Status of Net Metering: Assessing the Potential to Reach Program Caps
Several states are currently addressing the issue of net metering program caps, which limit the total amount of net metered generating capacity that can be installed in a state or utility service territory. This study examines these program caps and forecasts how long NEM would be expected to be available in various states under current policies.
The results show just over half of states with net metering policies today include caps on net metered capacity while several states without caps have triggers that when reached enable net metering to be reviewed. Based on projections of near-term distributed PV capacity, a handful of states could reach current cap levels by 2018; California, Delaware, Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey.