Would you like to learn more about installing renewable energy generation at your home or business? HG&E can answer your questions related to your home energy system such as general feasibility, system potential developers/installers and available incentives, and even provide a free technical review of projected system revenues provided by developers to ensure that their projections are realistic. Just contact us for additional information.
Renewable Energy for Commercial Customers
Holyoke is a great place for renewable energy! HG&E has various sensors and communications located throughout its network, which allows for constant monitoring and load balancing. This enables higher penetration of renewable systems without power quality concerns on HG&E’s system. In addition, HG&E can perform system impact studies and integrate your system to our grid in a matter of days whereas typical private utilities may take months. Furthermore, HG&E provides its customers with complimentary technical services such as a review of projected revenues and advice/support with regards to systems integration.
Qualifying DG Customers fall into one of three categories below, which will determine
application type and compensation methods:
| Installation Type | Size | Interconnection Application | Application Fee | Payment Type |
| Residential & Small Commercial* | <500 kW-AC | Simplified | None |
Buy-all, Sell-all at |
| Small Commercial, Large Commercial and Direct Grid-Connected (Utility-Scale) | ≥500 kW-AC | Simplified or Standard | None | Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)*** |
| Power Exporting / ISO-NE Market Participant**** | All | Standard | $1.00/kW (minimum $100, maximum $1,000) | Third-party PPA (Off-taker) / ISO-NE Wholesale Energy Pricing |
| *Customer and HG&E may mutually agree to enter into a PPA if less than 500 kW-AC (Commercial only). **HG&E’s Distributed Generation Rate will be posted and updated from time to time on HG&E’s website as warranted. Full retail rate Net-metering is not available in HG&E service territory. ***HG&E to provide PPA pricing to DG Customer upon request and will be based on market rates. ****Subject to HG&E's Power Wheeling Service tariff. Customer or energy off-taker required to register as an ISO-NE Market Participant. |
||||
additional information and incentives:
Distributed Generation Policy and Interconnection Information
Customers and installers should review HG&E's Distributed Generation Policy prior to proceeding with the installation of a solar system. HG&E requires a signed Interconnection Application and Agreement found within the DG Policy prior to installation, which HG&E will review and approve based on information submitted. Additionally, we recommend that installers refer to HG&E’s Information & Requirements for Electric Service Below 600 Volts for wiring and metering specifications for DG systems as HG&E has different requirements than other utilities.
Forms & Documentation:
- Distributed Generation Policy
- Simplified Interconnection Application & Agreement
- Standard Interconnection Application
- Information & Requirements for Electric Service Below 600 Volts
hg&e'S COMMERCIAL ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAM:
Commercial customers can take advantage of HG&E's Commercial Energy Conservation Program and receive financial assistance at 0% interest up to $10,000 to assist with solar pv installation projects. The assistance is conveniently repaid on your monthly bill over a period of up to 5 years.
PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION:
Massachusetts law provides that solar-energy systems and wind-energy systems used as a primary or auxiliary power system for the purpose of heating or otherwise supplying the energy needs of taxable property are exempt from local property tax for a 20-year period. See MGL C.59 §5(45, 45A).
Massachusetts DOER solar incentives:
As of November 26, 2018 the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) ended its Solar Carve-Out II (SREC II) Program and launched its new phase for solar – the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program. Under this new program, systems built within Municipal Light Plant territories (i.e. HG&E) after November 26, 2018 are not eligible to participate and receive financial incentives offered. Customers who had systems operational before this date will still be able to continue to participate in previous programs (SREC I or SREC II) depending on commercial operation date. HG&E will continue to monitor the Commonwealth’s solar programs and update customers if any incentives become available in the future. For more detail, please visit the DOER’s SMART Program website.
masscec incentives:
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) programs provide HG&E with access to financial incentives that can be used to construct and upgrade utility-scale renewable generation. Please visit the MassCEC website to view programs and incentives available to HG&E customers.
Renewable Energy charge: Since HG&E’s renewable generation provides over 65% of Holyoke’s annual electric supply, MassCEC incentives benefit all customers by ensuring that HG&E’s rates remain low. In order for HG&E and its customers to have continued access to MassCEC programs, customers must pay into the Renewable Energy Fund. This translates to a Renewable Energy Charge of $0.0005 (one-twentieth of a cent) per kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity consumed on your monthly bill. For the average customer who consumes 500 kWh of electricity each month, this translates to an approximate $0.25 increase per bill. Please note that due to MassCEC regulations, the Renewable Energy Charge is not subject to HG&E’s 10% prompt payment discount. For additional information, please refer to HG&E’s Renewable Energy Charge Rate Schedule.