San Isabel Electric is pleased to announce that legislation passed by the Colorado State Legislature will enable San Isabel Electric to implement a net metering program. This bill will allow members who install renewable energy systems to use a meter that records their production of excess electricity and it does not burden other consumers with additional costs.

Here are the key aspects of this legislation:

1. Electric utilities will be able to make net metering services available to members who co-generate electricity from wind, hydro-power, solar, or biomass.
2. Electric utilities will provide such customers with credit equal to the utilities avoided cost, as defined by the legislation.
3. The member will be liable for the costs of installing and maintaining the net metering system.
4. The member must indemnify the electric utility for liabilities incurred by third parties as a result of installation or operation of the net metering system.
5. The legislation states that the implementation of a net metering program should not result in cost shifting from customer-generators to other electric utility customers.

Of utmost importance is the safety of the personnel who work on power lines. The net metering installation must include "lockable switching equipment capable of isolating the net metering system from the electric utility's system." This will ensure that, in the event of an outage, a repairman can work on a line in your neighborhood without the fear that your excess power is flowing back into a line which he believes to be de-energized.