Last DSIRE Review: 08/06/2012
Program Overview:
| State: |
New Mexico |
| Incentive Type: |
Net Metering |
| Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: |
Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Electric, Fuel Cells, Municipal Solid Waste, CHP/Cogeneration, Small Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels, Microturbines |
| Applicable Sectors: |
Commercial, Industrial, Residential |
| Applicable Utilities: | Investor-owned utilities, electric cooperatives
|
| System Capacity Limit: | 80 MW
|
| Aggregate Capacity Limit: | No limit specified
|
| Net Excess Generation: | Credited to customer's next bill at avoided-cost rate or reconciled monthly at avoided-cost rate
|
| REC Ownership: | Utility owns RECs
|
| Meter Aggregation: | Not addressed
|
Authority 1:
Date Enacted:
Date Effective:
|
NMAC 17.9.570
7/29/2008
7/29/2008
|
Summary:
Net metering is available to all "qualifying facilities" (QFs), as defined by the federal Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA)*, which pertains to systems up to 80 megawatts (MW) in capacity. Previously, net metering in New Mexico was limited to systems up to 10 kilowatts (kW) in capacity.
Net-metered customers are credited or paid for any monthly net excess generation (NEG) at the utility's avoided-cost rate. If a customer has net excess generation (NEG) less than $50 during a monthly billing period, the excess is carried over to the customer’s next monthly bill. If NEG exceeds $50 during a monthly billing period, the utility will pay the customer the following month for the excess. Customers do not own the renewable-energy credits (RECs) associated with the generation of electricity by net-metered systems.
All utilities subject to PRC jurisdiction must offer net metering. (Municipal utilities, which are not regulated by the commission, are exempt.) Customers on a time-of-use tariff are permitted to net meter. There is no statewide cap on the aggregate capacity of net-metered systems.
The PRC adopted revised interconnection standards for customer-sited generators in July 2008; separate rules are in effect for systems less than or equal to 10 MW and systems larger than 10 MW. The PRC's interconnection rules also include a simplified interconnection process and application for systems less than or equal to 10 kW, and a fast-track process for systems less than or equal to 2 MW.
* In general, QFs under PURPA include renewable-energy systems and combined heat and power (CHP) systems. |
