To provide our customers more options for the generation and consumption of renewable energy, Nova Scotia Power now offers an Enhanced Net Metering program. The program provides Nova Scotians with a risk-free way to meet their own energy needs from renewable sources while still having the security of being able to draw from the provincial power grid when needed.
How Net Metering Works
Generating units that produce renewable energy such as wind, solar, small hydro or biomass can be added to homes or businesses with the addition of a bi-directional meter. This meter monitors the electricity generated by the renewable energy system and also records conventional electricity consumption from Nova Scotia Power's system.
Net metering customers continue to pay a monthly base charge as normal. Commercial and industrial business customers, where applicable, will also pay their regular demand charges. If the renewable energy generating system produces more power than consumed, it is delivered to the provincial grid and the customer receives an energy credit that can be applied against future usage.
What Makes the New Program “Enhanced”?
- Customers will now be provided with an annual cash payment for any surplus energy that has not been applied to their power bills over the previous 12 months at a rate equal to what the customer pays for energy from the distribution grid.
- The generator capacity limit has increased from 100 kilowatts (kW) to one megawatt (MW). Generators must be sized to meet a customer’s electricity consumption.
- Customers will be able to use their generator to supply electricity to multiple owned metered accounts within a geographical area known as a distribution zone. So while a larger wind turbine may not be feasible to use at a single home, it could potentially be used to power multiple serviced premises in a given community.
For more information how Net Metering works and whether the program might be for you, see Frequently Asked Questions.
Enhanced Net Metering provides two classes of service with different application processes. Residential and commercial customers can connect small, renewable energy generating units (100 kilowatts or less) to Nova Scotia Power's electrical grid. These customer-generators are known as Class 1 customers. Larger commercial or industrial customers are now also able to connect bigger generators (101 kilowatts up to 1000 kilowatts) to the grid. These customer-generators are known as Class 2 customers. For more information on both that Class 1 & Class 2 application process, see How to Apply.