Georgia is approaching its net metering cap

Regulators are set to discuss the cap, though it is unclear whether that means to raise it, or implement a successor program.

July 1, 2021 Tim Sylvia

Solar on a multifamily home in Boulder, Colorado

Image: NREL/Dennis Schroeder

The Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) is expected to address the state’s waning available net metering capacity today, as the program has nearly reached its 5,000 participant/32 MW cap.

Georgia’s net metering program was instituted in December 2019, replacing an old system under which Georgia Power bought solar power from customers at a lower wholesale rate before selling conventional electric power to those customers at the higher retail rate.

Prior to the establishment of the net metering program Georgia was home to around 1,000 behind-the-meter solar systems, a clear sign of the effect that net metering has had on the state’s residential market in such a short time.

At the onset of the program, some renewable energy advocates, including Katie Chiles Ottenweller, southeast director at Vote Solar, expressed discontent over the size of the program. She correctly predicted the program would quickly reach capacity, which would trigger the expansion/revision that is expected to be discussed at today’s PSC meeting.

Earlier this year, Michigan reached its state net metering cap, which was set at 1% average peak load for the past five years for the state’s two utilities. Michigan utilities, DTE Energy and Consumers Energy, both said that they supported raising the net metering cap, but not removing it altogether.

Prior to that, legislation was introduced that would remove the cap altogether, a proposal that was not met eagerly by DTE and Consumers.

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