Bill to increase system sizes for net metering advances in New Hampshire

The bill to allow PV systems up to 5 MW in capacity to participate in net metering has been reported out of committee and will now go to a vote of the full House, it’s last stop before the desk of Governor Sununu.

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A bill to increase the capacity of PV systems eligible to participate in New Hampshire’s net metering policy has been reported out of the New Hampshire House Science, Technology and Energy Committee and will now go to the full House for approval on May 2nd.

SB 446 has already passed the New Hampshire Senate, and if passed by the House will go to Governor Chris Sununu for approval. The bill increases the capacity cap for individual solar projects in the net metering program from the current 1 MW to 5 MW. Additionally, sites with capacities up to 5 MW are allowed as part of larger projects up to 25 MW in capacity.

However, for such larger projects it does not appear that full retail rate net metering will apply. The bill directs state regulators to set rates for the compensation for “excess generation” from PV plants larger than 1 MW, setting an interim rate within six months and a final rate within three years.

PV projects which qualify under the interim rate will be grandfathered in this rate for 12 years. There will be no change to compensation for the output of systems smaller than 1 MW in capacity.

New Hampshire has made significant progress with its policies for distributed solar, including eliminating a 100 MW cap on the total program last June.

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