Review of Maine net energy billing rule comments continues

The Maine Public Utilities Commission said this week that it would continue to review comments received about a proposed rule regarding net energy billing.

The commission proposed the rule on Sept. 13. On Oct. 17, the commission held a public hearing on the proposition and has also received several hundred written comments.

“This is an important rule and more time is needed to consider the proposed rule in light of the comments we received to ensure that the rule treats all ratepayers in a fair manner,” said Commission Chairman Mark Vannoy.

The commission hopes to reach a decision in early 2017.

The proposal regards a change to section 313 of the commission’s rules, which covers net energy billing (NEB), a metering and billing practice that charges a customer based on the difference between the energy a customer consumes and produces through small-scale renewable generation.

Central Maine Power Co. (CMP) filed a letter in January, which stated that in 2015, the collective capacity of facilities with which CMP had net energy billing agreements comprised 1.04 percent of CMP’s annual peak demand. CMP requested that the commission review its net energy billing rules.

In response, the commission began seeking comments and information from interested parties about the requirements and whether evolving markets required a change in net energy billing rules.

“It remains clear that changes in technology and costs of small renewable generation, particularly solar PV, require a careful review of the current rule and potential modifications,” said Vannoy.

The existing rules will remain in effect until the commission issues a final rule.