Florida Keys Electric Cooperative Green Power Solar PV Net Metering/
Renewable Generation

Solar PV Net Metering/
Renewable Generation

Smiling male technician in blue suit installing photovoltaic blue solar modules with screw. Man electrician panel sun sustainable resources renewable energy source alternative innovationFKEC offers net metering to make it easy for solar homes and businesses to draw power from the local power grid while also producing solar energy. The program also allows FKEC to incorporate more solar power into its system by buying back the surplus generated by the solar homes.

The goal of net metering is to offset all or part of a member’s energy use at the member’s metered service account. IMPORTANT: PV systems should not be sized so large that the energy produced by the array exceeds 120% of the member’s historical peak kW consumption.

What is Net Metering?

Net Metering, also known as Solar Interconnection, allows FKEC members who have their own solar arrays (photovoltaic PV systems) to generate power while also being connected to the FKEC power grid. A bi-directional meter installed measures the power flowing into and out of the home/business allowing the member to generate power and also draw power from the local system as needed. When a home produces an excess of electricity, FKEC buys the power back from the member.

Net Meter members receive exactly the cost of each per-kilowatt-hour charge listed on their net meter billing statements as a credit for all excess power generated by their PV systems.

Benefits of Net Metering

  • Offsets electricity costs
  • Excess energy credited in $ each month
  • Customer receives credit for excess energy left over at the end of the calendar year
  • Reduces dependence on fossil fuels
  • Encourages use of renewable energy sources

Energy Efficiency is Key

Simply having a photovoltaic system installed at your home does not mean you will sell back power. Owners who are able to generate enough electricity to meet the needs of their home (or achieve a surplus) have gone to great lengths to make their homes highly efficient in order to consume minimal electricity.

While solar technology is advancing, energy efficiency is still the key to savings. Before installing a solar PV system, a homeowner should first make the house as energy efficient as possible.

Florida Keys Electric Co-op members Linda and Mark proudly stand with their new 9,000-watt solar array.
Florida Keys Electric Co-op members Linda and Mark proudly stand with their new 9,000-watt solar array. The couple used FKEC’s Solar Loan Program to finance the photovoltaic system, and by increasing their home’s efficiency their goal is to sell back solar generated power to FKEC is a reality.

For inverter-based systems, the A/C gross power rating can be calculated by multiplying the total installed DC nameplate rating by .85 to account for the losses in converting from DC to AC.