225 CMR 28.14
Calculation of Incentive Payments for STGUs
(1)
Calculation of Incentive Payments for Standalone STGUs Greater than 25 kW. Any
payments provided to the Owner of a Standalone STGU, which meets the criteria of 225 CMR
28.14(1)(a) or (b), will be equal to total of the STGU's Base Compensation Rate plus any
Compensation Rate Adders multiplied by the total kWh generated by the STGU in the
Distribution Company billing period, minus the value of the energy generated by the STGU in
a Distribution Company billing period.
Standalone Solar Incentive Payment
= (Base Compensation Rate + Compensation Rate Adders)
✷ total kWh generated
-
value of energy generated
(a)
Value of Energy Generated for Standalone STGUs Receiving Bill Credits. The
methodology for calculating the value of the energy generated by a Standalone STGU that
receives a Bill Credit is dependent on whether it is qualified as a Net Metered Generation
Unit or as an Alternative On-bill Credit Generation Unit and will be determined as follows:
1. Net Metered Generation Unit. The value of energy for a Net Metered Generation
Unit shall be equal to the total kWh generated during a utility billing period multiplied
by the STGU's applicable net metering credit, as established in M.G.L. c. 164, § 138.
Net Metered Generation Unit Energy Value
= total kWh Generated ✷ net metering credit rate
2. Alternative On-bill Credit Generation Unit. The value of energy for an Alternative
On- bill Credit Generation Unit shall be equal to the total kWh generated during a utility
billing period multiplied by the STGU's applicable credit value under its applicable tariff
structure.
Alternative On Bill Credit Generation Unit energy value
= total kWh generated ✷ energy compensation rate
(b) Value of Energy Generated for Non-net Metered Generation Units. The value of energy
for a Non-net Metered Generation Unit shall be equal to its total compensation received from
a Distribution Company as a State Qualifying Facility under 220 CMR 8.00: Sales of
Electricity by Qualifying Facilities and On-site Generating Facilities to Distribution
Companies, and Sales of Electricity by Distribution Companies to Qualifying Facilities and
On-site Generating Facilities.
Non Net Metered Generation Unit energy value
= total kWh generation ✷ State Qualifying Facility value
(2)
Calculation of Incentive Payments for Behind-the-meter STGUs greater than 25 kW.
Payments provided to the Owner of a Behind-the-meter STGU by a Distribution Company for
RPS Class I Renewable Generation Attributes and Environmental Attributes will be fixed at the
point in time that an STGU receives its Final Statement of Qualification for the duration that the
STGU is eligible under 225 CMR 28.00 and will be equal to the total of the STGU's Base
Compensation Rate plus any Compensation Rate Adders , minus the value of energy, multiplied
by the total kWh generated by the STGU in the Distribution Company billing period.
Behind-the-meter Solar Incentive Paymnet
= [(Base Compensation Rate + Compensation Rate Adders
-
value of energy] ✷ total kWh generated
The methodology for calculating the value of the energy for a Behind-the-meter STGU is
dependent on whether the Generation Unit is qualified as a Net-metered Generation Unit, an
Alternative On-bill Credit Generation Unit, or a Non-net Metering Generation Unit, and will be
determined as follows:
(a) Value of Energy for Net-metered Generation Units. The value of energy shall be equal
to the sum of the Owner's current distribution kWh charge, current transmission kWh charge,
current transition kWh charge, and the average of the basic service kWh charge in the prior
three calendar years.
Net Metered value of energy
= (distribution kWh charge + transmission kWh charge
+ transition kWh charge
+ three year average of basic service kWh charge)
(b) Value of Energy for Alternative On-Bill Credit Generation Units and Non-net Metered
Generation Units. The value of energy shall be equal to .65% of the sum total of the average
of the basic service kWh charge in the prior three calendar years, current distribution kWh
charge, current transmission kWh charge, and current transition kWh charge, plus 0.35% of
the average of the basic service kWh charge in the prior three calendar years, as of the date
of the STGU's preliminary Statement of Qualification.
Alternative On Bill Credit and Non Metered value of energy
= [0.65(three year average of basic service kWh charge
+ distribution kWh charge + transmission kWh charge
+ transition kWh charge)
(3) Calculation of Incentive Payments for STGUs Less than or Equal to 25 kW. The value of
incentive payments provided to the Owner of an STGU less than or equal to 25 kW by a
Distribution Company for RPS Class I Renewable Generation Attributes and Environmental
Attributes will be set on annual basis pursuant to 225 CMR 28.05(7) and fixed at the point in
time that an STGU receives its Statement of Qualification for the duration that the STGU is
eligible under 225 CMR 28.00.
(4) Calculation of Blended Rates. In instances when multiple STGUs qualifying for different
compensation rates are being interconnected behind the same retail meter, the Department may
establish a blended rate for the STGUs, in consultation with the Distribution Company and the
Solar Program Administrator. The blended rate will be based on the total compensation rate for
each STGU but will be weighted based on the AC capacity of each STGU that will be connected
behind the same retail meter. The single, unique blended rate will be the same on each Statement
of Qualification for the STGUs.
(5) Calculation of Combined Rates. In instances when two or more STGUs are being installed
on one parcel with a combined capacity that does not exceed 5,000 kW and the STGUs have
been granted an exception to the project segmentation requirements for good cause, pursuant to
225 CMR 28.08(5)(a)10., the Department may establish the Base Compensation Rate based on
the combined capacity of the STGUs. The Department may require that the Applicant submit
a single Statement of Qualification Application for the combined capacityinstalled on the parcel
and may issue a single Statement of Qualification with a single Base Compensation Rate based
on the combined AC capacity of the STGUs.