Michigan GREEN - MPSC Formally Adopts Net Metering and Interconnection Rules for Small, Renewable Electric Generation Projects Onsite

May 26, 2009

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) today formally adopted the rules governing interconnection and net metering standards. It also approved modified uniform forms to be used on an interim basis for Category 1 (20 kilowatts and under) interconnection and net metering standards.

"With net metering rules now formally in place, electric customers across the state can now add small, renewable energy electric generation projects onsite and get credited for the energy they produce in excess of their needs - at the full retail rate," said MPSC Chairman Orjiakor Isiogu.

The MPSC on March 18 approved rules governing interconnection and net metering and submitted the rules to the Legislative Service Bureau and the State Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules (SOAHR) for their formal approvals, which were both granted on April 7. That same day, the rules were filed with the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, which had 15 session days to object to the rules. JCAR did not take any action to prevent the rules from being transmitted to the Secretary of State.

In Case No. U-15919, the Commission approved a modified version of four uniform forms for Category 1 (20 kilowatts and under) interconnection and net metering projects for the electric utilities covered by this order. The four uniform forms are: the application for net metering; the application for interconnection; the interconnection and parallel operating agreement; and the alternative single combined application covering both net metering and interconnection.

Electric utilities covered by today's order follow: Alpena Power Company, Edison Sault Electric Company, Indiana Michigan Power Company, Upper Peninsula Power Company, We Energies, Wisconsin Public Service Corporation and Northern States Power Company, a Wisconsin corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Xcel Energy, Inc., The Detroit Edison Company, Consumers Energy Company and the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association, on behalf of its member electric cooperatives serving retail electric customers Alger-Delta Cooperative, Cherryland Electric Cooperative, Cloverland Electric Cooperative, Great Lakes Energy Cooperative, HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Midwest Energy Cooperative, Ontonagon County Rural Electrification Association, Presque Isle Electric & Gas Coop and Thumb Electric Cooperative.

The net metering and interconnection rules are available on the SOAHR site:
http://www.state.mi.us/orr/emi/rules.asp?type=dept&id=LG&subId=2007%2D010+LG&subCat=Revision+Text

The MPSC is an agency within the Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth

Case Nos. U-15787 and U-15919

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