2010 Indiana Electric Utility Net Metering Summary Report; Send Your Written Comments to IURC on Net Metering by 3/25

On or before March 1st of each year, each Indiana investor-owned electric utility is required to file a net metering status report with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC). This net metering data has been reported since 2005 when the current net metering rules became effective.

The report shows there has been an increase of 55% for the nameplate capacity since 2009. By comparison, the increase in nameplate capacity increased 117% from 2008 to 2009.

There has also been an increase of 50% customer participant growth from 2009 to 2010 for a total of 199 net metering customers statewide. There was an increase of 111% increase in customer participant growth, however, from 2008 to 2009.

There are no reporting requirements for rural electric cooperatives commonly known as REMC's or for municipal electric utilities.

Table 1. Nameplate Capacity by utility and by resource type

Utility	# customers	Total (kW)	Solar (kW)	Wind (kW)
Duke Energy Indiana	107	405	320	85
NIPSCO	34	157	95	62
Indiana Michigan Power	36	127	23	104
SIGECO (Vectren)	15	77	73	4
IPL	7	18	18	0
Total	199	783	529	255

It seems to me the "$64,000 question" from this latest report is: Why does Indianapolis Power and Light (IPL) have the fewest number of net metering customers and the lowest nameplate capacity for net metering of the five (5) investor owned electric utilities in Indiana? This is especially troubling since IPL was authorized to increase its net metering program last year in a Demand Side Management (DSM) case before the IURC in Cause No. 43623. The revised net metering tariff became effective on March 30, 2010, and therefore, was in effect for nine (9) out of the twelve (12) months of 2010. Hence, IPL's Standard Contract Rider No. 9 applied to the largest number of customer classes and was five (5) times greater than the maximum system size for the other four (4) investor owned electric utilities in Indiana, however, IPL still had the lowest number of net metering customers. Does this even make sense?

IPL STANDARD CONTRACT RIDER NO. 9

NET METERING FOR CUSTOMERS WITH SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC, WIND, OR HYDROELECTRIC SYSTEMS

AVAILABILITY

Available to all Customers who have installed renewable solar photovoltaic, wind or hydroelectric systems with Approved Electrical Connection. Total capacity on this rider will be limited to one percent of the company’s most recent annual peak load; customer installations applicable to this Rider are limited to 50 KW or less. System capacity will be defined as the lower value of the inverter nameplate capacity excluding nonrenewable power sources or the renewable power source nameplate capacity.

You can find the one page tariff here. IPL Net Metering_Rider 9-Apr 10

Please read the IURC's report yourself and reach your own conclusions. 2010_Net_Metering_Required_Reporting_Summary

Tell me what you think PLUS you can also tell the IURC what you think about their proposed revised net metering regulations.

The proposed net metering rule can be found at http://indianadg.wordpress.com/net-metering/iurc-rm-09-10-lsa-10-662/

Written comments on the IURC proposed net metering rule will be accepted until close of business on March 25, 2011 (preferably received in Word via email).