Distributed Generation

Distributed Generation (DG) is a convenient program designed to help customers succeed in generating their own renewable electric power while reducing their monthly electric bills. Customers may install their own renewable energy generator at their homes or business while staying connected to the reliable HBPW electric grid. 

Distributed Generation helps lower your electric bill and allows you to access the HBPW electric grid as a backup. Participating customers are responsible for purchasing, installing, and maintaining their own generators.

Renewable electric power can be generated using solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, an energy storage system, or qualified biomass resources

Solar panels on home roof

Benefits

Lower Your Electric Bill

Distributed Generation helps lower your electric bill. The energy you generate each month will be applied as a credit up to the amount of energy used during that billing cycle

Distributed Generation Credits

The amount received through Distributed Generation credits is dependent on the size of the generation system.

*Avoided Costs are the lower of Locational Marginal Pricing (LMP) or least internal cost of generation.

 
Category 1
Category 2
Category 3
Generator Size
≤ 30 kW
> 30 to ≤ 125 kW
> 125 to ≤ 550 kW
Max DG System
Annual Electric Needs
Annual Electric Need
Annual Electric Need
Inflow Rate
Customer's Current Rate
Customer's Current Rate
Customer's Current Rate
Outflow Rate
Distributed Energy Value
Distributed Energy Value
HBPW Avoided Cost*
Interconnect Study
As Needed
Yes
Yes

Reliable Energy Backup

As a Distributed Generation customer, Holland Board of Public Works provides you a reliable backup for your own power generation. DG allows you to remain connected to the grid, even though you generate electricity through your own renewable energy source. During times when more power than your eligible generator produces is needed, the extra energy is supplied to you by Holland Board of Public Works.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to participate in the HBPW Distributed Generation Program?

To be eligible for HBPW’s Distributed Generation Program:

  1. Participants must be HBPW electric customers on Rate A, B, K or M and have an average load factor of 30 percent or greater.

  2. The customer’s electric generator must be fueled by a qualified renewable energy source such as wind, solar, biomass, hydro, geothermal, energy storage systems, cogeneration, or other approved renewable sources.

  3. The nameplate capacity of the renewable generator may not exceed 550 kW.

  4. The renewable generator may not be sized to exceed the customer’s annual electricity needs based on the previous 12 months.

  5. Customers must meet approved Interconnection requirements before participating in this program.

More Information

Complete details of the Distributed Generation program are listed in the Electric Terms of Service Rate Book.

Questions? Contact Electrical Engineering at 616.355.1603 or send us an email.