Kodiak Electric Association embraces net metering policy

Kodiak Electric Association lineman at work

If you want to connect your own renewable energy generator to KEA's power grid, now you can get buy-back credits.

Starting January 1, 2013, KEA's revised Rules and Regulations for Electric Service and Rate Schedules accommodate heat pumps and net metering. For some folks, this can be a little confusing.

"Something we want to make sure people understand with net metering is that installing a residential-scale wind or solar installation can be expensive," says Jennifer Richcreek, "and the buy-back rate for excess power put onto the grid is based on KEA's diesel use. So the less diesel KEA uses, the less the buy-back rate for the resident generating their own renewable power."

If you have questions about the new policy, contact the Kodiak Electric Association. Many articles can be found on the KEA e-news website.  

Photo of new net meter 

New amp service for heat pumps

KEA has added a new residential 400-amp service rate to accommodate electric heat service to larger homes.  According to Jennifer, "As KEA does a better job supplying electricity at affordable stable rates, there's a growing interest in the community with converting home heating systems over from oil to electricity."  

This is a great improvement. If you had standard 100 or 200-amp service, you had to install multiple meters.  

"This new policy allows more power to be supplied to a residence through a single, more powerful meter.  This new service rate is not exclusive to heat, but electric heat would be the type of load that would typically require more power."

How much electricity comes from wind, hydro and diesel?

In 2012, 95.7 percent of KEA's generation portfolio, as it's called, came from renewable resources. You can follow KEA's progress on the KEA website.