Net Metering

The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) issued an order on January 26, 1982, requiring all regulated utilities to file tariffs allowing net metering to customers that generate electricity with systems up to 20 kilowatts (kW)* in capacity.

Eligibility and Availability

The order applies to investor-owned utilities and municipal utilities, but not to electric cooperatives. All distributed-generation (DG) systems, including renewable energy and combined heat and power (CHP) systems, are eligible. There is no limit on total enrollment.

Net Excess Generation

The PSC has not adopted administrative rules for net metering.** Utilities' net-metering tariffs contain some variations. Customer net excess generation (NEG) is generally credited at the utility's retail rate for renewable energy, and at the utility's avoided-cost rate for non-renewable energy. NEG credit is carried over to the customer's next bill. If NEG credit exceeds $25, then the utility must issue a check for the amount, payable to the customer. 

In December 2011, the PSC approved a process for Xcel Energy to reconcile NEG credits to customers on an annual basis at the avoided-cost rate.

Investor-Owned Utility Net Metering Tariffs

For more information on net metering, refer to the applicable utility net metering tariffs listed below. The Public Service Commission also maintains a listing of utility tariffs that can be used to access your utility's net metering tariff if it is not listed here.

• Northern States Power Company d/b/a Xcel Energy - System size limit: 120% of average annual consumption; NEG credits roll over monthly at the retail rate and are compensated at the end of calendar year at the avoided cost rate.
• Wisconsin Electric Power Company d/b/a We Energies - System size limit: 300 kW; NEG credits reconciled monthly at the Customer's Buy-Back Energy Rate ($0.04642 per kWh).
• Madison Gas and Electric - System size limit: 100 kW; NEG credits roll over monthly at the Energy Credit Rate.
• Wisconsin Public Service Corporation - System size limit: 20 kW; NEG credits roll over monthly at a rate that includes energy, capacity, and transmission costs.
• Wisconsin Power & Light d/b/a Alliant Energy- System size limit: 20 kW. NEG compensated monthly at avoided cost.
• Superior Water, Light, and Power - System size limit: 20 kW. NEG compensated monthly at avoided cost.
• Northwestern Wisconsin Electric Company - System size limit: 20 kW. NEG compensated monthly at avoided cost.

* Some utilities allow net metering for systems larger than 20 kW. In these cases, excess generation rates, carry-over processes, and capacity limits vary by utility. These provisions are specified in the utility tariffs.

** Subsequent PSC decisions issued June 21, 1983 in docket numbers 05-ER-11, 05-ER-12 and 05-ER-13, further implemented Sections 201 and 210 of the federal Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act of 1978 (PURPA). These decisions were confirmed by an order issued September 18, 1992, in docket number 05-EP-6. This last order addresses net metering as it applies to Wisconsin's investor-owned utilities.