Earlier this week, Governor Shumlin signed into law a bill that will make it easier for homeowners and businesses with small power sources- like solar panels on their roof- to get a credit for electricity they send to the grid.
When the net-metering law was enacted in 1997, the legislature set a quota for utilities: 4% of a utility’s peak demand could be produced by customers. This summer, Vermont Electric Cooperative, Hardwick and Morrisville Electric Departments, and Washington Electric Coop all reached their 4% quota. All but Washington Electric stopped accepting new net-metering applications.
Dave Hallquist is CEO of Vermont Electric Cooperative. He spoke with Vermont Edition about what this new bill will mean for his customers.
