Gunnison County Electric - Net Metering

Summary

Gunnison County Electric Association's (GCEA) net-metering pilot program* is available to the first 50 customers who install eligible photovoltaic (PV) or wind-energy systems with a capacity of 10 kilowatts (kW) or less. Any customer net excess generation (NEG) is carried over to the customer's next monthly bill. At the end of a 12-month period, GCEA reimburses customers at the utility's wholesale rate for any remaining NEG. GCEA does not install systems for customers, but does offer a low-interest loan of up to $25,000 for PV and wind-energy systems. Customers can download the net-metering application and compliance form from the program web site above. * GCEA offers "true" net metering to its customers. In 2002, Colorado enacted legislation (C.R.S. 40-9.5-304 et seq.) requiring the state's electric cooperatives to offer "net metering" to customers. However, the term "net metering" is a misnomer in this particular law. Under the law, customers receive a lower rate -- the utility's avoided-cost rate -- for all electricity generated, while customers must pay the full retail rate for all electricity they purchase from utilities. This practice, commonly known as "dual metering," is much less favorable to customer-generators than "true" net metering.