Is Solar Right For You?
How Do You Select a Contractor?
How Much Solar Do You Need?
How Long Does Installation Take?
Maximizing Solar Performance
What is Net Metering?
A certified installer will submit all the necessary paperwork to Ameren on your behalf. As your application moves through the process, we'll keep you informed via email from Ameren's software system, PowerClerk. Planning on self-installation? Please review the application guide (PDF) to learn more about using PowerClerk to submit your application.
A certified installer will help you determine which system is best for you. Your installer will help navigate you through the application process and ensure that your system is installed and operating properly. To learn more about finding a certified installer please visit the Illinois Commerce Commission, Illinois Solar Energy Association and Illinois Solar for All.
How to Qualify
- To qualify, residential and non-residential customers must own or operate a renewable fuel-powered generator of 2,000 kW capacity or less, which is located on the customers’ premises and is used to offset some or all of their electric usage.
- Eligible renewable fuels are solar, wind, dedicated crops grown for electricity production, anaerobic digestion of livestock or food processing waste, fuel cells or microturbines powered by renewable fuels, hydroelectricity, agricultural residues, livestock manure, landscape trimmings and untreated and unadulterated wood wastes.
- Customers using renewably-fueled generators with nameplate capacities larger than 2,000 kva may qualify to receive compensation through Rider QF-Qualifying Facilities.
Charges or Fees
- All non-residential customers served under Delivery Service tariffs DS-3 or DS-4 pay the normal charges associated with installing the extraordinary equipment needed to provide dual channel metering.
- All applicants are subject to any applicable parallel generator interconnection fees.
- In addition, all installations after Dec. 31, 2013, will be required to be self-installed or installed by a certified installer according to Part 468 Distributed Generation Installer Certification of the Admin Code.
For applications after January 1, 2025, excess generation will be credited to the bill's Supply section. These credits will not expire and will carry over until they are used. When applying for net metering, the applicant will need to choose between two methods:
- kWh Yes - (kWh Usage Netting): On-site excess generation (including prior carryover kWh) will net from Total kWh in calculating Supply Net Total kWh and Supply Net Billable kWh while the Delivery Net Billable kWh will equal Total kWh.
- kWh No - (Monetary Value Netting): This method coverts your excess generation into monetary credits based on current pricing. Excess Monetary credits are carried over to the next bill to be applied to the supply section.
This choice is a one-time decision and cannot be changed later. Monetary credits are based on either Ameren Illinois' current month's supply pricing or the Alternate Retail Supplier's pricing.
How to Qualify
- QFs are small-scale generators of commercial energy that meet Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) requirements for ownership, size and efficiency to qualify as non-utility generation units. Because they do not directly serve utility customers, QFs are exempt from many federal and state regulatory requirements, including federal and state rate regulation and oversight by the Securities and Exchange Commission. QFs are not exempt from environmental regulations.
- To operate as a QF, a customer’s generation facility must comply with the standards set forth in Part 430 of the Illinois Administrative Code.
Charges or Fees
- Utility companies are obliged to purchase energy from QFs based on a pricing structure referred to as “avoided cost” rates.
- Since Ameren Illinois does not own any generation plants and procures all of its electric power and supply from the wholesale market, QF customers of Ameren Illinois are compensated based on an annual compilation of Midwest wholesale electric market pricing data as published in Platts, an independent publisher of energy and commodity information.
- The pricing data is then shaped to synchronize the on- and off-peak pricing periods of the Midwest market and Ameren Illinois.
- Ameren Illinois pays the same level of compensation in all Rate Zones for output from QF operators. See the current compensation rates.
Ameren Illinois recently completed the programming necessary to provide rebates to residential customers (DS-1), small commercial (DS-2) and large commercial (DS-3 & DS-4) who use smart inverters to interconnect their renewable generator or energy storage system (ESS, or battery) to Ameren's electric grid. For DS-1 & DS-2 the rebate for inverters used to interconnect generators are $300/KW-DC, and the rebate available for inverters used to connect ESS is $300/KW-hour, and they're available to both customers with existing generation and/or ESS at their home/business and to customers who will be installing that equipment in the future.
Since this is a new offering for our residential customers, please review the following questions to help you decide whether you should apply for this rebate, since the legislation that created the rebate also includes some requirements associated with receiving the rebate.
Receipt of a rebate that's tied to the generator or energy storage system triggers the following changes in a residential customer's electric billing and crediting:
For customers served under Rider NM – Net Metering and receive a rebate on their generator, credits for any excess generation pushed to the grid will no longer be applied to their delivery service charges. The crediting for their supply service and transmission service charges will continue.
All residential customers receiving an Energy Storage System rebate will be required to receive service under one of the following three options, and that choice is binding on the current customer at the residence as well as all future residential customers at that residence:
- Peak Time Rewards (PTR) – Ameren Illinois' demand response program for residential customers. If customers select this program, they and any successor customers at their residence will not be able to participate in any similar demand response programs that might be offered by a third party in the future.
- Real Time Pricing (Rider RTP) – a electric supply service offered by Ameren Illinois that uses the day-ahead hourly prices published by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) to calculate charges for electric supply service. If you're served under Rider NM – Net Metering, the hourly prices will also be used to calculate the compensation that you receive for any excess generation pushed to the grid. If customers select this program, they and any successor customers at their residence will not be able to receive supply service under any other option, whether the service is offered by the Company or a third party supplier.
- Power Smart Pricing (Rider PSP) –a electric supply service offered by Ameren Illinois that uses the same day-ahead hourly pricing compensation and crediting structure as Rider RTP. The difference is Rider PSP customers receive enhanced customer service and education in exchange for a monthly fee, which is currently $2.25. As with the Rider RTP option, if customers select this program, they and any successor customers at their residence will not be able to receive supply service under any other option, whether the service is offered by the Company or a third party supplier.
Resources for Developers
Is Privately Owned Solar Not Right For You? Try Community Solar.
Resources for Developers
Is Privately Owned Solar Not Right For You? Try Community Solar.
Your energy statement will include a few new items. You will now see how much energy you are sending to Ameren Missouri-Customer kWh to Utility. You will also see how much you are purchasing from Ameren Missouri-Net Billable kWh. Please view a sample bill (PDF).
Please note the following regarding net metering:
- If your solar system produces more energy than you use, you will receive a credit on your energy statement at the net metering rate of:
- SUMMER (June through September) 3.84 cents per kWh
- WINTER (October through May) 3.39 cents per kWh
- If your system produces more than you consume you WILL NOT have a zero bill. All other regular monthly charges will still apply.
- Community Solar Customers: Please contact Ameren to cancel your community solar subscription. Ameren will not be able to switch your billing to net metering if you are still subscribed to the community solar program.
- Budget Billing Customers: It is advised to reevaluate your budget billing when you install solar. Keeping budget billing may increase your bill rather than reduce it if your solar panels are working to reduce your electric usage.
Ameren Missouri must review your renewable project before operation/installation to determine whether the renewable system could adversely affect the safety, reliability or quality of the local electric utility service. See the Ameren Service Manual (PDF) for technical requirements reference. Also see recent Residential Meter Socket Change Information (PDF).
The maximum allowable system size in kW DC is calculated based on your past 12 month usage. If a customer account has a single revenue meter, please see the example below to calculate maximum allowable.
Most recent 12 billing month load kWh/(8,760 hrs. x 15.6% Capacity Factor) = Maximum Allowable Nameplate Capacity in kW DC
Example:
Previous 12 month load = 13,512 kWh
- Hours in a year = 8,760 hours
- Solar Capacity Factor = 15.6% (based on DOE PV Watts)
- Maximum Allowable Nameplate Capacity = 13,512/(8,760 x 0.156) = 9.887 kW
*Please note, this formula should be used only as an estimate. Upon receipt of a Net Metering Application, Ameren Missouri will evaluate the account and calculate the maximum based on the most recent 12 month usage.
For net metering, installation agreements cannot exceed 100 kW.
For Residential new construction, please contact Ameren Renewables with your new home’s square footage (living space only – minus garage and basement even if finished) to obtain your maximum solar nameplate capacity.
For Commercial new construction, please complete the Commercial Load Sheet (PDF) and email to Ameren Renewables to obtain your maximum solar nameplate capacity.
If adding panels to an existing solar system, the solar system must still be within the maximum allowable nameplate capacity.
Maximum Allowable Nameplate Capacity = 13,512/(8,760 x 0.156) = 9.887 kW
*Please note, this formula should be used only as an estimate. Upon receipt of a Net Metering Application, Ameren Missouri will evaluate the account and calculate the maximum based on the most recent 12 month usage.
Every solar installation is unique; Ameren Illinois recommends our customers be informed and involved throughout every step of the process. A certified installer should be able to assist you in gathering information when considering the following questions:
- Do you have a roof or area large enough to accommodate solar panels?
- How much sun does your roof or large area receive?
- What is the age or condition of your roof?
- Can your existing roof support solar panels being added to it?
- Will the benefits of installing solar panels be worth the investment? Consider the rate of return on your investment.
If you answered yes to the above questions, it might be appropriate to move forward with the installation of Solar Panels.
If your property's roof has open space, and you can make the investment, a rooftop solar energy system may be right for you. Because you will be connected to Ameren's smart grid, Ameren Illinois will continue to deliver energy to your home when it needs more power ensuring you have access to a supply of energy.
If you did not answer yes to the above questions: it might be appropriate to check into Community Solar.
No. You cannot operate your private generation system until:
- Your Interconnection Application has been approved by Ameren Illinois.
- You have submitted a Certificate of Completion to Ameren Illinois in accordance with Illinois Administrative Code Title 83 Part 466 and have received a signed Certificate of Completion from Ameren Illinois.