Energy: net energy metering.

Existing law relative to private energy producers requires every electric utility, as defined, to make available to an eligible customer‑generator, as defined, a standard contract or tariff for net energy metering on a first-come-first-served basis until the time that the total rated generating capacity used by eligible customer‑generators exceeds 2.5% of the electric utility's aggregate customer peak demand. This 2.5% limitation is in effect until December 31, 2010, and beginning January 1, 2011, the limitation becomes 5%. Existing law requires the electric utility, upon an affirmative election by the eligible customer-generator to receive service pursuant to this contract or tariff, to either: (1) provide net surplus electricity compensation for any net surplus electricity generated in the 12-month period, or (2) allow the eligible customer-generator to apply the net surplus electricity as a credit for kilowatthours subsequently supplied by the electric utility to the surplus customer-generator. This bill would require, for the purposes of determining whether an agricultural customer-generator using wind or solar electric generation is a net consumer or a net surplus customer-generator during a 12-month period, the electric utility to aggregate the electrical load of the agricultural customer under the same ownership located on property adjacent or contiguous to the generation facility.