Utility PV Rebate

Summary

On November 2, 2004, Colorado voters passed Amendment 37, a proposed renewable energy requirement. The initiative requires Colorado utilities with 40,000 or more customers to generate or purchase a percentage of their electricity from renewable sources. Additionally, the initiative establishes a standard rebate offer for solar electric generation equipment and a state-wide net metering system. Under the initiative, utilities are required to offer customers a minimum rebate of $2.00/watt of installed solar electric capacity, up to 100 kW. Systems may be net metered, and net excess generation may be carried forward as a credit to the following month’s consumption. Amendment 37 took effect December 1, 2004, but the PUC has until April 1 to start crafting rules to enforce it. The rule-making process, which must be finished by March 31, 2006, gives utilities time to meet the requirements for 2007. Details yet to be decided include technology type and customer eligibility.