Longitudinal adjustments to net metering in BEopt?

asked 2022-12-05 18:20:47 -0600

jpierce
375 ●5 ●6

updated 2022-12-06 10:41:34 -0600

Aaron Boranian

14155 ●83 ●24 http://bigladdersoftware.com/

I've checked the forum and the help but see no answers to this: How is the user-specified net metering rate adjusted over the course of the modeling period? Is it increased with inflation? With retail rate escalation? In MA our net-metering is statutorily defined as 60% of retail. I can set that rate today, but that could all but evaporate after thirty years of inflation and escalations if the value is not also adjust annually to keep up with utility bill rates.

answered 2022-12-05 18:54:59 -0600

jpierce
375 ●5 ●6

updated 2022-12-05 18:57:49 -0600

A comparison of the annual PV credit columns under Optimal Output - Simulation Utility Bills reveals that it does appear to be adjusted by inflation and utility rate multipliers annually. However, the calculated credit is not equal to the excess generation multiplied by the net metering rate. My report shows:

**Input - Site Screen**
Electricity Marginal Rate $0.02275
Electricity Average Rate $0.2388269
Electricity PV Production Type NetMetering
Electricity Net Metering Annual Excess Sellback Rate Type UserSpecified
Electricity Net Metering Annual Excess Sellback Rate of $0.03

**Output - End Use Graph Metrics**
Site Energy Use  PV E   17.84 MMBTU/yr (4,865 kWh/yr)

Net Meter x Excess PV = 146 dollars, but the PV credit for year 1 in Optimal Output - Simulation Utility Bills is listed as 1,264 dollars. Even using the average electricity rate only nets $1,161.