Residential and commercial customers who own or operate an eligible alternative energy resource of up to 3,000 kW that generates electricity for their own use may qualify for net metering. An eligible alternative energy resource is one that is located on your premises and is powered by eligible resources such as a solar energy system (e.g., photovoltaic), wind, anaerobic digestion of livestock or food processing waste, fuel cells or microturbines powered by renewable fuels, or low-impact hydroelectric energy.
Net metering will provide customers credits for the excess generated energy that flows onto the distribution system according to the terms of PECO’s Renewable Service (RS-2) Net Metering Tariff (pdf).
Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions for more information about net metering.
You can apply for net metering by using the interconnection application.
For information about net metering and multiple accounts, download our virtual meter brochure.
Alternative energy suppliers are not obligated to honor excess kilowatt-hours generated by your solar energy system. If you purchase your electricity from a supplier other than PECO, please contact your supplier to determine if net metering credits are available for you.
When you have a solar system and are being billed for net metering, you are charged only for the net amount of energy you use during each billing period. In other words, this is the amount of energy we deliver to you minus the excess amount you send back to the smart grid. And, if you send more energy to the grid than we deliver, you can receive credits on your bill. This program allows you to make full use of your own solar energy system, giving you more control over your energy costs.
A customer already on the virtual net metering program may enroll the host account on Time of Use (TOU) rates, but the satellite accounts are not eligible to participate in TOU. Click here to learn more.
Solar energy systems of customers who want to participate in net metering are limited in capacity to no greater than 50kW (residential only) or 3,000kW (non-residential only) in size and so that they generate no more than 110% of the customer's expected annual electricity usage. The 110% limit only applies if the customer leases the system. However, if the customer owns the solar energy system, the 50kW size limit (residential only) or 3,000kW size limit (non-residential only) still applies but not the 110% limit.
Solar renewable energy credits (SRECs), also called alternative energy credits in Pennsylvania, may help customers finance and invest in a solar system. SRECs are created for each 1,000 kWh of electricity produced by a qualified alternative energy source.
The value of SRECs is measured in $/MWh (1MWh = 1,000 kWh). SREC prices fluctuate in value. Because they are bought and sold on an open market, several factors influence their price. The most important thing to know is that SREC prices are determined by supply and demand.
In Pennsylvania, customers with a solar system must apply to the Public Utility Commission’s Alternative Energy Credit Administrator to be qualified as an alternative energy facility. Customers also must register with the PJM Generation Attribute Tracking System, which is a credit issuance and tracking system for SRECs.
More information about SRECs in Pennsylvania can be found from SREC Trade Inc. and the Pennsylvania Alternative Energy Credit Administrator.
