Solar & customer-owned generation
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Community solar
Facility
Generating 5 megawatts of solar energy, the LES community solar facility is the largest and first utility-scale solar installation in Nebraska, as well as one of the largest in the region.
More about the community solar facility
Participate
LES’ Community Solar program offers two options:
1) SunShares is an easy and affordable way to support renewable energy in our community. By adding a donation to your monthly bill, you help support solar energy in the Lincoln area. Each SunShare is just $1 per month; a three-share ($3) minimum is required.
Enroll in SunShares
2) Virtual Net Metering – available to Residential, General Service and Heating Service customers – gives you the power to benefit from the sun’s energy without having to install solar panels on your home or business.
Through our Virtual Net Metering program, you and other like-minded, energy-conscious LES customers can invest in “virtual” solar panels representing a portion of the LES community solar facility’s output. Each virtual panel requires a one-time $665 enrollment fee that results in a credit on your bill each month. This credit correlates to your level of investment and the actual energy production of the solar facility.
Should you choose to leave the program at any time, LES will buy back your investment at a discounted value. Virtual Net Metering program and refund rates and projected annual production (click Virtual Net Metering Rider).
More about Virtual Net Metering
Presentation from the LES Virtual Net Metering public meeting Dec. 1, 2016
Take these steps to invest in your virtual solar panels
-
FIND OUT how many panels you qualify to invest in.
Virtual Net Metering calculator -
SIGN UP.
Enroll in Virtual Net Metering -
WATCH for your invoice from LES in your email inbox (approximately 3-5 business days after you submit your enrollment form).
- MAKE your payment after you receive your invoice. If you choose to pay via credit card, come back to this page after you receive your invoice and click this button:
Customer-owned generation
Customer-owned generation refers to electric generation equipment on the customer’s side of the meter.
Net metering is a billing arrangement where residential and business customers who produce their own energy from renewable sources – up to 25 kilowattsAC – can get a credit on their electric bills for extra energy that flows back into our distribution system. Energy produced in excess of your need (or net kilowatt-hours) is credited to your bill at a renewable rate based on our residential retail energy rate.
A second billing arrangement, LES’ renewable generation rate, allows customers to sell energy to LES from renewable generators of up to 100 kWAC. The same types of generators that qualify for net metering also qualify for this renewable generation rate. All energy produced by these generators will be purchased at the renewable rate.
In addition to payments from LES, affordable Nebraska Energy Office loan rates and annual renewable energy tax credits of up to 30 percent of the installation cost through 2016, can help support renewable energy project costs for LES customers.
Read an overview of the net metering and customer-owned generation process and access required forms.