Iowa Legislature is working on a compromise on net metering charges

Net metering allows residential and commercial customers who generate their own electricity from solar power or wind power to sell surplus electricity back to the electric utility in their area.  There sometimes are disagreements between customers and utilities about what that electricity ought to be worth.

Winneshiek Energy District Director Andy Johnson says there are discussions going on now which could result in a compromise agreement to be announced within the next week.  Johnson says the system being discussed by executives with MidAmerican Energy and Iowa solar groups would replace net metering with a system now in use in Minnesota where the state utility board determines a "value of solar energy" which sets the rate utilities are required to reimburse solar customers for their electricity.

"The indications are it's a good compromise," says Johnson.  He says this year's compromise is possible because solar groups banded together last year to stop a bill which would have reduced the amount of money utilities paid solar energy generators.  "Stopping last year's bill laid the groundwork for where we are now," says Johnson.