SPRINGFIELD, Ill.— On December 2, Illinois Commerce Commission ordered Ameren Illinois to restore full net metering to small business and residential customers that have had solar installed since October 2, 2020.
This decision comes after Ameren claimed that it has reached 5% rooftop solar generation and halted its full net metering service at the beginning of October for new net metering applicants. This move shook the state’s solar industry and threatened the future of net metering.
Per Illinois’ 2017 pro-solar legislation, companies would be able to halt this 1:1 net metering compensation once reaching 5%, but Ameren failed to provide accurate calculations. Leaders in the Illinois solar industry claimed that Ameren’s incorrect calculations would encourage other utilities in the states to make the same false claims. Thus, Ameren’s claim threatened the future of solar in the state.
A coalition of solar advocates and environmental groups pushed the Illinois Commerce Commission to investigate Ameren’s calculations for irregularities. The ICC found that Ameren’s percentage of solar penetration was well beneath the 5% threshold required to change their net metering policy.
One of the five members of the ICC dissented, arguing that these issues regarding a utility’s right to adjust net metering should be solved by state lawmakers. This dissent was not enough to prevent the commission’s order to restore full net metering to recent customers.
This order gives Ameren 21 days to restore and compensate solar customers installed after October 2. Ameren has still yet to release whether they will appeal the commission’s ruling.
However, the solar industry in Illinois is celebrating the decision made by the ICC and secures that net metering legislative policy cannot be ignored by utilities.
Watch this video to understand how net metering works, provided by Energy Sage.
