Maryland’s Public Service Commission is considering whether or not to allow aggregate net metering for alternative energy generation systems.
If you live in Maryland, you should contact the PSC and express support right away. There doesn’t appear to be a deadline on public comment on the proposal, but a decision is expected later this summer.
Onsite power generation is typically limited to 110% of the average energy consumption at the meter.
This is a simple and unsophisticated example:
If your house uses 10,000 kWh, you would be allowed to install a system (solar, wind, whatever) delivering 11,000 kWh. This might be fine for your house assuming your local zoning allows it.
That’s fine, but what if you are a farmer, a college, a county government, or a town, where you have ten buildings, each with a meter, each consuming 10,000 kWh? You have to put in place ten systems, each connected to a meter, each sized at 11,000 kWh.
It’s far more efficient for you to put in one system somewhere that provides 110,000 kWh, combine all the meters into one account, and have the power credited across each building you own. Instead of ten times the installation work, much gets done only once.
The proposal would apply to local governments, schools and nonprofits. Naturally, power companies are against it. Some conjure technical reasons (how would we know how much power to generate at our big plants?) while others, like the Hagerstown municipal light company, say it’s administratively difficult for them. (Pullll-eeze).
This web page has a good explanation of net and aggregate net metering:
http://www.dsireusa.org/...
Net metering applies to all kinds of onsite power generation (wind; solar; biomass; hydro) though it’s most useful with solar energy. Instead of a farmer having to put a set of solar panels at every electric meter, he or she can put up a few acres of solar panels in an appropriate place; the power they generate will count, collectively, toward all the meters that make up the farmer’s (aggregate) account.
In a rural village where the lots are small and surrounded by tall trees, a village coop could aggregate all the members’ meters. Their investment in solar power could be located at an appropriate place, in one array, instead of seventy-five houses each with a set of solar panels.
Here’s the DSIRE database page for Maryland’s solar incentives and policies:
http://www.dsireusa.org/...
You can read the comments so far in an online case docket:
http://webapp.psc.state.md.us/...
Click on the number to the left of each to see a PDF file.
Generally, your letter should say that you support aggregate net metering and why.
Reference “Admin Docket FM41” at the top of your letter.
Say:
- you encourage the Maryland PSC to adopt aggregate net metering
- cite a local situation where it would be valuable (for example, for your county or town to aggregate meters; to allow a nonprofit coop of residential users; etc)
- don’t delay this policy; other net metering issues can be decided later
- “I encourage the PSC to act immediately to implement aggregate net metering throughout Maryland.”
Address it to:
Terry Romine
Maryland Public Service Commission
6 St. Paul St. 16th Floor
Baltimore MD 21202