How City Utilities of Springfield credits home solar

Limits and eligibility

• CU's net metering credit applies to systems with an accredited capacity of 100 kW or less, and larger systems are not netted but are credited under a separate special contract rate.
• CU's policy describes a qualifying unit as one owned by the customer, located on premises the customer owns, leases or controls, and intended primarily to offset part or all of the customer's own electricity needs.
• CU is not required to sign new net metering agreements once total customer generation reaches 5% of its single hour peak load from the previous year, or once capacity approved in a calendar year reaches 1% of that peak.
• Systems larger than 10 kW must carry liability insurance and conduct a yearly test confirming the system stops sending power within two seconds of being disconnected, neither of which CU requires for systems of 10 kW or less.

How a home gets connected

1. Submit CU's Interconnection Application for Net Metering Systems of 100 kW or less, with plans and specifications for the system, before any construction begins.
2. CU gives written approval or denial within 30 days for systems of 10 kW or less and within 90 days for larger systems, and its application says not to begin construction until written approval arrives.
3. Inside Springfield city limits, Building Development Services requires an electrical permit for nearly all electrical work, and permit applications can be made through the city's eCity portal.
4. After construction, a professional electrical engineer registered in Missouri or an electrician licensed in Springfield inspects the system and signs the Post Installation Electrical Inspection section, and the customer signs the acknowledgement section and returns the completed application to CU.
5. Once CU approves those sections in writing, it interconnects the system, normally within 30 days where electric service already exists, and the system may not run in parallel with CU's grid before that approval.