Solar and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)

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The Groveland Municipal Light Department allows Residential and Commercial customers to install solar systems onto their homes and business provided that they follow the terms and conditions found in our Net Metering Tariff, which can be found below as a downloadable PDF.  Generally speaking, GMLD allows Residential installations of 25kW or less and Commercial installations of 100kW or less.  The number of systems currently allowed is limited to 2% of GMLD's Peak Load - We still have plenty of room!  Energy delivered into GMLD's Distribution System is measured using a bi-directional meter located on the home and is credited to the account holders monthly bill at the Average LMP Rate, NEMA Loadzone x kWh delivered to GMLD.

^^^That last part.....you may be wondering what that means.  In a nutshell, the rate at which Groveland Light pays for surplus power from residential solar systems is what we would pay if we were to buy it (your surplus electricity) out of the power market.  During times of peak demand market prices are higher. Conversely, when there is less demand prices are lower.  We use the calculated average of the prices for the month for our loadzone (purchase area) and multiply that by the amount of surplus electricity produced by your system (kWh) to arrive at the amount of credit you receive for solar production.  In the past year we've seen prices vary from $.03 to $.11 per kWh, all based on the demand for electricity in our area.

There are currently no rebate programs on installed solar systems being offered by Groveland Light.

The Groveland Municipal Light Department allows for the installation of Battery Energy Storage Systems that are capable of charging and discharging into the GMLD distribution system. Most likely GMLD installing BESS systems will be doing so in conjunction with a solar array to maximize the benefit of their solar array production. GMLD asks that when BESS are installed that they are reported to GMLD by use of the form available for download below. Completed forms should be sent to ksnow@grovelandlight.com AND kblaisdell@grovelandlight.com .

BESS systems must meet the bylaws adopted by the Town of Groveland. Typical home installations of BESS are classified as Tier 1 (< 1mW). Tier 2 BESS (>1mW) are usually considered utility scale and must be approved and coordinated with the Groveland Building and Electrical Inspectors in conjunction with the Groveland Municipal Light Department.

Link to the Groveland BESS bylaws: https://ecode360.com/35391577#46340095