Net Metering and Gordon Campbell's government Directive of Policy Action No. 11

British Columbia

Areas of British Columbia serviced by BC Hydro are allowed net metering for up to 50 kW. At each annual anniversary the customer is paid 8.16 Cents ^[5] per KWh if there is a net export of power. Systems over 50 kW are covered under the Standing Offer Program.^[6] FortisBC which serves an area in South Central BC also allows net-metering for up to 50 kW. Customers are paid their existing retail rate for any net energy they produce.^[7] The City of New Westminster which has its own electrical utility does not currently allow net-metering. [3]       -  Wikipedia

 From note 5 above, I extracted the phrase Policy Action No. 11 and sent it off to Google....

Note 6 (for BC Hydro) Net Metering and Note 7 (for Fortis) Net Metering arrive at ERROR 404 

However, a search via Google has this to say about BC Hydro's new policy regarding the SOP, aka Standing Offer Program.  Take a look at the first Hit

 5. With respect to Net Metering, Policy Action No. 11 provides:
In addition, to ensure even treatment of new supply acquired through BC Hydro's net metering program and the Standing Offer approach, Government will issue a direction to the Commission that BC Hydro makes appropriate changes to its net metering program. This will ensure the price paid for net annual surpluses of generation 'purchased' by BC Hydro is qenerally consistent with the prices paid in the Standing Offer program. [Emphasis added].

Policy Actions Numbers 10 and 11.....

10. Ensure self-sufficiency to meet electricity needs, including “insurance”.
The Province (Gordon Campbell) wants to ensure that British Columbia has the reliable made-in-BC supply it needs to meet the growing demand for electricity, and that new resource acquisition is planned in a way that recognizes the long lead time and implementation risks associated with new power projects, and the challenges of forecasting future needs. In particular, for BC Hydro, the Province (Gordon Campbell) wants to ensure that BC Hydro has enough BC-based power at all times, even in low water years, to meet its customers’ electricity needs. Therefore, after implementing all cost-effective energy conservation opportunities, BC Hydro will acquire sufficient BC-based resources by 2016 so that BC Hydro can meet its customers’ needs even under critical water conditions. By 2026, BC Hydro will acquire 3,000 gigawatt hours of supply on top of their firm energy requirements (the energy required to meet customer needs under critical water conditions) and capacity resources needed to effectively integrate this energy in a cost-effective manner. The Province (Gordon Campbell) recognizes the ongoing importance of trade for maximizing the value of BC Hydro’s heritage resources and for optimizing its system, and this activity will continue. The British Columbia Utilities Commission will continue to have responsibility for regulating BC Hydro, within the context of the self-sufficiency requirement.

 And

11. Establish a standing offer for clean electricity projects up to 10 megawatts.
The Province (Gordon Campbell) wants to facilitate the development of distributed clean electricity generating projects in British Columbia to support its goal of self-sufficiency and help promote B.C. innovation. The Province (Gordon Campbell) is concerned about the size of the administrative burden for small project proponents to bid on BC Hydro calls. For this reason, this policy directs BC Hydro todevelop a program, in consultation with stakeholders, to purchase, continuously or in regular offer windows, electricity from projects with a capacity of 10 MW or less. The Standing Offer will allow small projects to sell power to BC Hydro at a fixed price and with standard contract terms and conditions. A Standing Offer Program would be in addition to planned Calls for Power from larger projects. The Program design will be subject to the review and approval of the BCUC.
The Province (Gordon Campbell) has established the following general principles to guide the design of the Program:
• Simplify the process, contract terms and conditions for small power projects in BC;
• Competitive pricing for these projects relative to other supply sources; and
• Ensure cost-effectiveness, transparency, and fairness of the Program.
Some specific design guidelines are as follows:
• Except for local safety and security reasons, there should be no quota initially for the Standing
Offer program.
• The product should be contractually non-firm energy.
• Proponents should not be required to pay a deposit for the Standing Offer program, although
BC Hydro may establish other eligibility and security requirements, subject to approval from the BCUC. BC Hydro may also limit the maximum length of time a proponent has between receiving a contract and commercial operating date (COD).
• Transmission or distribution connected projects of 10 MW or less, and either clean, renewable
or co-generation with an overall efficiency (heat and electricity production) in excess of 80 per cent will be eligible for the program.
• BC Hydro will absorb transmission / distribution network upgrade costs for individual projects
subject to a cap established in consultation with stakeholders and approval from the BCUC,
after which project proponents may be required to pay for additional network upgrade costs.

Net metering policies allow electricity users (for example, households) that also generate some of their own electricity to offset consumption over a billing period by providing their excess generation back to the grid. Customers receive retail prices for the excess electricity they generate (rather than a lower rate on a separate meter, as usually occurs without net metering). In some states, customers can choose between these payments and Renewable Energy Certificates for their electricity production. Net metering is used in 44 states: statewide for all utilities in 18 states; statewide for certain utility types in 23 states; and for individual utilities in 3 states.

Illustration of British Columbia by Region