Residential electricity customers are charged based on energy (kWh) usage alone, while commercial customers pay for both energy and peak demand (kW). Alliant Energy determines commercial demand charges as the highest 15-minute demand in a billing period or 75% of the highest summer demand, whichever is greater. While homes are paid retail rates of 8-40 cents per kWh for energy they produce, the "avoided cost" rate utilities pay for power from small generators is only 2-3 cents per kWh. Net metering and feed-in tariff policies determine how energy production is valued and credited for residential solar customers.

1. FEED

2. Tariff Structures – Energy and Power
Residential – Energy Only – kwh
No charge for rate at which energy is used – power or demand
Commercial – charges for both energy and “demand” (power)
Kwh and kw
Alliant Demand Charges:
Highest 15 minute demand that occurred in that billing period
OR
The 75% of the highest demand during June, July and August
Whichever is greater

3. Avoided Costs
Meter 1: Energy Used
Retail rate – 8 – 40 cents
per kwh
Meter 2: Energy Produced
“avoided costs” = 2-3 cents
per kwh

4. Net Metering
• True up Interval?
• One meter or two?

5. Feed in Tariff

6. Value of Solar (VOS) tarriff

7. Value of Solar (VOS) tarriff