Net Energy Billing
Under the Maine Public Utilities Commission’s Chapter 313 Rule, CMP is required to sign a Customer Net Energy Billing Agreement (“CNEBA”) with any customer seeking to connect a generator operating in parallel with CMP, provided that the generator is an “Eligible Facility” (generally using a renewable fuel source) and is less than 660 kW in size (installed capacity). Under the terms of the Chapter 313 Rule and the CNEBA, CMP will meter on a monthly basis the net of your electric usage and your generator output. If your generator produces more than your usage at any time during the month, you will not be paid for this excess energy but this energy will be netted against your monthly usage, thus reducing the amount of energy that you buy from your electric supplier and your CMP delivery charges. If your monthly net metered amount indicates generator output in excess of your monthly usage, you will still be responsible for paying CMP’s minimum delivery charge and the unused kWh credits will go into a “bank” that will be administered by CMP. The banked kWh credits will be netted against your usage in future monthly bills with the oldest credits applied first. Each unused kWh credit may remain in the bank for up to one year. At the end of each month, CMP will deduct from your bank any unused kWh credits that have reached their 12-month expiration.
CMP will determine how it will meter your account based upon the size of your generator and your expected monthly usage. If your monthly usage is expected to always exceed your generator’s output, then CMP will replace the current meter at your account with a single solid state digital net meter. This meter can operate in both directions depending on the relationship between the generator output and your usage at any point in time and provides a true net reading at the end of the monthly billing cycle. If your generator output is likely to exceed your electric usage during some months, then CMP will install either a meter adapter with two detented meters or a single “alpha” meter. The meter adapter with two detented meters (each meter will only move in the forward direction) may be used if the service size is 200 amps or less. One meter will only record the net outflow of energy delivered from your premise to the CMP system and the other meter will only record the net inflow of energy from CMP’s system to your premise. In some cases, a single solid-state net energy meter may be used (currently available for single-phase (non-demand) 200 amp and 320 amp only). This alpha meter will record the net flow of energy in both directions within a single meter; however, utilizing this type of meter will require access to a telephone line.
You must notify CMP 30 days prior to operating your generator in parallel with CMP’s system. You will need to provide CMP with the inverter manufacturer and model number in order for CMP to verify that it is compliant with applicable electrical safety requirements (UL 1741 or IEEE 1547). Depending upon the size of your generator and the protective system, an inspection and test of your system may be necessary. If an inspection and test is required, you will be responsible for the cost of that inspection and testing.
If you would like further information concerning Chapter 313, please click on the following link:
http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/65/407/407c313.doc
Here is a link to see a sample Residential 12-month net energy billing contract:
Sample_Rolling 12 month_Residential_CNEBA.PDF
Here is a link to our customer net energy billing agreement (CNEBA) procedures:
Chapter 315 Small Generator Aggregation
The purpose of Chapter 315, Small Generator Aggregation, is to provide small generators access to the ISO New England (ISO-NE) wholesale energy market. Generators who sign a Chapter 315 agreement will receive an energy payment for any excess generation based upon regional wholesale locational prices. Under Maine Public Utilities Commission Chapter 315, Central Maine Power Company (CMP) is responsible for the administration of the sale of power from the seller’s facility to the Standard Offer Provider. Customers seeking to sell energy are required to sign a Small Generator Aggregation Agreement and an Interconnection Agreement before commencing service under Chapter 315. A copy of Chapter 315 may be obtained at the following web site:
http://www.state.me.us/mpuc/legislative/rules/part3-electric.shtml
Chapter 315 Frequently Asked Questions
Chapter 315 Sample Agreement
If you are interested in signing a CNEBA with CMP, please call (Primary) Mike Erskine at 207-621-7887 or (Secondary) David Burke at 207-626-9736
Log out
