Distributed Generation

Distributed Generation, and Net Metering, are rate structures that provide reimbursement guides to how a utility structures the buyback credit for customers who adopt solar as a supplemental source of energy. JEA follows a Distributed Generation Policy which will reimburse customers the avoided fuel cost for their excess energy delivered to the grid.

JEA’s Distributed Generation (DG) Policy reflects the changing energy landscape and growing popularity of solar energy.

Customers who purchase a renewable generation system for their home or business and wish to connect it to JEA’s electric grid must apply for interconnection under the Distributed Generation Policy and follow certain steps to ensure the safety and reliability of the customer and the grid. By participating in Distributed Generation, a customer is able to buy electricity from JEA when their renewable generation system doesn’t produce enough energy to meet their needs, and sell energy (kWh) to the grid when it produces more energy than needed at that moment.

Apply for Distributed Generation

Before Starting Your System

Once your system is installed, it’s important to know the steps to take before turning it on. This will ensure the safety of JEA employees and the electric grid.

Confirm that your electric contractor has notified the appropriate permit office for your system to be inspected.
After the electric work is inspected and approved, the permit office will send JEA an official notification. JEA will not proceed until we receive that notification.
A JEA engineer will conduct an inspection of the system’s interconnection to ensure that all safety precautions have been met to keep JEA crews and equipment safe.
Once the permit inspections are complete and the interconnection has been inspected and approved, a JEA meter technician will install a dual register meter that will track both the energy you send to and pull from the grid. The system will then be ready for use and the customer may turn it on.

IMPORTANT:

Turning on a newly installed system prior to inspection puts JEA employees at great risk. If this occurs, JEA will discontinue electrical service to the location until the system is disconnected from the grid. Once a JEA meter service representative has inspected the installation and determined that all safety precautions have been met, the system can be reconnected to the grid and will be ready for use.

What To Expect

Once your system is up and running, you will begin generating electricity. If the system generates more electricity than your home needs at any given moment, the excess will automatically be sent to JEA’s grid. Since your system cannot generate electricity during all hours of the day, you will also need to pull electricity from JEA’s grid. Your meter will track this exchange of electricity, providing the necessary information to calculate your monthly bill.

Click here to see what your JEA bill will look like after your system is operational.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Closed Title: How Does Battery Storage Work With A Grid-Connected Solar System?

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When battery storage is added to a grid-connected solar PV installation, the battery stores the solar array’s excess energy instead of sending it to JEA’s grid. The home can then draw on this stored energy when the PV system isn’t generating enough power to meet the home or business’s needs.

As with a non-battery solar PV system, JEA’s grid provides electricity when the solar panels and the battery do not generate enough power to meet the home’s needs. Battery storage systems can be sized to store sufficient energy to provide for a few hours of operation of household electric equipment. Some battery systems may also be configured to supply power to a select number of critical appliances during a power outage.

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Closed Title: What Do I Do If I'm Moving Into A Home With Solar Already Installed?

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Please go to JEA's Interconnection portal to complete a brief form and electronically sign an Interconnection Agreement. Once completed, your electric rate will be changed to a PV rate and you will see on-bill credit for any energy sent back to JEA from the solar installed at your home.

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Closed Title: Net Metering vs. Distributed Generation

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Net Metering and Distributed Generation are rate structures that provide reimbursement guides to how a utility structures the buyback credit for customers who adopt solar as a supplemental source of energy. These policies are implemented in adherence to state and local government.

JEA is a Distributed Generation utility.

JEA adopts a rate structure that is known as Distributed Generation which reimburses customers an avoided cost rate. This rate is determined to be an equitable reimbursement for customers committing to adopt solar so that JEA is still able to maintain a utility grade infrastructure for those customers in the event their system’s energy production does not sufficiently power the home for sustainable periods of time.

In addition, JEA’s avoided cost rate is known as the avoidable fuel cost. In the Distributed Generation Policy, JEA reimburse customers the cost JEA is saved (fuel cost) when the customer produces their own energy. This avoided cost has been evaluated to save JEA (who generates, transmits, and distributes energy) the fuel it would cost to distribute that energy to the customer, which is only one-third of what it takes for the utility to produce energy for the customer.

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Closed Title: What Will My Bill Look Like After Interconnecting To JEA’s Electric Grid?

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A Distributed Generation bill shows the amount of energy purchased from JEA and the amount of energy that is being sold back to JEA. Click here to see what your JEA bill will look like after your system is operational.

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Closed Title: What Credit Does JEA Give for Power Sent Back to the JEA Grid?

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JEA reimburses a customer the avoided cost (fuel rate) for the excess energy that their system sends back to the electric grid. This cost is a variable monthly rate that can be found on the monthly fuel rate table. In congruence with JEA’s billing, the applicable monthly rate will correspond with the “Reading Date” on a customer’s monthly bill

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Closed Title: When Do Customers Receive Credits?

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Monetary credits for each billing period will be based on the kWh sent to JEA measured at the meter at the end of the billing period, multiplied by the fuel rate. Any energy credit received in excess of a customer’s bill will accrue through the calendar year. If at the end of the calendar year there is a remaining balance of energy credits, JEA will pay the customer for the amount of energy credits as specified in the Distributed Generation Policy.

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Closed Title: Con A Customer Participate In Both Distributed Generation and JEA MyWay?

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No, Distributed Generation customers may not be enrolled in the JEA MyWay program.

Distributed Generation

Before Starting Your System

IMPORTANT:

What To Expect

Frequently Asked Questions

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