West Virginia Solar Net Metering & Interconnection (§24-2F-8)

Under W. Va. Code §24-2F-8, every electric utility must offer net metering to customer-generators who install solar on the customer side of the meter, on a first-come, first-served basis by interconnection-application date. The Public Service Commission caps aggregate net-metered capacity at 3% of each utility's prior-year peak demand, reserving 0.5% for residential systems. Interconnected arrays must comply with IEEE standards and include a disconnect readily accessible to the utility between the customer-generator and the grid. The PSC sets the tariffs and interconnection rules; the utility enforces the disconnect and technical requirements. Building and electrical permits themselves are issued locally.

A utility may deny interconnection or refuse to energize a solar array that fails IEEE standards or lacks the required utility-accessible disconnect. Once a utility's aggregate net-metering reaches the 3% cap, new customer-generators can be turned away until capacity frees up.