Alaska Administrative Code
Title 3 - Commerce, Community, and Economic Development
Part 7 - Regulatory Commission of Alaska
Chapter 50 - Energy Conservation
Article 3 - Net Metering Standards
3 AAC 50.949 - Definitions

Universal Citation: 3 AK Admin Code 50.949

Current through February 27, 2024

In 3 AAC 50.900 - 3 AAC 50.949, unless the context requires otherwise,

(1) "average retail demand" means the number expressed in kilowatts and determined by dividing the total retail sales of the electric utility, measured in kilowatt-hours, for a calendar year with

(A) 365 days, by 8,760 hours;

(B) 366 days, by 8,784 hours;

(2) "biomass energy"

(A) means energy derived from
(i) plant matter, including trees, grasses, and agricultural crops; or

(ii) animal matter, including fish;

(B) does not include energy derived from fossil fuels;

(3) "consumer" means a customer

(A) of an electric utility that is subject to economic regulation;

(B) who consumes the electricity purchased from the electric utility;

(4) "consumer-generated electric energy" means electric energy that is generated by a consumer eligible for participation in a net metering program;

(5) "consumer premises" means all buildings and associated grounds owned by, leased by, rented to, or licensed to a consumer at a single location where an electric utility provides service through one or more utility meters;

(6) "economic regulation" has the meaning given in 3 AAC 48.820;

(7) "electric system" means an integrated electrical system that includes at least generation and distribution;

(8) "eligible consumer generation system" means a system that complies with 3 AAC 50.920;

(9) "equipment package" means a group of components connecting an electric generator to an electric utility's electric distribution system; "equipment package" includes all interface equipment and the interface equipment's controls, switchgear, inverter, and other interface devices;

(10) "excess consumer-generated electric energy" means the amount of consumer-generated electric energy in excess of the consumer's consumption from the eligible consumer generation system during a monthly billing period, as measured at the electric utility's meter;

(11) "geothermal energy" means energy generated from heat stored in the earth, or the collection of absorbed heat derived from underground;

(12) "hydroelectric energy" means energy generated from falling or flowing water;

(13) "hydrokinetic energy" means energy generated from waves or directly from the flow of water in ocean currents, tides, or inland waterways;

(14) "independent electric system" means an electric system that is not interconnected with any other electric system;

(15) "inverter" means a device that converts direct-current power into alternating-current power so that the generated power is compatible with power generated by an electric utility;

(16) "nameplate capacity" means the maximum rated output of a generator, prime mover, or other electric power production equipment under specific conditions designated by the manufacturer;

(17) "net electric energy" means, as metered by the electric utility for a specified period and expressed in kilowatt-hours,

(A) the amount by which the quantity of electric energy supplied by the electric utility to the consumer exceeds the quantity of electric energy supplied by the consumer to the electric utility; or

(B) the amount by which the quantity of electric energy supplied by the consumer to the electric utility exceeds the quantity of electric energy supplied by the electric utility to the consumer;

(18) "net metering" means measuring the amount of net electric energy as described in 3 AAC 50.930(a) for the applicable billing period;

(19) "net metering program" means a program administered by an electric utility that allows a consumer operating and either owning or leasing an eligible consumer generation system to

(A) generate electric energy primarily for the consumer's own use;

(B) supply consumer-generated electric energy to the electric utility; and

(C) receive a credit under 3 AAC 50.930 if net metering results in excess consumer-generated electric energy during a billing period;

(20) "non-firm power rate" means the energy rate updated quarterly in an electric utility's tariff in accordance with 3 AAC 50.770(i), or established in a commission-approved contract as described in 3 AAC 50.930(a)(2);

(21) "ocean thermal energy" means the conversion of energy arising from the temperature difference between warm surface water of oceans and cold deep-ocean current into electrical energy or other useful forms of energy;

(22) "retail sales" means sales of electricity to the end-use consumer, exclusive of wholesale sales;

(23) "solar photovoltaic energy" means the conversion of sunlight into electricity through a photovoltaic cell;

(24) "solar thermal energy" means a technology for harnessing solar energy for thermal energy;

(25) "switchgear" means the combination of electrical disconnects, fuses, or circuit breakers used to

(A) isolate electrical equipment; and

(B) de-energize equipment to allow work to be performed;

(26) "external disconnect switch" means a visible-break, lockable device used to isolate a consumer generation system from the utility electric system.

Authority:AS 42.05.141

AS 42.05.151

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Alaska may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.