Puerto Rico eyes DG boost with amended net metering scheme

Puerto Rico’s Electrical Energy Authority (AEE) last week proposed some changes to the current net metering programme that, amongst other effects, would simplify and streamline the interconnection of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems of up to 10-kW capacity.

AEE filed the proposal with Puerto Rico’s Energy Commission (CEPR) on Thursday. It includes new programmes for net metering aggregation, applying only to government agencies and universities, and shared net metering for the residential and commercial customers.

Commenting on the news, AEE’s executive director Javier Quintana Mendez said that the newly-proposed regulation would eliminate some requirements and thus lower investment costs for projects ranging from 1 MW to 5 MW. Among those are the requirements for project inspection and for a manual disconnect for solar arrays of 300 kW or less, both of which will be removed.

The AEE mentioned that about 87% of the interconnected solar systems are up to 10 kW of capacity. It added that 110 MW of distributed generation is currently interconnected to the island’s power grid, with a potential for up to 600 MW.

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!