Member-Owned Generation

Follow the steps through the NOVA Power Portal. If you have any questions, contact us at (763) 477-3150 or by email at DER@whe.org.

Yes, you can. This is called net metering, excess production or rollover.

When a member’s system generates more power than is being consumed at the home, it sends the power back to WH. To easily monitor both the energy delivered to the home by WH and the energy delivered to the grid by the cogeneration facility, WH currently uses two meters (one for each). At the end of the month, systems less than 40 kW will “net” the total excess generation delivered to the grid from the total energy delivered to the home. See Small Power Production Rider for rate options.

WH will charge you for the cost of the interconnection and any service upgrade costs, as well as an application fee. For more detailed information please email New Services at DER@wheorg or call (763) 477-3150. You may also review our Small Power Production Rider for rate options.

1. For systems less than 40 kW, WH will compensate the member for any net excess generation produced (energy produced above their consumption) at the “average retail utility energy rate.” For systems 40 kW and over, WH does not “net” the member’s excess production against their consumption. Rather, WH will purchase the total excess energy produced each month at its wholesale power supplier’s avoided cost.
2. For a cogeneration system to qualify for the “average retail utility energy rate” through net metering, the following conditions must be met:
   1. Must satisfy the conditions established in Code of Federal Regulations, title 18, part 292. The size determination of the qualifying facility must include all facilities that are owned by the same person(s) or its affiliates, and are located at the same site. The “same site” means qualifying facilities that are located within one mile of each other.
   2. The aggregate of qualifying systems on a site must be less than 40 kW

Yes, you can. WH has members participating in net metering, who both buy and sell power to the grid. We do not have any members totally off the grid. In Minnesota, there are long winter days with little sunlight. On these days especially, you will likely need power from WH.

To ensure safe installations, all grid-tied cogeneration systems must meet relevant provisions of the National Electrical Code (NEC), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE 1547) Minnesota Statute 216B.164, Minnesota Rules Chapter 7835 and electric utility requirements. Installations must also comply with all local permitting and zoning codes, fire codes, building codes and local and federal laws, rules, and requirements. The member installing Cogeneration is responsible for ensuring that the installer follows all applicable rules and codes, including WH’s interconnection process and requirements.

We care about you. Please make sure when you are considering your own power generation, that you use a reputable company to do the work. We recommend getting three bids to make sure they are competitive. And make sure that you get referrals as well to protect yourself from a poor investment.

A member who has a dispute with the Cooperative with respect to the member’s or the Cooperative’s rights or obligations regarding distributed generation (such as wind generation or solar facilities) shall first complete the Dispute Form. The Cooperative will schedule an information meeting between you and the Cooperative’s CEO within 10 business days of receipt of this form. If that meeting does not resolve the dispute, then a hearing by the Cooperative’s Board or Directors will be scheduled. This process is governed by the Cooperative’s distributed generation rules as authorized by Minnesota Statues 216B.164, Subd. 11. Dispute Form

Please fully vet solar companies prior to entering into a contract.

The homeowner owns and maintains the solar array and is responsible for all maintenance. 

The solar array will need to be removed and re-installed after the roof is complete. This is the responsibility of the array owner (homeowner) and not the utility. 

Snow, shade, tree growth, cloud cover, dirt buildup, normal wear and tear, and maintenance issues all have the potential to impact the production of your array. WH has found weather to be the main factor in reduction of energy production.

It is the responsibility of the homeowner to maintain the solar panels, therefore, snow removal is the responsibility of the homeowner.

Yes, general liability insurance is required. The amount needed depends on the size of your system. Click here to learn about insurance requirements. 

This fee is assessed to all member-owned Qualified Facilities (QF).
Grid access fee ensures all members are charged appropriately for the cooperative’s distribution system costs.   Residential energy charges are comprised of a monthly basic charge and a variable energy charge.  WH recovers a portion of its fixed costs via the variable energy charge. The Grid access fee recovers utility fixed costs that WH expects to recover through variable energy charges. The grid access fee is based on the size of the solar array and recovers the cost associated with under recovery for each size of solar array.       
The monthly cost per kW on a system greater than 3.5 kW is $2.78/kW. The monthly maximum is $20.00. See current Small Power Production Rider.

Average Retail Cooperative Energy Rate (ARCER):

• The cooperative shall compensate the Qualified Facility (QF) for excess energy generated by the QF at the ARCER rate. 

Roll-Over Credit Purchase Rate:

• When the energy generated by the QF exceeds that supplied by the Cooperative, the Cooperative shall apply the excess kWh as a credit to the next billing period’s electric use. Excess kWh that are not offset in the next billing period shall continue to be rolled over to the next billing period. Any extra kWh rolled over that are remaining at the end of each calendar year shall expire with no additional compensation.

Wright-Hennepin recommends members get more that one bid from a qualified solar installer.

Yes. Contact WH at (763) 477-3150 or by email at DER@whe.org.