Community Solar in the state of Maine is governed by by P.L. 2019 c. 478, P.L. 2021 c.390, and Chapter 313 of the Public Utility Commissions (PUC) rules. These rules govern the state's Net Energy Billing (NEB) Policy. Under NEB there are two programs which customers can participate in "Community" or shared renewable projects, a kWh credit program, which is available to all electric utility customers, and a tariff rate program, which is available to non-residential customers.
The kWh program allows customers to choose to participate in a larger project on a “shared” basis with other customers. These projects provide kWh credits on participating customers' electricity bills at the retail kWh rate.
The Tariff Rate Program, for non-residential customers, provides dollar credits on participating customers' electricity bills. Rates are determined annually by the PUC. For current rates used to determine the monthly credit, please see the Net Energy Tariff Rates on PUC's website.
Key features of the NEB program:
For more information please visit Maine's Public Utilities Commission website for more information.
| Implementing Sector: | State |
| Category: | Regulatory Policy |
| State: | Maine |
| Incentive Type: | Community Solar Rules |
| Web Site: | https://www.maine.gov/mpuc/regulated-utilities/electricity/neb |
| Administrator: | Maine Public Utilities Commission |
| Start Date: | |
| Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: |
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| Applicable Utilities: |
Entities that market projects to residential or small commercial customers must be registered with the PUC. See the list of Registered Project Sponsors, Marketers, etc. |
| System Capacity Limit: |
New Projects <2 MW Grandfathered projects <5 MW |
| Program Capacity Limit: | na |
| Participant Credit Rate: | Tariff rate recalculated every 12 months. See Net Energy Tariff Rates for more information. |
| Low-Moderate Income Provisions: | Arrears management program: Under this program, beginning April 1, 2022 and on or before every April 1 thereafter, transmission and distribution utilities that participate in this program pursuant to Title 35-A, section 3214(2-A) shall determine the monetary value of unused and expired kilowatt-hour credits during the prior calendar year and apply this value to reduce the account balances of customers participating in the arrearage management program in an equal dollar amount unless such reduction would be in excess of the customer’s account balance. Any such excess amounts shall be allocated in an equal dollar amount to the account balance amounts of other customers participating in the arrearage management program. |
| Name: | P.L. 2019 c. 478 |
| Name: | Chapter 313 |
| Name: | P.L. 2021 c.390 |
| Name: | Consumer Resources |
| Organization: | Maine Public Utilities Commission |
| Address: |
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| Phone: | (207) 287-3831 |
| Name: | Developers, Sponsors and Marketers Resources |
| Organization: | Maine Public Utilities Commission |
| Address: |
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| Email: | PUCenergyDeveloperFAQ@maine.gov |
This information is sourced from DSIRE; the most comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the United States. Established in 1995, DSIRE is operated by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center at N.C. State University.
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