Top Takeaways
Under Alternative NEM, production and consumption in the same monthly billing cycle net nearly 1-to-1
Monthly net excess credits rollover at a portion of the retail rate
Third-party electric suppliers are not required to provide net metering credits
Alternative NEM 2.0
NHPUC 900 rules require Eversource Energy, Unitil, and Liberty Utilities to offer net metering credits for solar customers. The current program is called the Alternative Net Metering Tariff, and has been in place since 2017.
Monthly Netting
With Alternative NEM, production and consumption within the same monthly billing period will net nearly 1-to-1 at the same retail rate the utility charges you with the exception of a few non-bypassable charges of just 1-2 cents per kWh supporting public purpose programs.
For example, 700 kWh of consumption will net with 700 kWh of production. The grid consumption will be charged just 1-2 cents per kWh plus the fixed customer charges ($14-$20 per month).
Monthly Rollover Credits
At the end of the monthly billing period, If the monthly electricity generated exceeds the monthly electricity consumed, Alternative NEM customers will be credited an amount equal to the sum of the Default Energy Service (supply) charge, the Transmission Charge, plus 25 percent of the Distribution Charge.
For example, 500 kWh of consumption with 700 kWh of production. The first 500 kWh would net nearly 1-to-1. The -200 kWh of excess production would be credited at the Supply, Transmission, and 25% of the Distribution Charges.
For a system sized to produce 100% of your annual electric usage, on average for a typical residential customer with gas heating, just 10% of annual production is estimated to receive monthly rollover credits at the lower value.
Competitive Electric Suppliers
New Hampshire utilities are not required to provide net metering credits for customers with a Competitive Electric Supplier. The supply charges on your electric bill may not be credited.
If you have an alternate supplier, Palmetto LightReach recommends you break your supply contract and return to the local, distribution utility for full service.
Sample Net Metering Bill
In this sample NEM bill, 330 kWh were 'Purchased' from the utility while 793 kWh of excess solar not immediately consumed in the home was export to the grid, 'Sales.'
The first 330 kWh of solar netted with grid consumption for all charges except the small Stranded Cost Recovery Charge and System Benefits Charge avoiding nearly the entire retail rate.
The monthly net excess production of 463 kWh was credited the Default Supply Rate, Transmission Charge, and 25% of the Distribution Charge creating a negative balance on the account.
