On September 11, 2019, the Louisiana Public Service Commission enacted LPSC General Order No. R-33929. This order alters the recording and billing of energy sent to and received from Cleco Power’s net metering customers (hereafter referred to as distributed generation (DG) customers). Beginning on January 1, 2020, DG customers will be charged for the total amount of energy (kWhs) that Cleco Power delivers to the premise. Also, Cleco Power will pay for all energy that it receives from each DG customer. These two totals, both for kWhs and dollars, will show individually on each bill and the customer’s obligation will be the net of the dollar amounts. This is opposed to the previous method where only the kWhs were netted with the balance incurring either regular charges or being “banked” if received kWhs was greater than delivered kWhs. Customers who interconnected with Cleco Power for DG service prior to January 1, 2020 will receive credit at full retail rates for all received-by-Cleco kWhs each billing month, effective through December 31, 2034. Customers who interconnected with Cleco Power on or after January 1, 2020, and then all customers after December 31, 2034, will receive credit at an avoided cost rate, published and updated annually in Cleco Power's Distributed Generation Service Tariff.
Customers have the ability to reduce their electric utility bills through Cleco Power's Distributed Generation Program. It is available to residential customers utilizing renewable energy resources up to 25 kilowatts and small commercial customers utilizing
renewable energy resources up to 300 kilowatts who do not have any other generator connected to the grid. Customers who have small natural gas, diesel, or other non-renewable power generators do not meet these qualifications.
Cleco Power's
Distributed Generation Meters will register the amount of excess energy generated through the use of renewable energy sources but not consumed by the customer (supplied to Cleco Power's electric grid). The Distributed Generation Meter will separately
register both the amount of electricity purchased from Cleco Power and the amount of electricity supplied by the customer to Cleco Power.
1. Distributed Generation Billing for Customers who have Interconnected Systems or Submitted Completed Interconnection Applications Prior to January 1, 2020.
- The customer will be billed the standard tariff rates for all kWhs delivered and purchased from the utility.
- The customer will be credited for all kWhs that the utility receives and purchases from the customer at the full standard tariff rates.
- If the dollars the customer receives for the energy the utility receives and purchases from the customer exceeds the dollars the customer pays under full standard tariff rates and/or riders, the excess dollars are credited to the customer’s account and will apply to the following month’s (or later) bill.
- Cleco Power will review all Distributed Generation accounts on an annual basis. If a customer continues to carry an on-going credit, the utility may elect to reimburse the customer and clear the credit from the account.
2. Distributed Generation Billing for Customers who have Interconnected Systems or Submitted Completed Interconnection Applications On or After January 1, 2020.
- The customer will be billed the standard tariff rates for all kWhs delivered and purchased from the utility.
- The customer will be credited for all kWhs that the utility receives and purchases from the customer at predetermined avoided cost rates, updated and published annually in the Distributed Generation tariff.
- If the dollars the customer receives for the energy the utility receives and purchases from the customer exceeds the dollars the customer pays under full standard tariff rates and/or riders, the excess dollars are credited to the customer’s account and will apply to the following month’s (or later) bill.
- Cleco Power will review all Distributed Generation accounts on an annual basis. If a customer continues to carry an on-going credit, the utility may elect to reimburse the customer and clear the credit from the account.
3. Distributed Generation Billing for Community Distributed Generation Facilities.
- Special provisions exist for community based distributed generation facilities for which individual customers may partake of and share in the benefits of a central facility. Please contact a Cleco Power representative for more information.
Acceptable renewable energy sources:
- Solar
- Wind
- Hydropower
- Geothermal
- Biomass
- Fuel cells (generating from renewable sources only)
- Microturbines (generating from renewable sources only)
Acceptable kilowatt amounts:
- Residential generation up to 25 kilowatts
- Commercial / Agricultural generation up to 300 kilowatts
- Commercial customers may exceed the 300 kilowatt maximum under special provisions and application.
- Customer must not have any other generator connected to the grid
Distributed Generation laws vary by state. Louisiana originally established a distributed generation program in 2003. The Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) determines the rates, terms, and conditions utilized in distributed generation. As determined by the LPSC, the utility pays for the meter and the customer pays a one-time installation fee and monthly service fee.
Distributed Generation Meters measure electricity flowing to and from the customer’s location. If a customer is paid more for electricity production than is owed to the utility for electricity consumption, the excess dollars are credited to the
customer’s account. The utility will review all Distributed Generation accounts on an annual basis. If a customer continues to carry an on-going credit, the utility may elect to reimburse the customer and clear the credit from the account. If
the customer discontinues service, remaining credits will be remitted back to the customer.
To be eligible, the system must adhere to the following requirements:
- All IEEE 1547 Standards
- All applicable safety laws
- Must not feedback or backfeed to non-energized lines
- All applicable national safety codes
- All municipal/parish permitting requirements
To apply for distributed generation:
Review the Distributed Generation Service Tariff and the Customer Owned Generation Interconnection Agreement, then call Cleco customer service at 1-800-622-6537 to place an order to meet with a Cleco Power engineer to complete the agreement and discuss the associated fees.