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Solar for Your Home and Business
Connecting your renewable power to the Dominion Energy grid.
Residential and Non-Residential Customers Can Apply for Net Metering Online
FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL NET METERING APPLICATIONS BETWEEN 250 KW AND 1000 KW (“MIDSIZED NEM PROJECTS”), PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
On August 30, 2023, in Case No. PUR-2023-00097, the Virginia State Corporation Commission (“SCC”) issued an injunction that, among other provisions, “suspends the imposition of the (NEM DER Interconnection) Parameters (Manual) on Midsized NEM Projects and suspends the requirement of SGIAs for Midsized NEM Projects at least until the Commission has completed its investigations and rulemaking in Case Nos. PUR-2022-00073 and PUR-2023-00069 and has ruled definitely on such issues.” This Order also directed that “Dominion Energy should continue to take the actions necessary to maintain the immediate safety and reliability of its system; this may include, but need not be limited to, seeking specific authority from this Commission in one or more formal proceedings.”
In response to this injunction order, Dominion Energy filed a Motion for Interim Authority on September 15, 2023 seeking authority to continue to require direct transfer trip (“DTT”) communications systems and/or DG Panels for Midsized NEM Projects under certain circumstances for safety and reliability reasons. On November 6, 2023, the SCC Hearing Examiner issued an order granting Dominion’s motion and directing that:
- The Company, Staff and stakeholders are specifically to address and establish study and engineering requirements necessary to safely and reliably interconnect Net Metering DERs as part of the proceedings in Case No. PUR-2023-00069;
- The Company is hereby granted interim authority to (A) continue to require either a fiber optic or cellular-based DTT communication system, at the customer’s election; and (B) require installation of a DG Panel under certain conditions. Such interim authority may be exercised by the Company only where: (i) the project fails to meet the 3:1 light load to generation ratio screening, where the load to generation ratio is less than 3:1; or (ii) when the net metering DER is requesting connection to a substation bus with greater than 1 MW of aggregate generation; and
- When Dominion Energy elects to use its interim authority to require DTT and/or a DG Panel, the vendor or customer shall have the right to appeal the Company’s requirement of DTT and/or a DG Panel by petitioning the Commission for an evidentiary proceeding in which Dominion Energy shall bear the burden of proving the necessity and reasonableness of such requirement(s).
Net Metering Customer Self-Service Portal
Fill out your Virginia NMIN form online for quicker response times.
View instructions for completing the online form.
Note: Submitting your application by email or USPS will delay your process.
Check the Status of Your Net Metering Application
Help Your Customers by Submitting and Tracking Net Metering Applications
Overview
Net Metering is a special metering and billing agreement between Dominion Energy and participating customers. Residential and Business customers who choose to participate in Net Metering agree to have a renewable energy source on their property that connects to the Dominion Energy power grid. Interconnection requirements can be found in the NEM DER Interconnection Parameters Manual and Dominion Energy Blue Book.
Net Metering encourages Dominion Energy customers to consider a small-scale renewable energy system, while ensuring they always have a reliable source of energy from the grid even during times when their own generator isn't producing energy.
Net Metering allows customers to interconnect approved renewable generation systems (such as solar, wind, and geothermal) to the electric grid and provide electricity to their own residence or business facility.
That electricity offsets the electricity that would have otherwise been delivered by Dominion Energy. And when you generate more energy than your residence or facility needs, you'll receive credit for the electricity your generator produces and delivers onto the grid.
Several types of renewable energy are potentially eligible for net metering:
- Solar energy (photovoltaic)
- Wind energy
- Biomass (landfill gas or methane)
- Hydroelectric power
- Waste heat
- Geothermal energy
- Any other renewable generation that meets state guidelines
Before Installation:
Submit a Net Metering Interconnection Notification (NMIN) form in one of the following ways:
- Online: Click the Apply Here" link below to fill out the form online. View instructions for completing the online form.
- Email: Download the PDF version of the NMIN form. Complete Sections 1 through 4. Print the form and sign it at the bottom, then scan and email it to net.metering@dominionenergy.com along with any other necessary documentation.
- USPS: Download the PDF version of the NMIN form. Complete Sections 1 through 4. Print the form and sign it at the bottom, then mail it along with proof of liability insurance at generation facility and any other necessary documentation to:
-
Dominion Energy Virginia
600 Canal Place, 11th Floor South
P.O. Box 26666
Richmond, VA 23261
-
Dominion Energy Virginia
Note: Emailing or mailing in the form will take longer to process.
Once the NMIN is submitted online (or received via USPS or email) both Customer and Vendor will receive an email notification that the application was received, along with their request ID.
The proposed generating system information will be reviewed for compatibility with the electric distribution grid and with the existing electric distribution facilities serving the interconnection point. Once the NMIN data provided is verified, both Customer and Vendor will receive an Adobe Sign email for NMIN signatures. The process will not continue until both signatures are received. Please ensure all information provided is correct. Once both signatures are received, an email granting contingent approval will be sent.
If any questions arise, you and/or your solar vendor will be contacted.
Note: A Net Metering Applicant is solely responsible for compliance with all applicable local zoning requirements, building codes, electrical codes, or any other codes or restrictions governing installation and operation of a generation system. Dominion Energy does not review or approve the system equipment selection, installation method, or installation location. Dominion Energy only reviews the proposed interconnection for compatibility with the electric distribution system, based on UL 1741/IEEE 1547 standards.
After Installation:
The renewable energy system must be certified by a licensed Virginia electrician and/or approved by the local inspection authority (see Section 5 on the NMIN). Once the electrician provides certification or the inspection is completed and passed, the solar vendor or self installer must log into the Self-Service Portal to fill out Section 5 of the NMIN and, if applicable, upload proof of passed inspection. Vendors will now have the ability to redirect Section 5 within Adobe Sign to a different email address, so that the inspector may fill it out.
Once the required metering and billing work is complete, a Permission To Operate (PTO) email will be sent to both the Vendor and Customer. The project status will change to "Permission to Operate Sent." To download a copy of the PTO, Vendors can log into the Self-Service Portal. Customers can request a copy of the PTO from their solar vendors.
General Information
Net Metering rules in Virginia are administered by the Virginia State Corporation Commission and published in the Virginia Administrative Code under 20VAC5-315.
The Virginia Administrative Code Section 56-576 defines renewable energy as “… energy derived from sunlight, wind, falling water, biomass, sustainable or otherwise, (the definitions of which shall be liberally construed), energy from waste, landfill gas, municipal solid waste, wave motion, tides, and geothermal power, and does not include energy derived from coal, oil, natural gas, or nuclear power…”
Batteries may be included as part of a renewable generation system, but do not qualify as a renewable generation source by themselves.
The Third Party PPA (Renewable Energy) Pilot Program is administered by the Virginia State Corporation Commission.
Dominion Energy does not sell or install renewable generation systems. Interested customers should contact a qualified electrical contractor or renewable energy contractor. These contractors can provide the necessary structural engineering analysis, equipment specifications, installation costs, and energy production estimates.
Customers should keep in mind that they are solely responsible for compliance with all applicable zoning requirements, building codes, electrical codes, and any other codes or restrictions applicable to the installation, operation and maintenance of a renewable generation system including, but not limited to any real property restrictions affecting the use of the property on which the generation system is located.
Dominion Energy does not review or approve the suitability of the generation system's capacity, equipment specifications, installation method, or installation location.
Yes, there are a number of entities that will buy your power output. If you want to sell your power, you can explore the options available to you. The options include, but are not limited to, selling power into the PJM Market and selling it to Dominion Energy. However, selling power requires additional metering and interconnection equipment, which is an additional cost you will want to consider.
No, due to safety reasons, if the electric service to your home is out, your renewable energy facility will be forced offline. This precaution is to prevent your generation system from feeding excess electricity onto the grid, which would put utility line workers at risk as they repair electrical lines. The only way to supply power to your home with a distributed generation during power outages is to invest in an energy storage system and a transfer switch.
We will continue to Net Meter and transfer the Net Meter to the next owner. Until Dominion Energy is advised that the system has been removed, the premise is considered a Net Metering premise.
You can cancel at any time by calling 866-366-4357. This will require disconnecting the renewable generation and removing the interconnection from Dominion Energy's system.
Under the typical net metering arrangement, the amount you are charged for the energy you consume is equal to the amount you are credited when your system feeds back to the grid.
Under the Off-Peak Plan, the amount you are charged or credited will correspond to the cost associated with that season, day and time. For example, if your system is generating at 1:00 p.m., you'll be credited off-peak hour rates instead of basic residential rates.
The credits you receive when your system is sending electricity back to the grid can only be applied to the tier in which they are accrued. So if you build credits during on-peak hours, they can only be applied to future on-peak hours.
Application Requirements
Often there are no charges for interconnection of small residential systems. Interconnection charges for larger systems can vary substantially depending on the amount of equipment and construction work necessary to complete the interconnection. Dominion Energy will review the existing service capacity to the premise to determine if existing facilities are adequate to support the proposed generation load, and if additional protective equipment is required.
System Requirements
An interconnected generation system will operate in parallel with the utility system and must have “grid tie” capability. The system and associated inverters must be certified by a national testing laboratory, conforming to UL1741/IEEE 1547 specifications for grid tied systems.
All interconnections under Net Metering must comply with the requirements in the Dominion Energy Blue Book and the Net Metering Interconnection Parameters Manual including the installation of approved disconnects.
Knife Blade Disconnect
Breaker Disconnect
In general, any residential, or commercial customer who is served on a non time-of-use rate schedule, or a demand charge-based time-of-use rate schedule which allows a parallel generator interconnection, may participate in Net Metering. For other rates not shown below, send questions to the net metering team.
Net Metering Virginia Jurisdictional Compatible Rate Schedules
| Schedule | Rate |
|---|---|
| Schedule 1 | 100 |
| Schedule 1S | 101 |
| Schedule 1G | 260 |
Non-Residential Net Metering Compatible Rate Schedules
| Schedule | Rate |
|---|---|
| Schedule GS-1 | 110 |
| Schedule GS-2T | 114 |
| Schedule GS-2 | 227 |
| Schedule GS-3 | 117 |
| Schedule GS-4 | 120 |
| Schedule 6TS | 126 |
Net Metering is intended to allow a customer to offset a portion or all of the electrical energy requirements of their home or business. The system must be sized so that it does not reasonably produce more energy than 150% of the expected annual electrical consumption.
A net metering interconnection request can still be submitted for the new location as long as a Dominion Energy Work Request number has been established. In this case, the Work Request Number should be used in lieu of the account number on the interconnection request form.
Billing
The energy you produce and consume offsets the energy you would normally purchase from Dominion Energy and can be valued at the amount you would pay for your next kilowatt-hour. The value will vary with individual usage patterns, and you should refer to your previous electric bills to determine the appropriate value. Any excess energy returned to the grid is recorded as a credit and used to offset future electric energy delivered to the home or business.
You will receive a bill that is similar to your normal electric bill. However, you can expect that your bill amount will be lower than usual, since all or part of your electricity needs will be provided by your own renewable energy generation system and not provided or billed by Dominion Energy. If you generate more electricity than is needed for your home or business in a given month, the amount will be used to offset future electricity you would receive from Dominion Energy.
Your electric bill does not show all of the energy your system produced. The energy you produce that is consumed by your home does not pass through the Dominion Energy meter.
The net meter measures electricity that is delivered from Dominion Energy to you, and any electricity that is produced by you and returned to the electric grid.
The standby charge only applies to Net Metering customers served on Virginia Residential Schedule 1, Schedule 1S and Schedule 1G with a generation system size greater than 15 kW AC. If you are subject to Standby Charges, you will no longer be able to view your bills online.
Refer to links above for more details on each schedule and how standby fees are calculated, see sections II.A.4 and II.B.2.b.
Metering
The renewable generation system is interconnected at a point on the customer's side of the Dominion Energy metering equipment. The system may not be interconnected anywhere within the metering equipment cabinet (typically a meter base or current transformer compartment) without prior approval from Dominion Energy.
Once Contingent Approval is granted, a bi-directional meter will be installed at your home/business.
Power Purchase Agreements (PPA)
A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is an agreement for Dominion Energy to purchase any net excess energy production that remains at the end of each 12-month net metering period.
If you have a smaller renewable generator, and you expect to use most if not all of the renewable energy you generate throughout the year, a Power Purchase Agreement is not necessary. If you have a large generator with consistent excess renewable energy, you may want to consider a Power Purchase Agreement. Refer to Section F of the Net Metering Terms and Conditions for additional information about a Power Purchase Agreement with Dominion Energy.
Power Purchase Agreement
The amount is based on the number of kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy you exported and the PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. (PJM) DOMZONE day-ahead annual simple average locational marginal price (LMP) as published by the PJM Market Monitoring Unit for the most recent calendar year.
