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Considering renewable generation, such as photovoltaic (PV) solar panels or a wind turbinefor, your home or business? If so, here are a few basic things to consider when connecting the generation equipment to your electric service panel.
When connecting generation equipment to your electric panel, your home or business becomes "interconnected" with KCP&L's electrical distribution system or grid. This means your generation equipment has the ability to feed any extra electricity, not being consumed by your home or business, directly to KCP&L's system.
KCP&L offers two programs designed for interconnecting your renewable generation equipment to the power grid.
In Missouri, we offer Net Metering and Parallel Generation. In Kansas, we offer Parallel Generation. (We are awaiting proper legislation to offer Net Metering in Kansas) |
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Safety First!
It is critical that your generation equipment not cause injury to workers who will be maintaining KCP&L's electrical system. To prevent unintended feedback, KCP&L, as well as local building and electrical codes, require that approved protective equipment be installed. |
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What is Net Metering?
With net metering, excess electricity produced by a renewable energy source, such as a small wind turbine or solar panels, is measured with a special meter that has two registers: one to measure the inflow from KCP&L and one to measure the outflow from the customer.
All energy the customer produces in excess of their immediate need enters the grid and is measured by the meter. KCP&L will then reimburse the customer for the excess generation at KCP&L's avoided cost, which is less than retail since it reflects only energy and not the generation, transmission, distribution and administrative costs included in retail rates. |
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How is Net Metering different from Parallel Generation?
The following example is provided for illustrative purposes.
During one billing cycle your renewable generation system generated 500 kWh. You used 1,000 kWh.
Net Metering:
1,000 kWh
- 500 kWh
500 kWh
500 kWh billed @ $.09/kWh = $45.00 Energy Charge
Parallel Generation:
1,000 kWh billed @ $.09/kWh = $90.00
- 500 kWh credit @ $.02/kWh = $10.00
Energy Charge $80.00
NOTE: Other electric charges, customer charges, etc. will still apply in both cases.
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How much is the energy payment?
Payment for electricity sent back to the grid varies by location. For small residential producers in Kansas (no more than 25 kilowatts for residential customers, and no more than 100 kilowatts for business customers), KCP&L pays 150% of their monthly system average cost of energy per kWh. Although variable, the payment generaly calculates to be about $0.02 per kWh. In Missouri (no more than 100 kilowatts), KCP&L pays $.024 per kWh for all energy received. For former Aquila customers (no more than 100 kilowatts), KCP&L pays $.0524 per kWh. |
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Why is net metering important?
First, net metering eliminates the need for storage of the unused portion of energy from the alternative sources, since they are typically intermittent resources. The wind does not always blow and the sun does not always shine. Customers not using the alternative energy at the time it's being generated would require the use of expensive battery systems to store the unused portion. Net metering improves the pay-back customers will experience by eliminating the need to purchase such storage equipment.
Second, net metering is important for the environment. Net metering provides a simple, inexpensive, and easily-administered mechanism for encouraging the use of small scale renewable generating sources. The more power generated from renewable sources provides local, additional, and global benefits to the environment and the economy. |
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Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels
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Connecting to the grid?
NOTE: KCP&L does not recommend any particular systems, retailers or products, nor are we involved in the installation, pricing or maintenance of alternative energy sources.
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