ownership of Renewable Energy Credits Not addressed
Meter Aggregation Not addressed

Summary

Idaho does not have a statewide net-metering policy. However, each of the state’s three investor-owned utilities — Avista Utilities, Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power — has a net-metering tariff on file with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The framework of the utilities’ net-metering programs is similar, in that each utility’s original program: (1) offers net metering to customers that generate electricity using solar, wind, hydropower, biomass or fuel cells; (2) limits net metering to 0.1% of its retail peak demand in a baseline year (2002 for Rocky Mountain Power); (3) limits residential systems to 25 kilowatts; and (4) restricts any single customer from generating more than 20% of such peak production.* 

In an April 2016 order, the PUC removed both the system-wide capacity cap of 0.1% of peak demand, and the individual capacity cap of 20% of the customer’s peak production. Rocky Mountain Power must submit annual reports to the PUC on net metering participation.

Rocky Mountain Power’s net-metering tariff is Schedule 135  which closed to new applicants in October 2020, existing customers will remain on this schedule for 25 years. The PUC then approved the company’s net billing program, Schedule 136, which became effective in November 2020.


For residential and small commercial customers, net excess generation (NEG) is credited at Rocky Mountain Power’s retail rate and carried forward to the next month. For larger commercial and agricultural customers, NEG is credited at 85% of the monthly weighted average of the daily on-peak and off-peak Dow Jones Mid-C Index prices for non-firm energy and carried forward to the next month.

Meter aggregation exists for net metered customers with multiple meters on the same property or property contiguous to the net metered system. To transfer credits between meters, all eligible meters must be on the same primary feeder, must be a similar rate class, and must be under the same name or financial responsibility. A meter aggregation fee of $10 applies.

 

 

*Note: In 2013, Idaho Power made a request to the PUC to modify its net metering program, resulting in changes to the capacity cap and net excess generation.

Contact

Organization:
Rocky Mountain Power
Address:
825 NE Multnomah, Suite 600
Portland, OR 97232
Phone:
+1 (800) 625-6078
E-Mail: