Supporting Local Energy Production:
SaskPower’s Net Metering &
Small Power Producer’s Programs
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Northern Greenhouse
Workshop - Nov. 8, 2012
Darcy F. Kozoriz, B.Admin, CEM, CLEP
Renewable Energy Program Leader
dkozoriz@saskpower.com
Outline
•  Power Generation in Saskatchewan
•  SaskPower’s Renewable Power Focus
•  Net Metering Program
•  Small Power Producer’s Program
•  Interconnection Process
•  Financing
•  Preferred Environmental Technologies
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SaskPower Generates Electricity
SaskPower operates:
•  Three coal-fired power stations
•  Seven hydroelectric stations
•  Six natural gas stations
•  Two wind facilities
SaskPower also purchases wind,
cogeneration, natural gas and heat
recovery power from Independent
Power Producers.
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Formed through The
Power Commission Act
in 1929, SaskPower is
a Crown corporation
providing reliable, safe
and sustainable
electrical service to the
province.
581 MW
(14%)
853 MW (21%)
813 MW (20%)
161 MW (4%)
1,686 MW (41%)
TOTAL NET CAPACITY = 4,094 MW
Future: Windelectric/ Algonquin Power - 175 MW
Large Scale Wind = 373 MW (8.7%)
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SaskPower’s Energy Efficiency &
Renewable Power Focus
Demand Side Management
A dedicated department to develop and deliver
energy efficiency & self-generation renewable power
programs to residents, business and industry.
Goals by 2017
To obtain 100 MW of power savings at a cost less
than building new generation.
(8 MW from Net Metering & 2 MW from SPP)
Programs (some of 2 dozen)
•  Fridge Recycling & Block Heater Timer Programs
•  Commercial Lighting Program
•  Geothermal & Renewable Power programs
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SaskPower’s
Customer-Side Renewable Power Programs
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Customer-Side Renewable Power –
Why is SaskPower doing this?
•  Capital offset: Customer’s purchase, install, and operate renewable power
generation equipment.
•  Energy produced closer to where it is consumed: Less line losses = less
energy produced at power plant.
•  Offsets some central power generation: Either at Peak Power demand times
or the use of high cost generation at various times in the day.
•  Clean, green and local: Helps develop the green energy industry, creates local
jobs - distribution, sales, installation (electrical contractors).
•  Empowering our customers to choose the source of their electricity.
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Getting Started
•  Investigate energy efficiency and conservation opportunities first!
•  Identify your goals:
–  Offset your consumption; (Net Metering), or
–  Sell all power or just excess power at a fixed rate? (Small Power
Producers)
–  Is your decision based on economics, producing your own power,
contributing to the environment or all of the above?
•  Decide on your technology:
–  Solar PV, wind or other? www.cansia.ca
www.canwea.ca
–  Understand the technology and the cost model of your choice;
–  Obtain three quotes; price, customer service & support, warranty.
–  Site location and installation are key to performance;
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Net Metering Program
•  Program Details:
–  Use environmentally preferred generation technologies;
–  Up to 100 kW name plate generator capacity;
–  Primary purpose is to offset your consumption;
•  For homes or businesses using <13,000 kWh/ month
–  Bank the kWh credits for excess power delivered
into the grid:
•  kWh credits at the same rate you pay for power;
•  kWh credits applied to your next month’s bill;
•  After 12 months any kWh credits are reset to 0;
–  Set your anniversary month to April – solar, September – wind, to maximize kWh credits
–  SaskPower owns all environmental and GHG offset credits.
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Small Power Producer’s Program
•  Program Details:
–  Currently 10 participants (systems: 9 Wind, 1 Waste heat, 1 Solar PV, 1 CHP)
–  Use same environmentally preferred technologies
as Net Metering;
–  Up to 100 kW name plate generator capacity;
–  Two options:
•  Sell all your power to SaskPower
•  Sell just your excess power to SaskPower
–  For farms/ businesses using >13,000 kWh/ month
–  2012 Price SaskPower will pay is $0.09802/ kWh escalating 2% per year for a 20-year
contract. (Low-impact Hydro could be up to 40-year contract);
–  Payments made annually for electricity generated;
–  SaskPower owns all environmental and GHG offset credits.
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Interconnection Application Process
Net Metering and Small Power Producers
•  All application forms, templates and processes are on SaskPower web site
www.saskpower.com/sustainable_growth
•  Apply to SaskPower for Preliminary Interconnection Study – cost $300 (plus GST)
•  Items needed
•  Electrical single line diagram
•  Site plan diagram
•  Generator and inverter type with detailed specifications (CSA approved)
•  Interconnection costs involved
•  Bi-directional meter (approx. $300-500)
•  Electrical inspections permit ($200-300)
•  Transformer upgrade costs split 50-50 with customer (up to $35/kW of generator)
•  Customer pays for service upgrade costs
•  Contracts
•  Interconnection Agreement and Power Purchase Agreement
•  Total interconnection cost is approximately $1,000;
•  plus your costs for generator, installation, maintenance, etc.
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Typical System Block Diagram
Source: Saskatchewan Research Council
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Financial Support SaskPower’s Geothermal & Renewable
Power Loan Program
•  Both Net Metering and Small Power participants eligible.
•  Financial Incentives
–  $50,000 loan available through TD Financing Services for
geothermal or renewable power generation systems:
•  SaskPower buys down the current rate by 3.5 per cent;
•  Five-year fixed rate, up to 15 years amortization.
•  Details on www.saskpower.com/save_power
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Preferred Environmental Technologies
•  Technologies permitted for NM and SPP programs:
– SaskPower’s definition of Preferred Environmental
Technologies
•
•
•
•
•
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Low-impact micro-hydro
Small wind turbines
Solar photo voltaic (PV)
Biomass fuels (gas, liquids and solids)
Flare gas
Waste heat/ Heat recovery technologies
Solar Photo Voltaic (PV)
Source: Saskatchewan Research Council
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Solar Resource
Yearly PV potential map for latitude tilt and the 13 "PV hotspots” in each
province and territory in Canada (NRCan, 2006)
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Small Wind Turbines
Source: Saskatchewan Research Council
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Wind Resource
Map of Annual Average Wind Speed in Canada (Walmsley, 1992)
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Biomass and CHP
CHP (Combined Heat and Power)
•  Term used to describe the process of
producing both electricity and heat, at the
same time.
•  Biomass Fuels (liquid, solid or gas):
•  Plant and animal matter, food waste
(FOG-food, fats, oils and grease) or more
commonly, wood in the form of wood
chips or pellets;
•  Land fill gas.
6 kW methane gas CHP unit
Source: Saskatchewan Research
Council
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Thank You.
Darcy F. Kozoriz, B.Admin, CEM, CLEP
Renewable Energy Program Leader
dkozoriz@saskpower.com
306-566-3191
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