Norris Public Power District

Business :: Distributed Generation

Renewable energy and its utilization has been the focus of much interest of late.  A renewable resource is an energy source that is regenerative or virtually inexhaustible. Renewable energy includes solar, wind, biomass, waste, geothermal, and water (hydroelectric). Solar thermal technology converts solar energy through high concentration and heat absorption into electricity or process energy. Wind generators produce mechanical energy directly through shaft power. Biomass energy is derived from hundreds of plant species, various agricultural and industrial residues, and processing wastes. Industrial wood and wood waste are the most prevalent form of biomass energy used by nonutilities. Geothermal technologies convert heat naturally present in the earth into heat energy and electricity. Hydroelectric power is derived by converting the potential energy of water to electrical energy using a hydraulic turbine connected to a generator.  It has become increasingly more common to utilize renewable resources in a distributed fashion, unlike large utility scale generation sources.  In many instances, the distributed generation resource is customer, not utility, owned.

When considering the connection of a distributed generation resource it is important to consider various aspects of the project.  The District has available a Distributed Generation Interconnection Guide that will help the potential distributed generation operator with some of these aspects that are required in order to make the project successful. 

The following procedure has been developed and is required for customer owned distributed generation resources to be interconnected with District facilities:

  • Completion of the District’s Application for Approval of Distributed Generation Interconnection is required prior to constructing an interconnection to the District’s distribution system.  It is important to complete this document early in the process so that the District is aware of your intentions and can research the equipment you propose to connect. 
  • Equipment can be purchased and construction of the interconnection can begin once the Application has been completed and accepted by both parties.  
  • Prior to closing the interconnection switch once construction is complete, an inspection by both the State of Nebraska Electrical Division (NSED) and the District is required.  The NSED should first be contacted by your electrician and upon notification to the District by NSED that your installation has passed NSED requirements, an inspection by the District will follow.  
  • Upon verification of the terms of the interconnection and equipment by the District, both parties will sign the Agreement for the Closed Transition Operation of Distributed Generation and the interconnection switch may be closed.  
  • A signed Agreement is the final step for interconnecting a customer owned distributed generation resource.  The District will then install a bidirectional meter; the installation will require a debt of $50 to be applied to your account for the mileage and labor incurred in the replacement of the existing meter. 

Please be mindful that the installation, interconnection, and operation of a distributed generation resource without an Agreement signed by both parties shall be grounds for immediate disconnection of the District's service without constituting a breach of contract.

Net- Metering
The District has adopted a Net-Metering Policy for the installation of distributed generation sources of 25 kW and below.  This Policy allows the customer to stay on their existing rate schedule and includes the following:

  • Energy generated will be available for customer use and will be allowed to offset energy that would have otherwise been purchased by the customer from the District.  
  • Net energy delivered by the District or received by the District will be calculated by determining the difference between the ‘Delivered’ and ‘Received’ registers on one bi-directional meter.  
  • The net energy delivered by the District to the customer will be billed according to the customer’s applicable rate schedule.  
  • The net excess generation received by the District will be credited monthly to the customer as a monetary credit and will be calculated based on the wholesale production costs avoided by the District for the billing period.  
  • Monetary credits will be rolled forward to subsequent billing periods; any monetary credits remaining at the end of the calendar year shall be paid directly to the customer.

Pursuant to State Statute 70-2005, enacted in 2009, each local distribution utility must publish an annual net metering report.  Norris Public Power District Net Metering Report
December 31, 2010
1.  Total number of qualified facilities:  12
2.  Total estimated rated generating capacity of qualified facilities:  50.08 kW
3.  Total estimated net kilowatt-hours received from customer-generators:  0
4.  Total estimated amount of energy produced by the customer-generators:  63,771 kWh

Cogeneration and Small Power Production
Purchase Rate
The District has designed Rate 25 for distributed generation sources that are too large to qualify under the “net-metering” program.  This Rate applies to installations of 100 kW and below and includes the following: 

  • All kWh that flow from the generation source to the District’s distribution system is paid based upon Rate 25.  
  • Both energy and demand components are included in the calculation.  

Standby Generation
While the utilization and implementation differ from distributed generation sources, the District recognizes the need for standby fossil fuel generation for emergency use during outages.  To protect the safety of the District's customers and personnel, a double throw disconnect switch shall be installed in conjunction with all standby generators. This switch shall be connected in such a manner that there is a visible open between the District's facilities and the standby generator. 

The installation of a standby generator without a properly installed double throw disconnect switch shall be grounds for immediate disconnection of the District's service without constituting a breach of contract.

Norris Public Power District ©2012