2014.11.24 Net Metering Definition

Was there an update to how net metering is modeled in this release. It seems SAM is still defining net metering different than the net metering available to us in Nebraska. When we sign up for net metering, it means excess produced in a month is credited at that month's retail rates for that month only (netting), and sale of un-utilized excess is done at a lower rate at the end of each billing period (month). We cannot bank at retail for future months, we can only bank/net for the month we are in.

The help indicates that if net metering is checked, excess kWh credits carry over to the next month. Credits are settled at the end of the year. Monthly carryover of credit at retail makes this option not valid for us, so I assume this should not be checked.

The help indicates that if net metering is not checked, excess generation is sold at a sell rate for that hour. This would somewhat work if sell rate was set to buy rate (retail), but would not account for month-end settling of net excess at below retail rate. Further, unchecking "net metering" on the rate page blacks out the hourly sell rate in the energy rate section.

Is there some other way to model how net metering is done in all of the state of Nebraska that I am missing?

Thanks.

I would think that no net metering would mean no compensation for excess generation anywhere in the US - this is really the larger benefit of net metering over monthly credit carryover. Yet the model is indicated to compensate at "sell rate for that hour" under "without net metering"? And "sell rate for that hour" doesn't really have meaning in a tiered rate structure...all while the "flat sell rate" cell is active?

Hopefully future versions of the model can accommodate more than one approach to net metering like it does with other aspects of rate schedule.

Paul, in California net metering accumulates excess production $ value credits to the end of the year (True Up Period). If the customer consumes more electricity $ value than produced in the early months of the year, the charges can be completely offset by producing more electricity $ value in later months.
To use the SAM model for a PG&E customer I use the Cash Flow Send to Excel with Equations and edit the Value of electricity savings.
Thanks for your explanation. I was wondering how the SAM developers came up with its net metering definition.