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Department of STATE

Public Service Commission

Statutory Authority: 26 Delaware Code, Section 209(a) (26 Del.C. §209(a))
26 DE Admin. Code 3001

PROPOSED

IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION OF RULES AND REGULATIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF 26 DEL.C. CH. 10 RELATING TO THE CREATION OF A COMPETITIVE MARKET FOR RETAIL ELECTRIC SUPPLY SERVICE (OPENED APRIL 27, 1999; RE-OPENED JANUARY 7, 2003; RE-OPENED SEPTEMBER 22, 2009; RE-OPENED SEPTEMBER 7, 2010)

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PSC REGULATION DOCKET NO. 49

ORDER NO. 7946

This 19th day of April, 2011, the Commission determines and Orders the following:

1. Since 1999, the Commission has included within its Rules for Certification and Regulation of Electric Suppliers (26 DE Admin. Code §3001) ("the Regulations")) specific provisions governing "net energy metering" by retail electric consumers. 26 DE Admin. Code §3001-8.0 ("net metering rules").1 These net metering rules have implemented statutory enactments that, over the years, have afforded retail electric customers expanding opportunities to utilize limited capacity generation to "net meter" the customer's electric supply consumption. See 26 Del.C. §1014(d)-(k) (current statutory "net metering" regime).

2. The statutory net metering regime was revised in July, 2010. See 77 Del. Laws c. 453, §§2-11 (July 28, 2010), amending 26 Del.C. §1014(d) & (e), and adding §1014(i)-(k). In October, 2010, the Commission gave notice of proposed changes to the net metering rules in its Regulations to implement these 2010 legislative amendments. 14 DE Reg. 282 (Oct. 1, 2010); PSC Order No. 7832 (Sept. 7, 2010). The thrust of the 2010 statutory amendments, and the Commission's concurrent proposed changes to its net metering rules, was: (1) to allow a retail electric customer to aggregate multiple individually metered accounts beyond the account/meter serving the generation facility for purposes of allocating net metering credits and (2) to allow several retail customers, through aggregation of accounts or by investment, to obtain net metering benefits via community-owned generating facilities.

3. Staff now reports that it would be appropriate to further revise the earlier proposed rule changes, based upon the responses engendered by the earlier October, 2010 notice. Staff has submitted further revised proposed net metering provisions which, according to Staff, differ, in some aspects, from the earlier proposed changes. For example, these further revisions:

(a) more carefully delineate the value of carried-over monthly excess generation credits in the context of both aggregated meters and community-owned generation facilities dependent upon the customer accounts being served by the same or a differing distribution feeder (proposed further §§ 8.3 & 8.4(i)(1), (ii)(1));

(b) set forth an alternative value to be used in the purchase of net excess generation of a community-owned generation facility (further revised § 8.4.2); and

(c) allow Delmarva Power & Light Company to recover from stand-alone community-owned generation facilities a retail equivalent customer charge and other applicable non-volumetric supply, transmission, and delivery costs (proposed further revision § 8.2.4 & .5).

4. In light of Staff's report, and in accord with 29 Del.C. §10118(c), the Commission now adopts a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and proposes further revisions to the net metering rules in its Regulations. These further revisions are proposed, in part, due to the responses garnished from the earlier October, 2010 notice of rulemaking and are, in some part, substantively different from the earlier proposed changes to the net metering rules.

5. This Further Notice, and the further revised proposed net metering provisions, will supersede the Notice and proposed revisions set forth at 14 DE Reg. 282 (Oct. 1, 2010) and in Order No. 7832. However, because in many instances the further revisions now being noticed mirror changes proposed under the earlier notice, the comments submitted, and the record developed in earlier proceedings, in response to the earlier notice will be incorporated into the record of this Further Notice.

NOW THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED BY THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF NOT FEWER THAN THREE COMMISSIONERS:

1. That to further implement the provisions of 26 Del.C. 1014(d)-(k), as amended by 77 Del Laws c. 453 (2010), and to make additional "administrative" changes, the Commission issues a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and further revised proposed revisions to its Rules For Certification And Regulation Of Electric Suppliers, 26 Admin. C. §3001 ("the Regulations"). The further proposed revisions now noticed are set forth, via interlineations, in Exhibit "A" as appended to this Order. The Commission has authority to propose such rules pursuant to 26 Del.C. §§209 & 1014(d), (e), (k).

2. That this Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and further proposed revisions as set forth in Exhibit "A" of this Order, supersede the Notice and proposed revisions previously published at 14 DE Reg. 282 (Oct. 1, 2010) and in PSC Order No. 7832 (Sept. 7, 2010). Those earlier proposed revisions (unless incorporated into Exhibit "A") are hereby withdrawn in favor of the further proposed revisions now being noticed. However, the comments received in response to the earlier proposed revisions, and the record developed in response to the notice directed by PSC Order No. 7832), shall be incorporated into the record of this Further Notice.

3. That, pursuant to 29 Del.C. §§10113 and 10115, the Secretary shall transmit to the Registrar of Regulations for publication in the May, 2011 issue of the Delaware Register of Regulations a copy of this Order; a copy of the Regulations, delineating the proposed further revisions to the net metering provisions and several other provisions; and a copy of the Further Notice attached hereto as Exhibit "B". In addition, the Secretary shall cause the Further Notice attached as Exhibit "B" to be published in The News Journal and the Delaware State News newspapers on or before May 10, 2011. The Secretary shall include proof of such publication in the docket file before the public hearing in this matter. Further, the Secretary shall serve (by regular mail or by electronic e-mail) a copy of such Further Notice on: (a) the Division of the Public Advocate; (b) the State Energy Office; (c) Delmarva Power & Light Company; (d) all certificated electric suppliers; (d) all persons and entities, who in response to the Notice of Rulemaking adopted by PSC Order No. 7832 (Sept. 7, 2010) either filed comments or participated in any public hearing or workshop; and (e) each person or entity who has made a timely request for advance notice of the Commission's regulation-making proceedings.

4. That, pursuant to 29 Del.C. §§10115(a) and 10116, persons or entities may file written comments, suggestions, compilations of data, briefs, or other written materials, in response to this Further notice or before June 1, 2011. Pursuant to 29 Del.C. §10117, the Commission will conduct, at its offices in Dover, a public hearing on the proposed revisions to the Regulations on June 7, 2011, beginning at 1 pm.

5. That, pursuant to 26 Del.C. §§114 and 1012(c)(2), all electric suppliers and electric public utilities are hereby notified that they will be charged the costs incurred in connection with this proceeding under the provisions of 26 Del.C. §114(b)(1).

6. The Commission reserves the jurisdiction and authority to enter such further Orders in this matter as may be deemed necessary or proper.

BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSION:

 
 

BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSION:

 
 
 
Arnetta McRae, Chair
 
Jeffrey J. Clark, Commissioner
 
Joann T. Conaway, Commissioner
 
Jaymes B. Lester, Commissioner
 
Dallas Winslow, Commissioner
ATTEST:
 
Alisa Carrow Bentley, Secretary
 

TO: ALL RETAIL ELECTRIC SUPPLIERS IN DELAWARE, ALL DELAWARE RETAIL ELECTRIC CUSTOMERS

WHO GENERATE ELECTRICITY, DELMARVA POWER & LIGHT CO., & OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS

Since 1999, electric utilities and electric suppliers have been obligated to permit residential and smaller commercial customers to use limited capacity generators to "net meter" their electric supply consumption. 26 Del.C. §1014(d)-(k). The Public Service Commission ("PSC") has previously adopted rules to implement this "net electric metering" regime as part of its Rules for Certification and Regulation of Electric Suppliers, 26 DE Admin. Code §3001-8.0 ("the Regulations").

In October, 2010, the PSC gave notice that it proposed to change the net metering provisions in its Regulations in light of July, 2010 legislative amendments to the underlying statutory net metering regime. 14 DE Reg. 282 (Oct. 1, 2010). After receiving responses to those earlier proposed rule changes, the PSC has now decided to issue a Further Notice of proposed rulemaking and to propose further revised changes to the net metering provisions in its Regulations. This further Notice and the further refined proposed rule changes supersede the rule revisions proposed under the earlier October, 2010 Notice.

As with the earlier proposed rule changes, the further proposed rule revisions implement the 2010 legislative amendments (77 Del. Laws ch. 453 (July 28, 2010)). They: (1) allow retail electric customers to aggregate multiple individual metered accounts beyond the account/meter serving the generation facility for purposes of allocating net metering credits and (2) allow retail customers, through aggregation of accounts or by investment, to obtain net metering benefits via community-owned generating facilities. In addition, the further revised proposed provisions allow Delmarva Power & Light Company the opportunity to utilize an alternative value to calculate the level of payment for excess "net metering" credits in the context of community-owned generation facilities. Finally, the further proposed revisions allow Delmarva Power & Light Company to recover from stand-alone community-owned generation facilities a customer charge and other applicable charges related to supply, transmission, and delivery costs.

You can review the further revised proposed rule revisions in the May, 2011 issue of the Delaware Register of Regulations (available online at http://regulations.delaware.gov/services/register.shtml) or on the PSC's website at http://depsc.delaware.gov, under PSC Order No. 7946 (April 19, 2011). You can also review and copy PSC Order No. 7946 and the further proposed revisions at the PSC's office at the address set forth below ($.50 per page copy fee).

The PSC now solicits comments, suggestions, compilations of data, briefs, or other written materials concerning the further proposed revisions to the Regulations. If you wish to file any such materials, you should submit an original and ten copies of such written documents on or before June 1, 2011. You should file such materials with the PSC at the following address:

Public Service Commission

861 Silver Lake Boulevard

Cannon Building, Suite 100

Dover, Delaware, 19904

Attn: Reg. Dckt. No. 49

If possible, you should accompany such written comments with an electronic version of the submission. Such electronic copy may be filed on a copy-capable CD-Rom disk or sent as an attachment to an Internet e-mail addressed to john.farber@state.de.us. If you filed comments or other materials in response to the October 1, 2010 notice, those comments will be included in the record in this matter.

The PSC will hold a hearing to consider these further revisions to the Regulations at its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, June 7, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at the address for the Commission listed above. The Commission will make its decision to adopt, reject, or adopt with modification, the proposed further revisions to the Regulations on the basis the information presented of record in this docket. The Commission is authorized to promulgate the proposed amendments under 26 Del.C. §§209 & 1014(d), (e), (k).

If you have questions about this proceeding, you can contact the PSC at 1-800-282-8574 (in Delaware only) or (302) 736-7500 (text telephone available). You can also send inquiries by Internet e-mail addressed to john.farber@state.de.us. If you are disabled and need assistance to be able to participate, please contact the Commission to make arrangements for such assistance.

3001 Regulations Governing Service Supplied by Electrical Corporations

Effective: August 31, 1999

1.0 Definitions

“Affiliated Interest” means:

1. Any person or entity who owns directly, indirectly or through a chain of successive ownership, 10% or more of the voting securities of the Applicant;

2. Any person or entity, 10% or more of whose voting securities are owned, directly or indirectly, by an affiliated interest as defined in 1 above; or

3. Any person or entity, 10% or more of whose voting securities are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Applicant.

"Aggregator" means any person or entity who contracts with an electric distribution company, electric supplier or PJM Interconnection (or its successor) to provide energy services, which facilitate battery storage systems for Grid-Integrated Electric Vehicles and related technologies.

“Ancillary Services” means those services that are necessary to support the transmission of capacity and energy from resources to loads while maintaining reliable operation of the system.

"Annualized Billing Period" means a period of 12 consecutive monthly billing periods. A Customer's first Annualized Billing Period begins on the first day of the first full monthly billing period after which the Customer-Generator Facility is interconnected with the EDC and is generating electricity. A customer may elect to change the end of the Annualized Billing Period one time in order to better utilize excess generation.

“Applicant” means an entity or person seeking to obtain an Electric Supplier Certificate.

“Broker” means an entity or person that acts as an agent or intermediary in the sale or purchase of, but that does not take title to, electricity for sale to Retail Electric Customers.

“Commission” means the Delaware Public Service Commission

"Community-owned energy generating facility" or "Community Energy Facility" means a renewable energy generating facility that has Subscribers who share the energy production of the Community Energy Facility, which may be located either as a stand-alone facility or behind the meter of a Subscriber. The Community-owned energy generating facility shall be interconnected to the distribution system and operated in parallel with an electric distribution company's transmission and distribution facilities. The Community Energy Facility shall:

Satisfy all applicable requirements of Section 8.0 Net Metering of this Rule;
Meet all applicable safety and performance standards established by the National Electrical Code, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, and Underwriters Laboratories to ensure that net metering customers meet applicable safety and performance standards; and
Comply with the Electric Supplier's interconnection tariffs and operating guidelines.

“Cramming” means the practice of charging Customers for services that they have not ordered or have been sold in a deceptive manner such that the customer is not reasonably aware of the nature or price of the service for which he or she is being charged.

"Customer" or "Retail Electric Customer" means a purchaser of electricity for ultimate consumption and not for resale in Delaware, including the owner/operator of any building or facility, but not the occupants thereof, who purchases and supplies electricity to the occupants of such building or facility.

"Customer-Generator Facility" means equipment used by a Customer to generate, manage, and monitor electricity. A Customer-Generator Facility, which typically includes an electric generator and/or an equipment package, shall:

Satisfy all of the applicable requirements of Section 8.2 General Provisions Net Metering of this Rule;
Meet all applicable safety and performance standards established by the National Electrical Code, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, and Underwriters Laboratories to ensure that net metering customers meet applicable safety and performance standards; and
Comply with the Electric Supplier's interconnection tariffs and operating guidelines.

“Delaware Electric Cooperative, Inc.” or “Cooperative” or “DEC” or its successor(s).

“Delmarva Power & Light Company” or “Delmarva” or “DP&L” or its successor(s).

“Distribution Services” means those services, including metering, relating to the delivery of electricity to a Retail Electric Customer through Distribution Facilities.

“Distribution Facilities” means electric facilities located in Delaware that are owned by a public utility that operate at voltages of 34,500 volts or below and that are used to deliver electricity to Retail Electric Customers, up through and including the point of physical connection with electric facilities owned by the Retail Electric Customer.

“Electric Distribution Company” or “EDC” means a public utility owning and/or operating Transmission and/or Distribution Facilities in Delaware.

“Electric Supplier” means an entity or person certified by the Commission, including municipal corporations which choose to provide electricity outside their municipal limits (except to the extent provided prior to February 1, 1999), Broker, Marketer or other entity (including public utilities and their affiliates, e.g., Delmarva), that sells electricity to Retail Electric Customers, utilizing the Transmission and Distribution Facilities of an Electric Distribution Company.

“Electric Supplier Certificate” or “ESC” means a certificate granted by the Commission to Electric Suppliers that have fulfilled the Commission’s certification requirements.

“Electric Supply Service” means the provision of electricity or electric generation service.

“Eligible Energy Resources” means the following energy sources located within the PJM region or imported into the PJM region and tracked through the PJM Market Settlement System:

Solar energy technologies that employ solar radiation to produce electricity;
Electricity derived from wind energy;
Electricity derived from ocean energy including wave or tidal action, currents, or thermal differences;
Geothermal energy technologies that generate electricity with a steam turbine, driven by hot water or steam extracted from geothermal reservoirs in the earth’s crust;
Electricity generated by a fuel cell powered by Renewable Fuels;
Electricity generated by the combustion of gas from the anaerobic digestion of organic material;
Electricity generated by a hydroelectric facility that has a maximum design capacity of 30 megawatts or less from all generating units combined that meet appropriate environmental standards as determined by DNREC (see DNREC Regulation 7 DE Admin. Code 106, Environmental Standards for Eligible Energy Resources);
Electricity generated from the combustion of biomass that has been cultivated and harvested in a sustainable manner as determined by DNREC, and is not combusted to produce energy in a waste to energy facility or in an incinerator (see DNREC Regulation 7 DE Admin. Code 106, Environmental Standards for Eligible Energy Resources);
Electricity generated by the combustion of methane gas captured from a landfill gas recovery system; provided, however, that:
Increased production of landfill gas from production facilities in operation prior to January 1, 2004 demonstrates a net reduction in total air emissions compared to flaring and leakage;
Increased utilization of landfill gas at electric generating facilities in operation prior to January 1, 2004 (i) is used to offset the consumption of coal, oil, or natural gas at those facilities, (ii) does not result in a reduction in the percentage of landfill gas in the facility’s average annual fuel mix when calculated using fuel mix measurements for 12 out of any continuous 15 month period during which the electricity is generated, and (iii) causes no net increase in air emissions from the facility; and
Facilities installed on or after January 1, 2004 meet or exceed 2004 Federal and State air emission standards, or the Federal and State air emission standards in place on the day the facilities are first put into operation, whichever is higher.

“FERC” means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

"Fuel Cell" means an electric generating facility that: (a) includes integrated power plant systems containing a stack, tubular array, or other functionally similar configuration used to electrochemically convert fuel to electric energy, and (b) may include an inverter and fuel processing system or other plant equipment to support the plant's operation or its energy conversion, including heat recovery equipment.

“GATS” means the Generation Attribute Tracking System developed by PJM-Environmental Information Services, Inc. (PJM-EIS).

“Generation Attribute” means a non-price characteristic of the electrical energy output of a Generation Unit including, but not limited to, the Unit’s fuel type, geographic location, emissions, vintage, and RPS eligibility.

“Generation Unit” means a facility that converts a fuel or an energy resource into electric energy.

"Grid-Integrated Electric Vehicle" means a battery-run motor vehicle that has the ability for two-way power flow between the vehicle and the electric grid and the communications hardware and software that allow for the external control of battery charging and discharging by an electric distribution company, electric supplier, PJM Interconnection, or an aggregator.

"Host Customer" means the customer account directly connected to a Customer-Generator Facility or Community Energy Facility, or, for a stand-alone Community Energy Facility, the customer account as designated by the Subscribers who share the energy production of the Community Energy Facility.

“Marketer” means an entity or person that purchases and takes title to electricity for sale to Retail Electric customers.

"Net Metering" (or "Net Energy Metering") means a service to a Customer whereby electric energy generated by the Customer, through a Customer-Generator Facility and delivered to the local distribution facilities of an Electric Supplier, may be used to offset electric energy provided by the Electric Supplier to the Customer.

“PJM Interconnection, LLC” or “PJM” means the Regional Transmission Organization (“RTO”) that is responsible for wholesale energy markets and the interstate transmission of energy throughout a multi-state area, or its successor organization.

“Residential Customer” means a Retail Electric Customer eligible to take Residential services under the Delmarva Power or the Delaware Electric Cooperative’s tariff, currently on file with the Commission.

“Renewable Energy Credit” or “REC” means a tradable instrument comprised of all the Generation Attributes equal to 1 megawatt-hour of electricity derived from Eligible Energy Resources and that is used to track and verify compliance with the provisions of Delaware Public Service Commission Regulation Docket No. 56. A REC does not include emission reduction credits and/or allowances encumbered or used by a Generation Unit for compliance with local, state.or federal operating and/or air quality permits associated with the 1 megawatt-hour of electricity.

“Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard” or “RPS” refers to the Rules and Procedures to Implement the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard, Delaware Public Service Commission Regulation Docket No. 56.

“Slamming” means the unauthorized enrollment of a customer without the customer’s permission or the unauthorized transfer of a customer to another Electric Supplier.

“Small Commercial Customer” means a Retail Electric Customer taking service under DP&L’s tariff, currently on file with the Commission, Service Classification “Small General Service-Non Demand Rate” or the Cooperative’s tariff, currently on file with the Commission, Service Classification “General Service.” However, for the purposes of these Rules, any Small Commercial Customer who has joined with an affiliated non-Small Commercial Customer or a non-Residential Customer for the purpose of contracting for Electric Supply Service shall be exempt from the definition of a Small Commercial Customer.

“Standard Offer Service” or “SOS” means the provision of Electric Supply Service after the Transition Period by a Standard Offer Service Supplier to Customers who do not otherwise receive Electric Supply Service from an Electric Supplier.

“Standard Offer Service Supplier” or “SOSS” means an Electric Supplier that provides Standard Offer Service to Customers within an Electric Distribution Company’s service territory after the Transition Period.

“State” means The State of Delaware.

"Subscriber(s)" means those persons who are otherwise Retail Electric Customers of an electric supplier that are entitled to share in the energy production of a Community Energy Facility.

“Telemarketing” means any unsolicited telephone calls initiated by, or on behalf of, an Electric Supplier to a Customer in order to market Electric Supply Service.

“Transition Period” means the period of time described in 26 Del.C. §1004, which: begins October 1, 1999 and ends May 1, 2006 for Delmarva’s customers; and begins April 1, 2000 and ends March 31, 2005 for all Cooperative customers.

“Transmission Facilities” means electric facilities located in Delaware and owned by a public utility that operate at voltages above 34,500 volts and that are used to transmit and deliver electricity to Customers (including any Customers taking electric service under interruptible rate schedules as of December 31, 1998) up through and including the point of physical connection with electric facilities owned by the Customer.

“Transmission Services” means the delivery of electricity from supply sources through Transmission Facilities.

13 DE Reg. 950 (01/01/10)
2.0 Certification of Electric Suppliers

2.1 All Electric Suppliers must obtain an Electric Supplier Certificate from the Commission to sell electric supply service to or arrange the purchase on behalf of Retail Electric Customers prior to offering contracts to Customers or commencing service.

2.1.1 Certification Requirement. All Electric Suppliers shall file with the Commission an original and ten (10) copies of an Application for an Electric Supplier Certificate. Such application shall contain all the information and exhibits hereinafter required and may contain such additional information as the Applicant deems appropriate to demonstrate to the Commission that it possesses the technical, financial, managerial and operational ability to adequately serve the public.

2.1.1.1 Authority to Do Business In Delaware. Each Applicant shall provide documentation from the Delaware Secretary of State and/or the Delaware Division of Revenue that it is legally authorized and qualified to do business in the State of Delaware.

2.1.1.2 Resident Agent. Pursuant to 26 Del.C. §401, each Applicant shall file a designation in writing of the name and post-office address of a person resident within the State upon whom service of any notice, order or process may be made. This information must be updated if changed.

2.1.1.3 Performance Bonds. Each Applicant shall submit a copy of their performance bond or guarantee that they have obtained as security to the Electric Distribution Company if required in the Service Agreement between the Applicant and the Electric Distribution Company.

2.1.1.4 Compliance with Regional Requirements. Each Applicant, except for Brokers, must demonstrate that it has the technical ability to secure generation or otherwise obtain and deliver electricity through compliance with all applicable requirements of PJM. Brokers must submit relevant evidence of technical fitness to conduct their proposed business. Any Broker arranging the purchase of Electric Supply Service must procure electricity from an entity that complies with PJM’s requirements and is a Certified Electric Supplier in the State.

2.1.1.5 Financial, Operational, Managerial and Technical Ability. Each Applicant shall be required to present substantial evidence supporting their financial, operational, managerial and technical ability to render service within the State of Delaware. Such evidence shall include, but is not limited to:

2.1.1.5.1 Certified financial statements current within twelve (12) months of the filing. Publicly traded Applicants must file their most recent annual report to shareholders and SEC Form 10-K. Other indicia of financial capability may also be filed.

2.1.1.5.2 Brief description of the nature of business being conducted, including types of customers to be served, services provided and geographic area in which services are to be provided.

2.1.1.5.3 A list of states in which Applicant or any of its affiliated interests is presently selling electric supply service to Retail Electric customers and a list of states in which Applicant or any of its affiliated interests has pending applications to sell electric supply service to Retail Electric customers.

2.1.1.5.4 A list of states in which Applicant or any of its affiliated interests has been denied approval by a State Commission to sell electricity to Retail Electric Customers or has had its authority revoked.

2.1.1.5.5 Relevant operational experience of each principal officer responsible for Delaware operations.

2.1.1.5.6 A copy of any FERC approval as a Marketer or date and docket number of the application to FERC.

2.1.1.5.7 If the Applicant requires deposits, advance payments, prepayments, financial guarantees or the like from customers, then the Applicant must secure a bond with corporate surety licensed to do business in Delaware guaranteeing the repayment of all customer deposits and advances upon the termination of service. The amount of the bond will be the greater of (i) 150 percent of the projected amount of deposits and advances for the next one year period; or (ii) $50,000. If at any time the actual amount of the deposits and advances held by the Applicant exceeds the amount projected, the amount of bond shall be increased to comply with the requirement in the preceding sentence.

2.1.1.5.8 All new Applicants, except Brokers, shall demonstrate in their applications that they possess a minimum of $100,000 of assets in excess of encumbrances or a minimum of $100,000 in cash, cash equivalents, or financial instruments that are reasonably liquid and readily available to meet their costs of providing electricity to Customers or any combination thereof.

2.1.1.5.9 Demonstration of cash or cash equivalents can be satisfied by the following:

2.1.1.5.9.1 Cash or cash equivalents, including cashier’s check, sight draft, performance bond proceeds, or traveler’s checks;

2.1.1.5.9.2 Certificate of deposit or other liquid deposit, with a reputable bank or other financial institution;

2.1.1.5.9.3 Preferred stock proceeds or other corporate shareholder equity, provided that use is restricted to maintenance of working capital for a period of at least twelve (12) months beyond certification of the Applicant by the Commission;

2.1.1.5.9.4 Letter of credit, issued by a reputable bank or other financial institution, irrevocable for a period of at least twelve (12) months beyond certification of the Applicant by the Commission;

2.1.1.5.9.5 Line of credit, issued by a reputable bank or other financial institution, irrevocable for a period of at least twelve (12) months beyond certification of the Applicant by the Commission;

2.1.1.5.9.6 Loan, issued by a qualified subsidiary, affiliate of Applicant, or a qualified corporation holding controlling interest in the Applicant, irrevocable for a period of at least twelve (12) months beyond certification of the Applicant by the Commission, and payable on an interest-only basis for the same period;

2.1.1.5.9.7 Guarantee, issued by a corporation, co-partnership, or other person or association, irrevocable for a period of at least twelve (12) months beyond certification of the Applicant by the Commission;

2.1.1.5.9.8 Guarantee, issued by a qualified subsidiary, affiliate of Applicant, or a qualified corporation holding controlling interests in the Applicant, irrevocable for a period of at least twelve (12) months beyond the certification of the Applicant by the Commission; and,

2.1.1.5.9.9 Identifiable physical assets set forth in a balance sheet or similar statement.

2.1.5.9.9.10 The Applicant shall disclose whether the entity or any of its affiliated interests has filed for bankruptcy in the past 24 months.

2.1.1.5.9.11 The Commission or its Staff may consider any other information submitted by the Applicant if it can show the financial, operational, managerial, and technical abilities of an Applicant.

2.1.1.6 Verification of Application. The Application must be verified by a principal or officer of the Applicant.

2.1.1.7 Consent to the Jurisdiction. All Electric Suppliers shall consent to the jurisdiction of the Delaware courts for acts or omissions arising from their activities in the State.

2.1.1.8 Other Requirements:

2.1.1.8.1 Legal name as well as the name under which the Applicant proposes to do business in Delaware;

2.1.1.8.2 State of incorporation, business address, and address of the principal officer;

2.1.1.8.3 Name, title and telephone number of a regulatory contact person;

2.1.1.8.4 A toll-free telephone number of customer service department;

2.1.1.8.5 Description of the Applicant’s experience in the energy market and a brief description of the services its plans to offer in Delaware and the type of customers it plans to serve; and

2.1.1.8.6 Statement detailing any criminal activities of which the Applicant or any of its affiliated interests has been charged or convicted, or which the principal or corporate officers of the Applicant or any of its affiliated interests has been charged or convicted.

2.1.1.9 Contracts. At the time of the filing, the Applicant shall either provide its Standard Contract for Residential and Small Commercial Customer or a link to it on the Applicant’s website. Such contract is subject to review by the Commission Staff and if Staff determines that such contract is not consistent with these Rules for Certification and Regulation of Electric Suppliers (“Rules”), then Staff shall have the authority to require changes in order to make consistent with these Rules or Electric Supplier faces revocation of its Electric Supplier Certificate by the Commission after a hearing. Such contract shall be in clear and plain language and include explicit terms and conditions which at a minimum contain the following:

2.1.1.9.1 A clear statement of the duration of the contract;

2.1.1.9.2 The price stated in cents per kWh or a clear and unambiguous statement of the precise mechanism or formula by which the price will be determined;

2.1.1.9.3 A complete list of any other fees, including early termination penalties, late fees, and interest charges, which can be imposed on the customer, including but not limited to the magnitude of the fees and the specific conditions under which such fees can be imposed;

2.1.1.9.4 A statement of the Electric Supplier’s termination rights, which shall explain the specific conditions, under which the Electric Supplier may terminate service. At a minimum, the Electric Supplier shall provide the Residential or Small Commercial Customer with at least 30 days notice of termination of the contract and procedures to maintain ongoing service;

2.1.1.9.5 The Electric Supplier’s local or toll-free telephone number, address and the Commission’s address and telephone number;

2.1.1.9.6 A statement informing the Residential or Small Commercial Customer that, because of relocation outside of their current EDC’s service territory, they he/she may terminate his/her contract with his/her Electric Supplier with no termination fee upon a 30-day notice in writing to the Electric Supplier.

2.2 Notice. Each Applicant except Brokers, shall publish notice of the filing of the application in two (2) newspapers having general circulation throughout the State in a form to be prescribed by the Commission.

2.3 Application Fee. A non-refundable application fee of $750 shall be submitted with the application for Certification.

2.4 Incomplete or Abandoned Applications. Applications that do not include the necessary fees, supporting documentation or information may be rejected. The Commission Staff will provide the Applicant with a list of deficiencies and the Applicant will be given time to provide the necessary information to complete its certification. However, an incomplete or abandoned application will be closed four (4) months after the filing date, unless such time frame is extended by the Commission.

2.5 Waiver of Certification Requirements. Upon the request of any Applicant, the Commission may, for good cause, waive any of the requirements of these Rules that are not required by statute. The waiver may not be inconsistent with the purpose of these Rules or Chapter X of Title 26 of Del.C.

3.0 Post-Certification Requirements

3.1 Term of ESC. ESCs are valid until revoked by the Commission or abandoned by the Electric Supplier after the requisite notice to the Commission and to their customers.

3.2 Minimum Length of Electric Supply Service by Electric Supplier. For each Retail Electric Customer class, each Electric Supplier must offer Electric Supply Service to each of its Retail Electric Customers for a minimum period of one billing cycle.

3.3 Transfer or Abandonment of ESC. The transfer of an ESC is prohibited without express Commission Order. No Electric Supplier shall abandon Electric Supply Service within the State without 60 days written notice to the Commission, the affected Electric Distribution Companies, and its Retail Electric Customers.

3.4 Contracts and Revised Contracts. An Electric Supplier shall supply Electric Supply Service to a Residential or a Small Commercial Customer only by a standard contract containing the provisions described in Section 2.1.1.9, of these Rules The contract must be signed or verifiable by some other means of authorization by the Residential or Small Commercial Customer. If an Electric Supplier offers a Retail Electric Customer a check, prize, or other incentive which requires a signature, that signature cannot be used as the contract signature. A Residential or Small Commercial Customer has ten (10) calendar days from the day the EDC sends the confirmation letter to rescind his/her selection. If the Electric Supplier makes substantive changes to its standard contract for Electric Supply Service to Residential or Small Commercial Customers, the Electric Supplier must notify the Commission Staff to allow for review and comment. If Staff determines that such contract is not consistent with these Rules, Commission Staff shall have the authority at any time to require changes to a standard contract for Residential or Small Commercial Customers.

3.5 Price Terms. Any price term shall not be inconsistent with pricing terms in a Residential or Small Commercial Customer’s contract with their Electric Supplier. The Electric Supplier must provide thirty (30) days written notice to its Residential or Small Commercial Customer(s) of any price term changes.

3.6 Information that Must be Provided to a Customer by the Electric Supplier. The Electric Supplier must provide the Retail Electric Customer with a copy of its contract which includes the terms and conditions of service.

3.7 Customer Information. An Electric Supplier may request a list from an Electric Distribution Company which contains Retail Electric Customer’s name, service address and mailing address. A Retail Electric Customer may elect to opt out of the list.

3.8 Marketing and Advertising.

3.8.1 Pursuant to 26 Del.C. §1012(b) and as further defined in Section 1.0 of these Rules, all Electric Suppliers shall not solicit Retail Electric Customers by means of telemarketing where such telemarketing is prohibited by applicable laws and regulations.

3.8.2 An Electric Supplier or its marketing or advertising agent shall not make misrepresentations or use deceptive practices in its direct solicitations, advertising or marketing materials.

3.8.3 An Electric Supplier or its marketing or advertising agent must comply with all federal, state or local laws applicable to advertising or marketing products or services.

3.9 Reports to be Provided to the Commission. All Electric Suppliers shall provide such information concerning Delaware operations to the Commission as the Commission may from time to time request, including any reporting requirements contained herein. Information provided pursuant to this paragraph and designated “proprietary” or “confidential” shall be held in accordance with paragraph 1 in Section 10.0 of these Rules, and shall be afforded proprietary treatment subject to the provisions of the Rules, Commission regulations, and Delaware Law.

3.10 Fees and Assessments. Electric Suppliers must pay applicable fees and assessments under 26 Del.C. §1012(c)(2). Electric Suppliers must also file any applicable reports required under 26 Del.C. §115(e). The Electric Suppliers except Brokers, must also pay the Public Utilities Taxes pursuant to 30 Del.C. Chapter 55.

3.11 Record Retention. All Electric Suppliers will retain customer account records for a period of two (2) years.

4.0 Billing and Metering

4.1 Billing Options.

4.1.1 Each Retail Electric Customer in Delmarva’s service territory has the right to choose to receive separate bills from Delmarva Power & Light Company and from its Electric Supplier (if the Electric Supplier provides a separate billing), or to receive a combined bill from either Delmarva or its Electric Supplier (if the Electric Supplier provides a consolidated billing option), for Electric Supply, Transmission, Distribution, Ancillary and other Services, consistent with these Rules. If the Retail Electric Customer does not elect a billing option, Delmarva will be responsible for billing the Retail Electric Customer for Electric Supply, Transmission, Distribution, Ancillary and other Services, regardless of the Electric Supplier.

4.1.2 In the Delaware Electric Cooperative’s service territory, the Cooperative will bill each Retail Electric Customer for Electric Supply, Transmission, Distribution, Ancillary and other Services, regardless of the Retail Electric Customer’s Electric Supplier.

4.2 Bill Contents. The bill should be easy to understand and must contain the following information:

4.2.1 The name, address, and local or toll-free telephone number of the Electric Supplier;

4.2.2 If different from the Electric Supplier, the name, address and toll-free telephone number of the Electric Distribution Company;

4.2.3 The due date for payment;

4.2.4 If applicable an itemized list of each service or product billed for the current billing period including charges for the Public Purpose Programs and a Competitive Transition Charge (if applicable) or other agreed to charges;

4.2.5 Electricity consumption including whether the consumption was based on actual recorded usage or estimated usage;

4.2.6 The actual cents per kWh (or the appropriate block charges or other pricing mechanism) charged to the Retail Electric Customer for the Retail Electric Customer’s actual usage (or estimated usage) of electricity for the current billing period;

4.2.7 The total charge for each service or product;

4.2.8 The amount of payment or other credit applied to Retail Electric Customer’s outstanding balance during the billing period;

4.2.9 The amount still owed by the Retail Electric Customer from the previous billing period;

4.2.10 Appropriate taxes and fees; and

4.2.11 If applicable, late fees as defined in the contract.

4.3 Metering.

4.3.1 During the Transition Period, Delmarva will continue to own all meters and perform all meter reading functions. After the Transition Period, or earlier if requested by Delmarva, the Commission can permit others to provide some or all of the metering functions on a competitive basis.

4.3.2 The Delaware Electric Cooperative will continue to own and operate all meters and perform meter reading functions.

5.0 Customer Protection

5.1 Procedures to be followed by the Retail Electric Customer:

5.1.1 A Retail Electric Customer should first notify the Electric Supplier of their complaint for resolution of their Electric Supply Services. In the event of an electricity-related emergency, such as a power outage, or in the event of problems related to a Retail Electric Customer’s EDC, the Retail Electric Customer should contact their EDC.

5.1.2 If the Retail Electric Customer and Electric Supplier are not able to come to a resolution, the Retail Electric Customer may file a complaint with the Commission as described in Rules 14 and 15 of the Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Commission.

5.2 Procedures to be Followed by the Electric Supplier:

5.2.1 If a Retail Electric Customer notifies the Electric Supplier that they have a complaint, the Electric Supplier shall use good faith efforts to respond to and resolve the complaint.

5.2.2 An Electric Supplier shall have customer service representatives to handle its Retail Electric Customer’s inquiries and complaints.

5.2.3 If the Retail Electric Customer and Electric Supplier are not able to come to a resolution, the Electric Supplier will inform the Retail Electric Customer that they may contact the Commission.

5.2.4 The Electric Supplier shall prepare and maintain a report of these complaints and keep these reports on file for a period of two (2) years. Upon request by the Commission or its Staff or the Division of Public Advocate, an Electric Supplier shall furnish a copy of such report to the Commission. The report shall contain the following information:

5.2.4.1 Type of complaint;

5.2.4.2 Date of complaint;

5.2.4.3 Resolution; and,

5.2.4.4 Date resolved.

5.3 Slamming. An Electric Supplier must obtain verifiable authorization from the Retail Electric Customer before switching Electric Supply Service. If a Retail Electric Customer believes that their Electric Supply Service has been switched without authorization, the Retail Electric Customer may request that the Electric Supplier provide evidence of the authorization and verification. The Electric Supplier must submit this within five (5) business days if feasible, but no longer than 15 business days of the request. If the Retail Electric Customer is not satisfied with this response, the Retail Electric Customer may also file a complaint with the Commission pursuant to the Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Delaware Public Service Commission.

5.4 Cramming. If the Commission determines that an Electric Supplier has billed unauthorized charges to a Retail Electric Customer, that Electric Supplier may be subject to penalties that may be imposed by the Commission through a hearing process. An Electric Supplier that has imposed unauthorized charges on a Retail Electric Customer must void and/or refund all of those charges to the Retail Electric Customer.

5.5 General Retail Electric Customer Protections. An Electric Supplier, including Brokers, shall not engage in fraudulent or improper activities, nor shall it disseminate any consumer information obtained pursuant to Section 3.7, and may be subject to penalties as described in Section 10.0 of these Rules.

6.0 Green Power and Renewable Resources

6.1 For the purposes of this Section, a Green Power Product is defined as an Electric Supply Service which is marketed or otherwise advertised as having a generation resource mix consisting of Eligible Energy Resources above the current Compliance Year’s Cumulative Minimum Percentage found in Commission Regulation No. 56.

6.2 Electric Suppliers offering a Green Power Product shall register with the PJM-EIS GATS, or its successor. Electric Suppliers shall keep the account in good standing and shall be subject to applicable PJM-EIS GATS rules and shall pay applicable PJM-EIS GATS fees.

6.3 Electric Suppliers offering a Green Power Product shall submit RECs equal to the marketed or otherwise advertised generation resource mix consisting of Eligible Energy Resources as part of their filing of the annual Retail Electricity Supplier’s Verification of Compliance in the State of Delaware Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard Report.

6.4 When requested by a Retail Electric Customer or providing information regarding Green Power through marketing and advertising material(s) or solicitation(s), an Electric Supplier must label its fuel resource mix in a manner that accurately describes its electric generating resources. The Electric Supplier must also inform the Retail Electric Customer, in writing, that the Electric Supply Service the Retail Electric Customer receives will be used to meet the Electric Supplier’s RPS requirements.

6.5 An Electric Supplier shall not market, advertise, or solicit to Customers on the basis that its product is environmentally beneficial unless it meets the minimum resource mix requirement of paragraph 6.1 of this Section.

6.6 Electric Suppliers offering Green Power shall have to meet disclosure of fuel resource mix stated in Section 7.0 of these Rules.

7.0 Disclosure of Fuel Resource Mix

7.1 Each Electric Supplier, except Brokers, shall file a report with the Commission disclosing the aggregate proportions of fuel resource mix for the electricity supplied to its customers in Delaware for each quarter during the year. Such reports shall be filed by last date of the month succeeding each quarter. The reports shall include, but are not limited to:

7.1.1 The total number of Retail Electric Customers by each Retail Electric Customer class served during that quarter;

7.1.2 The total amount of electricity (kWh or MWh) supplied to each Retail Electric Customer class; and,

7.1.3 The fuel resource mix by percentage for each resource.

7.2 Each Electric Supplier shall also disclose the information under paragraph 7.1.3 to its Retail Electric Customers annually via bill inserts and each other quarter by providing information on the Retail Electric Customer’s bill for that quarter directing the Retail Electric Customer to obtain the information on the Electric Supplier’s website or by a telephone request. Each Electric Supplier must maintain and update the information in paragraph 7.1.3 as required by 26 Del.C. §1012. Information reported under paragraph 7.1.3 may be utilized in any consumer education program developed in accordance with 26 Del.C. §1014 (c).

8.0 Net Metering

8.1 General Provisions

Net Metering can occur in three circumstances as follows:

Condition 1 - Individual Customer/Single Account/Single Premise where all Net Metering activity occurs at a single customer premise for a single customer account;

Condition 2 - Individual Customer/Multiple Accounts/Single or Multiple Premises where a single customer can aggregate Net Metering for crediting to multiple accounts and/or premises; and

Condition 3 - Host Customer/Multiple Subscribers/Multiple Premises where a Community Energy Facility, either behind the meter of a Subscriber or as a stand-alone facility, provides Net Metering for multiple Subscribers and multiple premises.

Each Electric Supplier providing Electric Supply Service shall offer Customers the option of Net Metering if a Customer generates electricity at the Customer’s premises, subject to all of the following requirements:

8.1.1 The Customer owns and operates; leases and operates; or contracts with a third party who owns and operates the electric generation facility with a capacity that:

8.1.1.1 Will not exceed 25 kW per DP&L meter for residential Customers;

8.1.1.2 Will not exceed 2 MW per DP&L meter for non residential Customers;

8.1.1.3 Will not exceed 100 kW per DP&L meter for farm customers, as those customers are described in Title 3, section 902(3); provided, however, that the Delaware Energy Office may grant exceptions to this limitation in accordance with Title 26, section 1014(d)(1)b;

8.1.1.4 Is intended primarily to offset all For Conditions 2 or 3 part,the sum of the Customer's own electricity requirements electric generation capacity will not exceed the applicable limits per meter specified in Sections 8.1.1.1 through 8.1.1.3 above;

8.1.1.5 Uses as its primary source of fuel: solar, wind, hydro, a fuel cell powered by renewable fuels, or gas from the anaerobic digestion of organic material;

8.1.1.6 Is interconnected and operated in parallel with an Electric Supplier’s transmission and distribution facilities; and

8.1.1.7 Is not used by the Customer to supply electricity to property other than the Customer’s premises. Is designed to produce no more than 110% of the Host Customer's expected aggregate electrical consumption, calculated on the average of the two previous 12 month periods of actual electrical usage at the time of installation of energy generating equipment and subject to the capacity limits specified in Section 8.1.1.1 through Section 8.1.1.3 of this Rule. For new building construction or in instances where less than two previous 12 month periods of actual usage is available, electrical consumption will be estimated at 110% of the consumption of units of similar size and characteristics at the time of installation of energy generating equipment and subject to the capacity limits specified in Sections 8.1.1.1 through Section 8.1.1.3 of this Rule.

8.2 Net metering shall be accomplished through a single meter at the Electric Supplier’s expense, that runs forward and backward in order to measure net energy flow during a billing period.

8.2.1 An additional meter or meters to monitor the flow of electricity in each direction may be installed with the consent of the Customer, at the expense of the Electric Supplier, and the additional metering shall be used only to provide the information necessary to accurately bill or credit the Customer pursuant to Sections 8.3 and/or 8.4 of this Rule, or to collect system performance information on the eligible technology for research purposes.

8.2.2 Where a larger capacity meter is required to serve the Customer, or a larger capacity meter is requested by the Customer, the Customer shall pay the Electric Supplier the difference between the larger capacity meter investment and the metering investment normally provided under the Customer's service classification. If an additional meter or meters are installed, the net energy metering calculation shall yield a result identical to that of a single meter.

8.2.3 If the existing electrical meter of a Customer is incapable of measuring the flow of electricity in two directions through no fault of the customer, the Electric Supplier shall be responsible for all expenses involved in purchasing and installing such a meter.

8.2.4 For Condition 3 where a stand-alone Community Energy Facility is installed, the Electric Supplier shall install the metering necessary to provide the data to accomplish the necessary billing and shall be responsible for all expenses involved in purchasing and installing such a meter. The Electric Supplier shall assess the stand-alone Community Energy Facility a customer charge equivalent to the load and energy output characteristics of the generating facility which would be equivalent to the load and energy characteristics of a similarly situated Retail Electric Customer in its Commission-approved tariff, i.e., an equivalent retail tariff.

8.2.5 The equivalent retail tariff shall also be used to assess the stand-alone Community Energy Facility non-volumetric charges to recover the otherwise applicable supply, transmission, and distribution delivery costs.

8.3 For Net Metering Condition 1 and Condition 2 if, during any billing period, a Customer-Generator Facility produces more energy than that consumed by the Customer, the or aggregate total kWh of the Customer, the Electric Supplier will credit the Customer, and the meters of the Customer located on the same distribution feeder as the Customer-Generator Facility, in kWh’s, valued at an amount per kWh equal to the sum of volumetric energy (kWh) components of the delivery service charges and supply service charges for residential Customers and the sum of the volumetric energy (kWh) components of the delivery service charges and supply service charges for non-residential Customers for any excess energy production of their generating facility that exceeds the Customer's on-site, or aggregate total, consumption of kWh in a billing period. For Customer meters not located on the same distribution feeder as the Customer-Generator Facility, credit for excess energy will be credited in kWh's, valued at an amount per kWh equal to the volumetric energy (kWh) component of the supply service charge. During any billing period prior to the end of the Annualized Billing Period, the crediting of excess energy kWh will result in the reduction of cost paid by the Customer for the equivalent volumetric energy kWh of delivery service charges, if applicable, and supply service charges.

8.3.1 Excess kWh credits shall be credited to subsequent billing periods to offset a Customer's consumption in those billing periods until all credits are used. During any subsequent billing period prior to the end of the Annualized Billing Period, the crediting of excess energy kWh will result in the reduction of cost paid by the Customer for the equivalent volumetric energy kWh of delivery service charges, if applicable, and supply service charges.

8.3.2 At the end of the Annualized Billing Period, a Customer may request a payment from the Electric Supplier for any excess kWh credits. The payment for residential customer accounts shall be calculated by multiplying the excess kWh credits by the Customer's Supply Service Charges based on a weighted average of the first block of the summer (June through September) and winter Supply Service Charges (October through May) in effect at the end of the Customer's Annualized Billing Period and the preceding 11 billing periods, excluding non-volumetric charges, such as the transmission capacity charge and/or demand charges. The payment for non-residential customer accounts shall be calculated by multiplying the excess kWh credits by the Customer's Supply Service Charges that would otherwise be applicable at the end of the Customer's Annualized Billing Period. If such payment would be less than $25.00, the Electric Supplier may credit the Customer's account through monthly billing.

8.3.3 Any excess kWh credits shall not reduce any fixed monthly Customer charges imposed by the Electric Supplier.

8.3.4 The Customer shall retain ownership of all RECs associated with electric energy produced from all eligible energy resources of the Customer-Generator Facility and consumed by the Customer unless the customer has relinquished such ownership by contractual agreement with a third party.

8.3.5 Electric Suppliers shall provide net-metered Customers electric service at non-discriminatory rates that are identical, with respect to rate structure and monthly charges, to the rates that a Customer who is not Net-Metering would be charged. Electric Suppliers shall not charge a Net-Metering Customer any stand-by fees or similar charges.

8.3.6 If a Net Metering Customer terminates its service with the Electric Distribution Company or changes Electric Supplier, the Electric Supplier terminating service shall treat the end of service period as if it were the end of the Annualized Billing Period for any excess kWh credits.

8.3.7 If the total generating capacity of all Customer-generation using net metering systems served by an electric utility exceeds (5%) of the capacity necessary to meet the Electric Supplier’s aggregated Customer monthly peak demand for a particular calendar year, the Electric Supplier may elect not to provide Net Metering services to additional Customers.

8.3.8 Where applicable, the requirements established in Section 8.6 of these Rules shall apply to this Section 8.3.

8.4 For Net Metering Condition 3 where the Community Energy Facility is located behind the meter of a Subscriber that is also the Host Customer, the following will be subject to the requirements established in Section 8.7 of this Rule:

8.4.1 During a billing period where the energy from the Community Energy Facility exceeds the consumption of the Host Customer, the Subscribers participating in a Community Energy Facility not located on the same distribution feeder as the Community Energy Facility shall be credited in kilowatt-hours (kWh) valued at an amount per kWh equal to supply service charges according to each account's rate schedule for any of the energy production in excess of the consumption of the Host Customer of the Community Energy Facility. The Host Customer and Subscribers located on the same distribution feeder as the Community Energy Facility shall be credited in kWh pursuant to Section 8.3 of this Rule. Any excess energy after crediting Subscribers during a billing period shall be credited in subsequent billing periods. During any billing period prior to the end of the Annualized Billing Period, the crediting of excess energy kWh will result in the reduction of cost paid by the Host Customer and Subscribers for the equivalent volumetric energy kWh of delivery service charges, if applicable, and supply service charges.

8.4.2 At the end of the Annualized Billing Period, a Host Customer may request a payment from the Electric Supplier for any excess kWh credits. The payment shall be calculated by multiplying the excess kWh credits by the supply service charge of the Host Customer of the Community Energy Facility as provided under Section 8.3 or 8.5.5 of this Rule. Such payment shall be made to the Host Customer of the Community Energy Facility, and may be credited to the Host Customer's account through monthly billing if less than $25. Any excess kWh credits shall not reduce any fixed monthly customer charges imposed by the Electric Supplier.

8.4.3 The Subscribers participating in a Community Energy Facility shall retain ownership of all RECs associated with electric energy produced from all eligible energy resources of the Community Energy Facility unless the Subscribers participating in the Community Energy Facility have relinquished such ownership by contractual agreement with a third party.

8.5 For Net Metering Condition 3 where the Community Energy Facility is a stand-alone facility, the following will be subject to the requirements established in Section 8.7 of this Rule:

8.5.1 During a billing period where energy is produced from the Community Energy Facility, each Subscriber participating in a Community Energy Facility not located on the same distribution feeder as the Community Energy Facility shall be credited in kilowatt-hours (kWh) valued at an amount per kWh equal to supply service charges according to each account's rate schedule for any of the energy production of the Community Energy Facility. Subscribers located on the same distribution feeder as the Community Energy Facility shall be credited in kWh pursuant to Section 8.3 of this Rule. Any excess energy after crediting Subscribers during a billing period shall be credited in subsequent billing periods. During any billing period prior to the end of the Annualized Billing period, the crediting of excess energy kWh will result in the reduction of cost paid by the Subscribers for the equivalent volumetric energy kWh of delivery service charges, if applicable, and supply service charges.

8.5.2 During any billing period prior to the end of the Annualized Billing period, the crediting of excess energy kWh will result in the reduction of cost paid by the Subscribers for the equivalent volumetric energy kWh of delivery service charges, if applicable, and supply service charges.

8.5.3 At the end of the Annualized Billing Period, a Host Customer may request a payment from the Electric Supplier for any excess kWh credits. The payment shall be calculated by multiplying the excess kWh credits by the supply service rate of the Host Customer of the Community Energy Facility pursuant to Section 8.3 or Section 8.5.5 of this Rule, and may be credited to the Host Customer's account through monthly billing if less than $25. Any excess kWh credits shall not reduce any fixed monthly customer charges imposed by the Electric Supplier. The Subscribers participating in a Community Energy Facility shall retain ownership of all RECs associated with electric energy produced from all eligible energy resources of the Community Energy Facility unless the Subscribers participating in the Community Energy Facility have relinquished such ownership by contractual agreement with a third party.

8.5.4 A Community Energy Facility shall not exceed the sum total of the capacity limits as defined under Section 8.1.1.1 through Section 8.1.1.3 of this Rule among the Subscribers of a Community Energy Facility.

8.6 Subject to the applicable Net Metering provisions of Section 8.0 of this Rule, in instances where one customer has multiple meters under the same account or different accounts, regardless of the physical location and rate class, the customer may aggregate meters for the purpose of net metering regardless of which individual meter receives energy from a Customer-Generator Facility, provided that:

8.6.1 DP&L shall only allow meter aggregation for customer accounts of which it provides electric supply service; and

8.6.2 The Customer-Generator Facility is designed to produce no more than 110% of the Customer's aggregate electrical consumption of the individual meters or accounts that the Customer is entitled to aggregate under this Section 8.6 calculated on the average of the two previous 12 month periods of actual electrical usage. For new building construction or in instances where less than two previous 12 month periods of actual usage is available, electrical consumption will be estimated at 110% of the consumption of units of similar size and characteristics at the time of installation of energy generating equipment; and

8.6.3 A Customer-Generator Facility shall not exceed the sum total of the capacity limits among the participants of a Customer-Generator Facility as defined under Section 8.1.1.1 through Section 8.1.1.3 of this Rule; and

8.6.4 At least ninety days before a Customer commences construction of a Customer-Generator Facility or a Customer is entitled to aggregate multiple meters, the customer shall file with DP&L the following information:

8.6.4.1 a list of individual meters the Customer is entitled to aggregate, identified by name, address, rate schedule, and account number, and ranked according to the order which the Customer desires to apply credit for excess energy to each individual meter; and

8.6.4.2 a description of the Customer-Generator Facility, including the facility's location, capacity, and fuel type or generating technology; and

8.6.4.3 a complete interconnection application to facilitate a transmission and distribution analysis, including an evaluation of potential reliability, safety and stability impacts and determination of whether infrastructure upgrades are necessary and appropriate allocation of applicable interconnection costs.

8.6.5 The Customer may change its list of aggregated meters specified in Section 8.5.4(i) no more than once annually by providing ninety days' written notice; and

8.6.6 Credit shall be applied first to the meter through which the Customer-Generator Facility supplies electricity, then through the remaining meters for the Customer's accounts according to the rank order as specified in accordance with Section 8.5.4.1 above; and

8.6.7 Credit in kilowatt-hours (kWh) shall be valued according to Section 8.3 of this Rule and each account's rate schedule as specified in Section 8.5.4.1 above; and

8.6.8 DP&L may require that a Customer's aggregated meters as specified in Section 8.5.4.1 above be read on the same billing cycle.

8.7 Subscribers are eligible to participate in a Community Energy Facility, provided:

8.7.1 A community includes customers sharing a unique set of interests; and

8.7.2 DP&L shall only allow meter aggregation for customer accounts of which it provides electric supply service; and

8.7.3 A Community Energy Facility is designed to produce no more than 110% of the community's aggregate electrical consumption of its individual customers, calculated on the average of the two previous 12 month periods of actual electrical usage. For new building construction or in instances where less than two previous 12 month periods of actual usage is available, electrical consumption will be estimated at 110% of the consumption of units of similar size and characteristics at the time of installation of energy generating equipment; and

8.7.4 A Community Energy Facility shall not exceed the sum total of the capacity limits among the participants of a Community Energy Facility as defined under Section 8.1.1.1 through Section 8.1.1.3 of this Rule; and

8.7.5 A Community Energy Facility may include technologies defined under §352(6)(a-h) of Title 26 of the Delaware Code; and

8.7.6 Before Net Metering for a Community Energy Facility may be formed and served by DP&L, the community proposing a Community Energy Facility shall file with the Delaware Energy Office and DP&L the following information:

8.7.6.1 a list of individual meters the community is entitled to aggregate identified by name, address, rate schedule, and account number; and

8.7.6.2 a description of the Community Energy Facility, including the facility's physical location, the Host Customer's physical location, capacity, and fuel type or generating technology; and

8.7.6.3 the share of kWh credits to be attributed to each meter, which DP&L shall true-up at the end of the annualized billing period.

8.7.7 A community proposing a Community Energy Facility may change its list of aggregated meters as specified in Section 8.7.6.1 above no more than quarterly by providing ninety days' written notice to DP&L; and

8.7.8 If the community proposing a Community Energy Facility removes individual customers from the list of aggregated meters as specified in Section 8.7.6.1 above, then that community shall either replace the removed customers, reduce the generating capacity of the Community Energy Facility to remain compliant with the provisions provided under Sections 8.7.3 and 8.7.4 above, or negotiate with DP&L to establish a mutually acceptable agreement for any excess kWh credit; and

8.7.9 DP&L may require that customers participating in a Community Energy Facility have their meters read on the same billing cycle; and

8.7.10 Neither customers nor owners of community-owned energy generating facilities shall be subject to regulation as either public utilities or an Electric Supplier.

8.7.11 As an alternative to Section 8.4 and Section 8.5 above, at the end of each monthly billing period DP&L may elect to make payment to the Host Customer of the Community Energy Facility for the value of the generated electricity as established by the Public Service Commission. For purposes of Net Metering by DP&L, such value for generated electricity is established as the otherwise applicable supply service charge of the Host Customer. Additionally, for Subscribers located on the same distribution feeder as the Community Energy Facility, at the end of each monthly billing period DP&L shall also include in the monthly payment to the Host Customer the value for the volumetric kWh delivery service charges. The payment for the value of the volumetric kWh delivery service charges shall be the same as determined in Section 8.3 of this Rule.

8.8 Nothing in these Rules is intended in any way to limit eligibility for net energy metering services based upon direct ownership, joint ownership, or third-party ownership or financing agreement related to an electric generation facility, where net energy metering would otherwise be available

8.9 For public utilities regulated by the Commission, net metering aggregation disputes limited to the correct application of Commission-approved tariffs shall be resolved by the Commission. All other disputes with an Electric Supplier, DEC, or municipal electric companies shall be resolved by the appropriate governing body with jurisdiction over such disputes.

8.410 Any requirements necessary to permit interconnected operations between the Customer-Generator Facility or Community Energy Facilities; and the Electric Supplier, and the costs associated with such requirements, shall be dealt with in a manner consistent with a standard tariff filed with the Commission by the Electric Supplier. An Electric Supplier's interconnection rules shall be developed by using the Interstate Renewable Energy Council's Model Interconnection Rules and best practices identified by the U.S. Department of Energy. Electric Suppliers shall not require eligible net metering customers who meet all applicable safety and performance standards to install excessive controls, perform or pay for unnecessary tests, or purchase excessive liability insurance.

8.511 Each Electric Supplier shall submit an annual net-metering report to the Commission 90 days after the end of the calendar year. Such report shall include the following information from the previous calendar year:

8.511.1 The total number of Customer-Generator Facilities and Community-owned energy generating facilities; and

8.511.2 The total estimated rated generating capacity of its net-metered Customer-generatorsGenerator Facilities and Community-owned energy generating facilities; and

8.511.3 The total estimated net kilowatt-hours received from Customer-generatorsGenerator Facilities and Community-owned energy generating facilities; and

8.511.4 The total estimated amount of energy produced by Customer-generatorsGenerator Facilities and Community-owned energy generating facilities, using a methodology approved by the Commission.

8.10.5 The annual net-metering report may be revised as necessary to reflect changes in information available from net metered facilities upon consultation and agreement between the Electric Supplier and the Staff of the Delaware Public Service Commission.

8.612 The Commission shall periodically review the impact of net-metering rules in this section and recommend changes or adjustments necessary for the economic health of utilities.

8.713 A retail electric customer having on its premises one or more grid Grid-Integrated Electric Vehicles shall be credited in kilowatt-hours (kWh) for energy discharged to the grid from the Grid-Integrated Electric Vehicle's battery at the same kWh rate that customer pays to charge the battery from the grid, as determined in Section 8.3 of this Rule. Excess kWh credits shall be handled in the same manner as Net Metering as described in Section 8.3 of this Rule. To qualify under this section of the Rule, the Grid-Integrated Electric Vehicle must meet the requirements in Sections 8.1.1.1., 8.1.1.2, and 8.1.1.65 of this Rule. Connection and metering of Grid-Integrated Electric Vehicles shall be subject to the rules and regulations found in Sections 8.3, 8.410, and 8.511 of this Rule.

8.814 The Commission may adopt tariffs for regulated electric utilities that are not inconsistent with Section 8.13 of this Rule. Such tariffs may include rate and credit structures that vary from those set forth in Section 8.13 of this Rule, as long as alternative rate and credit structures are not inconsistent with the development of Grid-Integrated Electric Vehicles.

12 DE Reg. 518 (10/01/08)
13 DE Reg. 950 (01/01/10)
9.0 Customers Returning to EDC or SOS Supplier for Electric Supply Service

The procedures for a Retail Electric Customer’s return to an EDC during the Transition Period and to an EDC if it is the SOS Supplier after the Transition Period for Electric Supply Service shall be in accordance with the Commission’s order for each EDC’s individual electric restructuring plan.

10.0 Other General Rules

10.1 Proprietary Information. Under Delaware’s Freedom of Information Act, 29 Del.C. ch. 100, all information filed with the Commission is considered of public record unless it contains “trade secrets and commercial or financial information obtained from a person which is of a privileged or confidential nature.” 29 Del.C. §10002(d)(2). To qualify as a non-public record under this exemption, materials received by the Commission must be clearly and conspicuously marked on the title page and on every page containing the sensitive information as “proprietary” or “confidential” or words of similar effect. The Commission shall presumptively deem all information so designated to be exempt from public record status. However, upon receipt of a request for access to information designated proprietary or confidential, the Commission may review the appropriateness of such designation and may determine to release the information requested. Prior to such release, the Commission shall provide the entity which submitted the information with reasonable notice and an opportunity to show why the information should not be released.

10.2 Failure to Comply with these Rules. The failure by any Electric Supplier to comply with these requirements and the requirements in other Sections of these Rules may result in penalties, including monetary assessments, suspension or revocation of the Electric Supplier’s ESC, or other sanction as determined by the Commission.

3 DE Reg. 538 (10/01/99)
10 DE Reg. 1160 (01/01/07)
12 DE Reg. 518 (10/01/08)
 

1 The Commission has over the years titled these Regulations as the "Rules for Certification and Regulation of Electric Suppliers." In contrast, in the Administrative Code, the Register of Regulations uses the title "Regulations Governing Service Supplied by Electrical Corporations."

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