More and more members of Colorado’s electric cooperatives are adding renewable energy resources to their homes, farms and ranches. These members work with their local electric co-ops to make this happen. For those who are at the beginning of the process of adding renewable resources, the co-ops have posted valuable information on their local co-op websites.
Yampa Valley Electric in Steamboat Springs is a good example. Posted prominently on its website is the following information:
“Yampa Valley Electric Association, Inc., does provide for true ‘net metering’ for members who install solar equipment. With true net metering, the meter will register electric energy purchased from YVEA and will reverse the meter registration when the solar system is generating electricity into the YVEA grid. Members who generate more than they consume, can ‘bank’ usage for the proceeding month(s). Annually, there will a reconciliation month, where consumers will be financially compensated for their total ‘banked’ usage at the filed tariff rate 50.
“The association does not provide any upfront financial incentives to install solar equipment.
“Colorado’s interconnection rules (H.B 1169, enacted in 2007) stipulates that inverter-based systems have a maximum nameplate capacity of 10 kilowatts (kW) for residential loads and a maximum nameplate capacity of 25 kW for commercial loads. These systems must comply with the IEEE 1547 and UL 1741 standards. Minimum liability insurance with a single occurrence limit of $300,000 is required at the customer’s expense.
“Members who install inverted based solar equipment must sign an interconnection agreement with YVEA. A copy of the interconnection agreement is attached.”
Members of other electric co-ops will find similar information on their local co-op website as the co-ops strive to provide easily accessible information for their members interested in local renewable resources.