Maine Statewide Rule
Maine Solar Net Energy Billing (35-A MRS 3209-A)
Key Facts
- Statute
- 35-A MRS 3209-A
- Regulator
- Public Utilities Commission
- System cap
- Under 5 megawatts
- Shared-interest meters
- Limited to 10
- Program goal
- 750 MW distributed generation
Summary
Maine's net energy billing law (35-A MRS 3209-A) guarantees solar customers of an investor-owned utility credit for the power their system exports, netting exports against imports each billing period with rolling kilowatt-hour credits.
"Net energy billing" means a billing and metering practice under which a customer is billed on the basis of the difference between the kilowatt-hours delivered by a transmission and distribution utility to the customer over a billing period and the kilowatt-hours delivered by the customer to the transmission and distribution utility over a billing period, taking into account accumulated unused kilowatt-hour credits from the previous billing period.
Full Breakdown
Under 35-A MRS 3209-A, the Public Utilities Commission must let a customer participate in net energy billing when the customer holds a financial interest in a distributed generation resource, including facility ownership, a lease, or a power purchase agreement. The system's nameplate capacity must be under 5 megawatts. On investor-owned utilities, any number of customers may share a resource, though shared-interest arrangements are capped at 10 eligible meters. The Commission adopts the governing rules and administers the program.
Violations & Penalties
The Commission, through its own counsel or the Attorney General, may apply to Superior Court to enforce orders and may impose administrative penalties on a project sponsor and order restitution for injured parties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get credit for solar power I send to the grid?
Is there a size limit on my solar array?
Who runs Maine's net energy billing program?
Sources
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