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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 17 J U N E 2 6 , 2 0 1 7 F O C U S E N E R G Y 15 years. e new rule doesn't aff ect the credit customers receive on the supply portion of their bills. In its ruling, the PUC says the credit reduction is justifi ed for two reasons. e cost of solar technology has signifi cantly declined and is projected to continue to decline substantially, mitigating the need for incentives. And it will eliminate the shifting of T&D costs from "net energy billing" customers onto other customers. "Because the costs of the T&D sys- tem to serve NEB [net energy billing] customers are still incurred by the utility, these costs are ultimately paid for by other customers," the ruling says. " is is what is referred to as a 'cost shift' and there can be no doubt that it exists." A contentious issue Forty-three states have net metering plans, and the Maine PUC rollback is one of many sought around the nation. e debate revolves around the reim- bursement that rooftop solar owners receive from public utilities when they send excess energy back to the grid. at reimbursement is viewed by net meter- ing opponents as a subsidy whose costs fall on the shoulders of utility ratepayers. " ere's a lot of emotion on both sides," says William Harwood, a part- ner on the Verrill Dana energy team in Portland. " ere are some who feel that renewable energy, including solar power, is critically important, and there are others who are very concerned about fairness in our electric rates and who want to make sure that, when we charge consumers, we spread the costs and the burden as fairly as possible." Net metering was not a big issue, Harwood notes, in the early years of rooftop solar. "But as that's grown, net metering has come front and center, and I think a lot of people believe it's not sustainable," he says. Part of the problem, he says, is that Maine's NEB allows solar own- ers to sell electricity to the utility for a Knowing where you can dig around buried utilities is good safety and smart. When it comes to cutting concrete, the same applies. Knowing where you can cut concrete, and more importantly not cut concrete, is also smart and can cut concrete, is also smart and can save you thousands of dollars — and countless hours — on your next project. • Electronic Locating • Concrete Scanning • Ground Penetrating Radar WE KEEP WORK AREAS SAFE To learn more about who has the expertise and equipment to help you safely dig and cut, visit digsmartofmaine.com or call Glen at 207.749.7231 www.digsmartofmaine.com REBAR RADIANT HEAT PIPES CLEAR BULLSEYE FOR CORING Private Utility Locating GROWN IN MAINE. MANUFACTURED IN MAINE. HANCOCK EASTERN WHITE PINE. The Heart of Hancock Lumber www.HancockLumber.com/Culture Time it takes to grow a White Pine tree to maturity. In Hancock's 169-year his- tory, only two harvest cycles have been completed. ZERO Hancock utilizes every part of each log harvested. From boards for building, to chips for playgrounds and sawdust as alternative fuel that helps power its mills. Hancock Lumber's commitment to responsible forestry has served as its foundation. At the heart of their past, pres ent and future is the East- ern White Pine tree. YEARS WASTE 100 C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » Energy efficiency incentives in Maine A lthough the state no longer offers solar installation rebates, Efficiency Maine has plenty of energy efficiency incentives. ¡ MOST POPULAR INCENTIVE: LED discounts are most popular among businesses, says Executive Director Michael Stoddard. Frank Galos Chevrolet and Cadillac in Saco replaced 99 outdoor pole-mounted park- ing lot fi xtures with LEDs, for 195,941 kWh in annual electricity savings, a $25,000 reduction in annual lighting costs. ¡ SMALL BUSINESS INITIATIVE: Rotating throughout Maine, helps small businesses connect with contractors for LED ugprades and provides fi nan- cial incentives. ¡ COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL PRESCRIPTIVE INCENTIVE PROGRAM: Reduces the cost of energy effi ciency projects. Scales, a Portland restaurant, installed high-effi ciency kitchen equipment — six fryers, broiler, combina- tion oven, commercial icemaker — for 8,045 kWh in annual savings, annual electricity savings over $1,000, and waste-heat capture to preheat water. ¡ COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL CUSTOM INCENTIVE PROGRAM: Leverages private investment to achieve electrical and thermal energy sav- ings. Texas Instruments in Portland installed high-effi ciency vacuum pumps, replacing older models, for cost savings estimated at 13 cents per kWh. ¡ MAINE ADVANCED BUILDINGS PROGRAM: Offers incentives for design and construction of new high-performance commercial buildings. Presque Isle Community Center installed an advanced lighting controls system, and is 45% day-lit. Continuous-air-barrier building envelope, and super-insulated foundation, walls and roof, accommodates low-temperature hydronic radi- ant fl oor heating system fed by effi cient condensing boilers. Annual sav- ings are 95,000 kWh and 309 gallons of propane. TOGETHER, PROGRAMS IN FY 2016: ¡ Avoided $300 million in unnecessary energy costs ¡ Matched $80.9 million of incremental private investment with $43.7 million of program investment ¡ Installed 3,700 projects to save energy in businesses

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