Earlier this year, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) issued orders revising the state’s Net Metering Program regulations, expanding residents’ access to solar energy power and possible additional savings. This shift towards solar energy also contributes to a cleaner environment, reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and lowering carbon emissions.
Net metering is a billing mechanism applied to your electric energy usage that allows property owners who generate some or all of their electricity to use it anytime instead of only when it is generated. Utilizing a two-way meter installed by your utility company, property owners can track the energy they pull from the grid to power their home and any excess energy they push back to the grid when their demand is under their production levels. Excess energy can also be exchanged for credits on utility bills.
With the DPU’s new orders, more property owners can benefit from net metering. The updated regulations increase the net metering cap allocation from 10 kilowatts (kW) to 25 kW, offering residents more flexibility in managing their energy use and allowing them to gain more credit based on the amount of energy their solar system produces. Furthermore, eligible property owners with systems over 60 kW and up to 2MW can now net meter without a cap allocation as long as they serve on-site energy load and have an interconnection service agreement dated January 1st, 2021, or later.
Eligibility for Net Metering
To qualify for net metering, the participant must be a customer of Eversource, National Grid, or Unitil. It’s crucial that the electric company interconnects the solar system and meets all requirements, rules, and regulations before interconnection. This ensures that you are fully prepared and knowledgeable about the process. You may also need to apply for a cap allocation with the Massachusetts System of Assurance of Net Metering Eligibility (MassACA).
Massachusetts’s net metering program showcases the state’s dedication to renewable energy and reducing its carbon footprint. Expanding this program is not just beneficial, it’s essential for empowering more property owners to embrace renewable energy and decrease their energy consumption. The positive effects of the program will benefit not only the homes and facilities of Massachusetts but also the environment as a whole.
To learn more about the benefits of net metering in your area, contact an All Energy Solar representative today.
