W. Va. Code R. § 150-33-3

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section 150-33-3 - General Provisions

3.1. An electric utility shall offer net metering to a Customer-generator that generates electricity on the Customer-generator side of the meter using alternative or renewable energy sources, on a first-come, first-served basis based on the date of application for interconnection as provided in these rules and pursuant to a standard tariff. An electric utility shall offer net metering to Customer-generators, on a first-come, first-served basis so long as the total generation capacity installed by all Customer-generators is no greater than three percent (3%) of the electric utility aggregate customer peak demand in the State during the previous year, of which no less than one-half percent (0.5%) is reserved for residential Customer-generators.

3.2. An electric utility may apply to the Commission for authority to limit the addition of net metering facilities when the capacity of all distributed generation and net metering facilities on a distribution line section exceeds fifteen percent (15%) of the peak load on that line section for three-phase circuits, and five percent (5%) of the peak load on that section for single-phase circuits.

3.3. An electric utility shall file a tariff with the Commission consistent with these rules, in the form of Form No. 1 attached to these rules, that provides for net metering and net metering protocols that enable the electric utility to offer net metering to Customer-generators taking service from the electric utility.

3.4. An electric utility shall prepare information about net metering consistent with these rules and disclose that information annually to its customers by bill insert and by posting information on its web site.

3.5. If construction or upgrades of the electric utility system that are not required to connect customers that are not Customer-generators are required in order to interconnect the Customer-generator facility, additional charges to cover incremental costs incurred by the electric utility shall be determined by the electric utility and paid by the Customer-generator. The Customer-generator shall pay any additional charges, as determined by the electric utility, for equipment, labor, testing or inspections requested by the customer.

3.6. A Customer-generator shall install, operate and maintain its Customer-generator facility in accordance with the requirements of these rules.

3.7. An electric utility may not require additional equipment or insurance or impose any other fee or requirement unless the additional equipment, insurance or other requirement is specifically authorized under these rules and included in the electric utility tariff approved by the Commission.

3.8. All electric utilities, Customer-generators, and other persons or entities governed by these rules shall comply with the Institute of the Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards at all times, and as the same shall be amended. In the event, however, a net metering customer governed by these rules prior to November 15, 2019 is required to make equipment modifications to bring the Customer-generator's system into compliance with these rules, as amended, the Customer-generator shall be afforded a period of time not to exceed six (6) months from the date the Customer-generator's electric utility provider provides notice of the enactment of the amended rules to bring the Customer-generator facility into compliance.

W. Va. Code R. § 150-33-3