Section 465.50  Electricity Provider Billing for Eligible Customers

a)         Billing for Type (d) Customers

1)         The electricity supplier shall determine whether each customer is a net purchaser of electricity or a net seller of electricity during the billing period.



2)         If a customer is a net purchaser of electricity during the billing period, the electricity supplier shall assess charges on the net amount purchased at the tariffed or contract rate, as appropriate, under which the customer is taking service from the electricity supplier.  When the electricity provider is an ARES, the electric utility shall assess charges for delivery and other provided services at the tariffed rate under which the customer is taking electric service from the electric utility. Notwithstanding these requirements, the tariffed or contract rates for both electric supply and delivery services shall be non-discriminatory rates that are identical, with respect to rate structure, retail rate components, and any monthly charges, with the rates that the customer would be charged if not a net metering customer, unless an electricity supplier and the customer have entered into an arm's-length agreement setting forth different prices, terms and conditions for the provision of net metering service.

3)         If a customer is a net seller of electricity during the billing period, the customer shall receive a 1:1 kWh credit from the electricity supplier that is equal to the net kWh supplied by the customer during the billing period.  When the electricity supplier is an ARES, the electric utility shall issue to the customer a 1:1 kWh credit for delivery service that is equal to the net kWh delivered to the electric utility's system by the customer during the billing period.

4)         Any credits received by the customer shall be carried over to subsequent billing periods. Unused credits shall expire either at the end of the annual period or, in the event the customer terminates service from the electricity supplier, at the time the customer terminates service from the electricity supplier.

5)         Customers remain responsible for all taxes, fees and utility delivery charges that would otherwise be applicable to the net amount of electricity used by the customer.

b)         Billing for Type (d-5) Customers

1)         The electricity supplier shall determine whether each customer is a net purchaser of electricity or a net seller of electricity during each hour for which the tariffed or contract rate, as appropriate, is applicable. 

2)         For the  hours in which the customer is a net purchaser of electricity, the electricity supplier shall charge the customer for the net electricity supplied to and used by the customer according to the terms of the contract or tariff to which the same customer would be assigned or be eligible if the customer were not a net metering customer.

3)         For the hours in which the customer is a net seller of electricity, the customer shall receive a credit that consists of an energy credit and a delivery credit. The energy credit for an hour shall be determined by multiplying the net electricity supplied during that hour by the same price per kWh as the electricity provider would charge for kWh energy sales during that same time period.  The delivery credit shall be determined by multiplying the net electricity supplied during that hour by a credit that reflects all kWh-based electricity charges applicable to the customer electric service rate, excluding energy charges, for that hour. When eligible customers receive service under an electric utility's bundled service rates, the monetary credit shall be equal to the applicable kWh-based bundled service charges, multiplied by the net electricity supplied over the billing period. The electricity supplier shall provide the energy credit and, if the electricity supplier is also the electric utility, it shall also provide the delivery credit. If the electricity provider is an ARES, the electric utility shall provide credit for delivery services.

4)         Customers remain responsible for all taxes, fees and utility delivery charges that would otherwise be applicable to the net amount of electricity supplied to the eligible customer by the electricity provider.

c)         Billing for Type (e) Customers

1)         The electricity supplier shall determine whether each customer is a net purchaser of electricity or a net seller of electricity during the billing period.

2)         If a customer is a net purchaser of electricity during the billing period, the electricity supplier shall assess charges on the net amount purchased at the tariffed or contract rate, as appropriate, under which the customer is taking service from the electricity supplier.  When the electricity provider is an ARES, the electric utility shall assess charges for delivery and other provided services at the tariffed rate under which the customer is taking electric service from the electric utility. Notwithstanding these requirements, the tariffed or contract rates for both electric supply and delivery services shall be non-discriminatory rates that are identical, with respect to rate structure, retail rate components, and any monthly charges, with the rates that the customer would be charged if not a net metering customer, unless an electricity supplier and the customer have entered into an arm's-length agreement setting forth different prices, terms and conditions for the provision of net metering service.

3)         If a customer is a net seller of electricity during the billing period, the customer shall receive a 1:1 kWh credit that reflects the kWh-based charges in the customer's electric service rate from the electricity supplier that is equal to the net kWh supplied by the customer during the billing period.   When the electricity provider is an ARES, the electric utility shall issue to the customer a 1:1 kWh credit that reflects the kWh-based charges, if any, for delivery service that is equal to the net kWh delivered to the electric utility's system by the customer during the billing period.

4)         Any credits received by the customer shall be carried over to subsequent billing periods. Unused credits shall expire either at the end of the annual period or, if the customer terminates service from the electricity supplier, at the time of the termination.

5)         Customers remain responsible for all taxes, fees and utility delivery charges that would otherwise be applicable to the net amount of electricity used by the customer.

d)         Billing for Type (f) Customers

1)         The electricity supplier shall determine whether the customer is a net purchaser of electricity or a net seller of electricity during each hour. For each hour, the electricity supplier shall multiply the applicable rate by the amount purchased or sold by the customer to determine each hour's charge or credit. These amounts shall be summed to determine the net energy charge or credit for each billing period.

2)         If the customer is a net purchaser of electricity during the billing period, the electricity supplier shall apply the applicable tariffed or contract rate, as applicable, to the net amount purchased. If the customer is a net seller of electricity, the electricity supplier shall compensate the customer for any excess kWh credits at the electricity provider's avoided cost of electricity supply over the monthly period or as otherwise specified by the terms of a power-purchase agreement negotiated between the customer and electricity supplier.  For purposes of calculating the customer's electricity bill, any resulting credits may be used to offset other charges assessed by the electricity supplier.

3)         The electricity supplier shall not establish any unreasonable differences among localities in net metering customers' prices, terms, conditions, services, products or facilities.

4)         For the purpose of calculating the customer's bill, any compensation to the customer may be used to offset other charges assessed by the electricity supplier.

5)         Customers remain responsible for all taxes, fees and utility delivery charges that would otherwise be applicable to the gross amount of electricity supplied to the eligible customer by the electricity supplier.

(Source:  Amended at 40 Ill. Reg. 7578, effective May 6, 2016)