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WASHINGTON, DC, US, April 19, 2006 (Refocus
Weekly)
There were 15,826 electricity consumers in the
United States under a net metering arrangement in 2004, up from
4,472 in 2002, according to the latest data from the federal
Department of Energy.
The 14,114 residential and 1,712 non-residential customers with
166 utility participants, compare with 5,870 and 943 customers of
127 utilities in 2003 and the 3,559 and 913 customers of 96
utilities in 2002, according to the Energy Information
Administration in its analysis of ‘Green Pricing & Net Metering
Programs 2004.’ The participants do not include independent power
producers or qualifying facilities.
“Net metering provisions vary by state and utility, but usually
apply only to very small generators that typically use solar or wind
energy,” the report explains. The system allows a customer with a
small generator to purchase power when needed while excess power can
be sold back to the utility.
Pricing schemes vary by individual utility and customer
circumstance, but the system “facilitates the ease of operating
intermittent generators such as those using solar and wind energy
and improves their economics,” it explains. EIA collects information
on net metering on its form EIA-861, in the same manner as it does
green pricing.
In 2004, the number of electric industry participants reporting
customers in green pricing programs was 403, up 31% from 2003. The
number of customers in green pricing programs dwarfed those in net
metering, and increased 6% from 877,126 across the U.S. in 2003, to
928,333 in 2004, despite a significant decrease in Pennsylvania.
Residential customers accounted for 93% of the total green pricing
customers in 2004.
Utilities reported green pricing customers in 44 states, including
four new states in 2004, led by Ohio with 454,509 customers and
accounting for half of the annual increase. Texas, California,
Oregon and Colorado followed next in terms of number of green
pricing customers.
In 2004, the number of utilities reporting customers in net metering
programs was up to 166 from 127 in the year prior, with a total of
15,826 customers representing an increase of 132% over 2003.
Residential customers accounted for 89% of customers in net
metering, and utilities say such customers were located in 44
states, including six new states in 2004 and led by California,
which dominated with 85% of the national total.
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