ALBANY - The State Public Service Commission (Commission) approved changes to rules governing the state's major electric utility companies to eliminate the peak load limitation on the size of a non-residential customer's solar or wind electric generating equipment. As a result of the change, businesses and farms in New York can now install larger-sized non-residential photovoltaic and wind electric generating systems.

"The expansion of the ability for businesses to install larger renewable energy devices is a major step forward in our quest to create a clean energy economy in New York," said Chairman Garry Brown. "Renewable power systems reduce stress on the electric grid, allow consumers to offset rising energy costs, provide environmental benefits, and will help stimulate the creation of clean energy jobs in New York."

Chapter 7 of the 2010 Laws of New York, which became effective on March 16, 2010, amended Public Service Law regarding the net metering of non-residential photovoltaic and non-residential and farm service wind customer generators, respectively. The amendments eliminate the peak load limitation on the size of a non-residential customer's solar or wind electric generating equipment.

Utilities participating in the expanded program include Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation, Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., New York State Electric & Gas Corporation, National Grid, Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. and Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation.

The filings revised the requirement that non-residential customers, seeking to receive the benefit of net metering for solar or wind electric generating equipment, size their equipment at the lesser of 2 MW or the customer's peak load as measured over the prior 12-month period. Instead, customers may receive net metering if their generating equipment has a rated capacity of up to 2 MW regardless of their peak load. Previously, the limit was no more than the customer's highest historic peak usage during the previous 12 months.

The companies also revised their tariffs to specify that in the case of a non-residential customer-generator who owns or operates solar or wind electric generating equipment with a rated capacity of more than 25 kW, the amount of the cost responsibility for equipment necessary for safety and adequacy of service shall be determined by the electric corporation, subject to review by the Commission upon the request of the customer.

The Commission's Standardized Interconnection Requirements were also modified to eliminate the peak load size limitation on a non-residential customer's solar or wind electric generating equipment, and revise the cost responsibility for dedicated transformer(s) or other equipment deemed necessary for safety and adequacy of service for non-residential customers who have a solar or wind electric generator with a rated capacity of over 25 kW.