Net Metering – Craighead Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Generating Your Own Power with Solar

What is net metering?

Net Metering is the billing arrangement through which members with solar panels or other Distributed Energy Resources (DER) are compensated for the energy they export to the grid. Exported energy is purchased by the cooperative at wholesale rates and credited as a line item on the electric bill.

For example: if a member utilizes a grid-tied solar system with no battery storage, energy generated during daylight hours first serves the current loads of the location and any excess is sent to the grid, compensated at wholesale rates. If battery storage is used, then the generated energy can be stored and used to serve the loads of the location at a later time, minimizing what energy is exported.

What must I do to get a net metering facility approved by Craighead Electric?

Before Craighead Electric approves a net metering facility, the following conditions must be met:

A Preliminary Interconnection Site Review Request must be submitted to the Cooperative before any work can begin along with a $320.00 site review fee (effective 1-19-2024) for Level 1(25 kw or less). This fee is for the site review, it does not cover any interconnection costs related to the installation of the distributed generation system (download form below).
For systems over 25 kw (Level 2 thru 4) site review deposit will be $320.00 plus $10.00 per kW of nameplate rating up to a maximum of $2000.00 plus interconnection study costs, if needed.
The generating capacity of Net-Metering Facilities may not exceed one thousand kilowatts (1,000 kW) for non-residential use unless otherwise allowed by the Commission.
The net metering facility must be interconnected to a metered service billed under rate schedule 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, or 20 of Craighead Electric’s metered rates.
The Craighead Electric account must be in the name of the owner of the net metering facility.
The net metering facility must be intended primarily to offset some or all of the net metering customer’s requirements for electricity. Expected annual generation cannot exceed 100% of a member’s most-recent 12-month energy consumption.

If you are considering self-generation with solar, please contact Craighead Electric at 800-794-5012 or email netmetering@craigheadelectric.coop.

How is billing handled with a net metering facility?

If the electricity generated by the net metering facility is fed back to the cooperative, the member is compensated for the exported energy at wholesale rates, currently $0.028527.
The total accumulated generation credit per billing period is listed on that bill as a line item and subtracted from the total bill.
If a negative credit is accumulated on the account, the credit remains on the account to cover future bills or can be reimbursed to a member by request.

What are the net metering installation requirements?

The net metering system is required to meet all local and national electrical codes, including National Electrical Code, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the National Electrical Safety Code and Underwriters Laboratory. Craighead Electric assumes no liability or responsibility for the installation or operation of the net metering system because the cooperative does not inspect the equipment, wiring or installation beyond the interconnection to the meter. Member must submit a design drawing and product literature to the Craighead Electric engineering department for Craighead Electric’s approval prior to the installation. The department may be reached at 800-794-5012.
A Preliminary Interconnection Site Review Request must be submitted to the Cooperative before any work can begin along with a site review fee- see above. (download form below.)
The member must complete and submit a copy of the standard interconnection agreement (see Downloads below) at least 30 days prior to the planned interconnection.
The interconnection agreement must be signed by the member and Craighead Electric. Once the equipment is installed, Craighead Electric will schedule a site visit for Craighead Electric personnel to inspect and commission the installation. The net metering equipment must remain disconnected from the electric meter until the system is commissioned by Craighead Electric. Craighead Electric will verify two things at the time of the site visit – that the net metering equipment disconnects from the electric meter during a power outage and that the electric meter runs backward when the net metering equipment is feeding back to the cooperative.
Interconnection must be made behind the initial means of disconnection. That is, NO LINE SIDE TAPS before the main breaker. A single switch must simultaneously disconnect the load and the DER.
No insulation piercing taps. Taps must be breaker (preferred) or terminal type.

Can I build a solar array or wind farm and sell power to Craighead Electric?

A DER power plant, regardless of size, can be connected to Craighead Electric’s distribution system if certified as a qualifying facility by Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation.
Power will be purchased by AECC through a wholesale power contract.

Certification is a lengthy and costly process, and the member should carefully evaluate the economics of the facility before choosing this option over net metering.

Download Craighead Electric Net-Metering Tariff(PDF) approved by the Arkansas Public Service Commission

Please, e-mail site review request to: netmetering@craigheadelectric.coop

Legacy Net Metering

Net-metered members interconnected before October 2024 are grandfathered under “Legacy” Net Metering rules and receive one-to-one compensation for kilowatt-hours exported to the grid. Excess exported energy is credited as kWh credits into a kWh bank to offset future energy needs. These kWh credits never expire and stay in a kWh bank until used. Stranded credits are paid out at the avoided cost (wholesale) rate. Legacy Net Metered accounts are grandfathered until June 2040 after which they will be converted to non-legacy net metering and compensated at wholesale rates.