Fact Sheet: PNM's Proposed
Customer-Owned PV Program
How it works
As currently proposed, the program would be available to customers with existing
or new interconnected photovoltaic (PV) systems rated 10 kilowatts or lower.
The program would help customers recoup some of the cost of installing a PV
system in the following ways:
- Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs): Every kilowatt hour (kWh) generated
by a PV system that is interconnected to PNM's distribution grid has an environmental
attribute that has value. This value will be accounted for through Renewable
Energy Certificates (RECs). PNM will purchase one REC for every kWh generated.
A separate meter will be installed to measure the total amount of solar electricity
the customer's PV system produces. For each REC produced, PNM will pay the
customer 11 cents.
The program would run for 12 years and customers may enroll in the program
at any time.
- Net metering: Program participants will also participate in PNM's net metering
program. With net metering the customer's meter dial turns both ways. That
is, the meter turns forward when the customer is using electricity from
the PNM grid, and backwards when the PV system is generating more electricity
than the customer's home is using and it flows onto the PNM grid. Each month
PNM will determine how much net electricity the customer delivered to PNM,
and credit the customer's account for each excess kWh.