Net Metering Update:

The Arkansas General Assembly recently passed Act 278, the Arkansas Cost-Shifting Prevention Act of 2023, and the Governor signed the Act into law. The Arkansas Public Service Commission (PSC) is currently reviewing the law and will provide an interpretation for electric utilities in the coming months. If you have specific questions, we encourage you to reach out to the PSC for clarification. However, the final rule should be available by Dec. 31, 2023.

Net Metering Service

(Downloadable Forms)

Follow these steps to begin net metering with First Electric Cooperative.

(Get Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the following pdfs.)

Step 1

Please review and familiarize yourself with the Arkansas Public Service Commission’s Net Metering Rules.
Rule 3.01(A) requires the utility customer and owner of the Net-Metering Facility
to execute a Standard Interconnection Agreement prior to interconnecting a solar
array to the utility's facilities. All forms reference in the Net Metering Rules
are available in the Downloads section at the bottom of this page.

Step 2

Complete the Application for Preliminary Interconnection and Site Review Request.

*For any questions, please call 800-489-7405 to speak with a Marketing representative.
This change is effective July 1, 2022.

Step 3

A First Electric marketing representative will contact you to provide design drawings or specifications from the manufacturer. If needed, First Electric will schedule your preliminary site visit.

Step 4

At least 30 days prior to connecting, submit the Standard Interconnection Agreement for Net Metering Facilities and Net Metering Facility Ownership Affirmation found in downloads below.

Please note that Agreement must be received by First Electric at least 30 days prior to connecting.

* The Standard Interconnection Agreement for Net Metering Facilities and Net Metering Facility Ownership Affirmation will NO LONGER be accepted at NetMetering@fecc.coop.

Step 5

First Electric will schedule the site visit to commission the net metering system. In some instances, First Electric may authorize a qualified individual to commission the net metering system. The qualified individual must be a professional engineer, licensed electrician, or NABCEP-certified individual hired by the member or the member’s contractor. The interconnection MUST be left disconnected and out-of-service until the system is commissioned.

Step 6

Upon approval, the Standard Interconnection Agreement will be signed by First Electric, and your account will be set up for net metering. Please review the FAQ below, especially the information on how bills will be handled with your account.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is net metering?

Net metering is the process of measuring the difference between electricity supplied by First Electric and the electricity generated by a grid-tie facility and fed back to the cooperative over the applicable billing period.

Where do I purchase the equipment?

Several companies provide turn-key net metering equipment and installation. Because the equipment is owned by the member, First Electric cannot recommend any particular brand or installer. However, First Electric does recommend the member contact a marketing representative at 800-489-7405, prior to purchasing any grid-tie equipment to ensure the system is compatible with net metering. For solar systems, First Electric recommends using an installer licensed for skylights and solar systems by the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board.

What must I do to get a net metering facility approved by First Electric?

Before First Electric approves a net metering facility, the following conditions must be met:

The net metering facility must use solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, or biomass resources to generate electricity.
The net metering facility must have a generating capacity of no more than 25 kW or 100% of the highest monthly usage in the previous 12 months for residential use and 15,000-kW for any other use.
The net metering facility must be interconnected to a metered service billed under any of First Electric’s metered rates. The First Electric account must be in the name of the owner of the net metering facility.
The net metering facility must be intended primarily to offset some or all of the net metering customer’s requirements for electricity.

What do I do if the property I purchase has an existing net metering facility?

In addition to applying for service through First Electric Cooperative, members who purchase a net metering facility must complete the Net Metering Facility Transfer of Agreement and Ownership Affirmation form (see Downloads below).

How is billing handled with a net metering facility?

Any excess kWh generated by the net metering facility will reverse the kWh on the electric meter. All First Electric meters are capable of running backward; a meter exchange may be required for a service to be net metered. If the electricity generated by the net metering facility is fed back to the cooperative and exceeds the electricity supplied by the cooperative during the billing period, then the member will receive a kWh credit for the accumulated net excess kWh to apply to next month’s bill. Credits may accrue from month-to-month and do not expire. The kWh credit will be maintained in First Electric’s billing system. The member will continue to receive a monthly bill which includes the service availability charge and minimum bill amount (even if no electricity is purchased).

At the request of the member, monthly excess kWh credits may be transferred to additional accounts in a rank order provided by the member. The additional accounts must be in the name of the member who owns the net metering facility. The member must provide the rank order of additional accounts at least 30 days prior to the first requested transfer, and the member only can make changes to the rank order one time in the calendar year. (See Net Metering Account Transfer Request form in Downloads below.) If the additional accounts are not in the same billing cycle as the net-metered account, those accounts will be moved to a common billing cycle. The additional accounts do not have to be the same class of service. Excess kWh credits will be applied to the additional accounts up to the amount needed to net zero the kWh usage on each account in the rank order provided. Credit kWh will not be divided proportionately across the additional accounts, and the additional accounts cannot carry forward credit kWh from month to month. If the member has multiple net metering facilities, each net meter facility must have its own rank order list of additional accounts. An account only can be assigned to one rank order list. Excess kWh credits do not expire. Credits older than 24 months may be cashed out at the estimated average avoided cost of electricity if the sum to be paid is at least $100.

What are the net metering installation requirements?

The net metering system is required to meet all local and national electrical codes, including National Electrical Code, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the National Electrical Safety Code and Underwriters Laboratory. For solar systems, the inverter must be UL 1741/IEEE-1547 compliant. First Electric assumes no liability or responsibility for the installation or operation of the net metering system because the cooperative does not inspect the equipment, wiring or installation beyond the interconnection to the meter. Member must submit a design drawing and product literature for First Electric’s approval prior to the installation. Please contact a marketing representative at 800-489-7405, for more information.

The member must complete and submit a copy of the standard interconnection agreement and ownership affirmation (see Downloads below) at least 30 days prior to the planned interconnection. The interconnection agreement will be signed at the time the system is commissioned by First Electric. Once the equipment is installed, the member must contact First Electric to schedule a site visit for First Electric personnel to commission the installation. The net metering equipment must remain disconnected from the electric meter until the system is commissioned by First Electric. First Electric will verify two things at the time of the site visit – that the net metering equipment disconnects from the electric meter during a power outage and that the electric meter runs backward when the net metering equipment is feeding back to the cooperative.

Does First Electric pay for excess generation?

Excess kWh credits carry forward from month-to-month and have no cash value until applied to a future billing cycle. Excess kWh credits older than 24 months may be cashed out at the estimated average avoided cost of electricity if the sum to be paid is at least $100.

Where can I find more information on net metering?

More information may be found in the net metering section of the “Member Installation Standards for Electric Service.” (See Downloads below.) Members with questions on net metering or the approval process may contact a marketing representative at 800-489-7405.