Self-Generating Option

The Self-Generating option permits a customer to install a renewable low-impact generator or energy storage device with a total nameplate capacity of 27 kilowatts or less that shares the same meter as their home or business.

To qualify, your generator must be classified as producing renewable low-impact electricity as defined in the Renewable Electricity Regulations under Section 5 of the Electricity Act.

These electricity sources include:

• Solar
• Wind
• Run-of-the-river hydroelectric
• Ocean-powered
• Tidal
• Wave
• Sustainably harvested biomass
• Landfill gas

If you have a MyAccount profile, you can easily access the total the number of kWh used over the course of the year, or alternatively sum up the totals for past electric use for the most recent year on right-hand side of your bill.

If you’re installing a generator or storage device as part of a new service, your electrical contractor should be able to determine your forecasted demand.

Your electrical contractor can assist with sizing your system to meet your energy needs.

There is no fee.

If you want to operate your system during a power outage, the generating system must have special transfer and isolating capabilities installed. During an outage, your generating facility must be disconnected from the distribution system to protect our crews as they work to restore power. Your generating system can be reconnected only after power has been restored and stabilized. Details outlining these requirements can be found in the Interconnection Requirements document.

Yes. For safety reasons and compliance with the Canadian Electrical Code Regulations, generation connections require the installation of an isolation switch located between the meter and your equipment. This switch is a part of the system your solar provider is installing. The installation of an isolation switch allows our power line technicians and other staff to work safely on our distribution system. These technical details can be found in the Interconnection Requirements. 

The Self-Generating Option works by using a single meter capable of registering the flow of electricity in two directions, known as a bi-directional meter. This meter is approved by Measurement Canada and meets NS Power’s safety standards. If your existing meter is not capable of measuring the flow of electricity in two directions, one will be installed for you at no cost.

No. Your generator must share the same meter as your home or business.

No. While we administer this option, we do not design, engineer or install generating systems for customers. However, there are a variety of businesses that provide these services, and we recommend you consult with an electrical contractor or engineering consultant to get started.

Efficiency Nova Scotia has a list of Solar Installers within their trade network found here: Preferred Partners - Efficiency Nova Scotia (efficiencyns.ca).

All Self-Generating customers continue to pay their monthly base charge as usual, and business customers continue to pay demand charges. If you use more electricity than you generate, you still draw from the grid as needed and receive a bill for the difference at your regular rate.

If you generate more electricity than you can use, surplus kilowatt-hours (kWh) will be “banked” and applied to your next bill to offset any electricity drawn from the grid until the end of the year. 

If you end the year with excess generation remaining, NS Power would apply this to any billed consumption within the same calendar year up to a maximum of your total billed energy within the same calendar year.

During billing periods when your generation is less than your consumption (typically during the colder winter months when your energy consumption may be higher and generation may be lower), you would receive a bill for the energy consumed above your generation. 

However, when your generation is greater than your consumption (typically during the warmer months when your energy consumption may be lower and generation may be higher), you would bank any excess generation for later use throughout the year. 

If you end the year with excess generation remaining, NS Power would apply this excess generation to any billed consumption within the same calendar year up to a maximum of your total billed energy within the same calendar year. 

For example, if you had billed energy in January and February when your consumption was greater than generation and then accrued banked energy credits in July and August when your consumption was less than generation, the remaining banked energy credits held upon reaching your Anniversary Date would be applied towards those billed kWh in January and/or February. NS Power would apply these energy credits to your account in the form of a bill credit equal to the amount you had paid for that energy. This bill credit would be applied to your first bill of the new year and remain on your account until used. 

Example: 

If you were billed for 5,500 kilowatt-hours throughout the year when your generation was less than your consumption and you had 3,500 kilowatt-hours of banked excess generation remaining at year-end, NS Power would provide a bill credit for 3,500 kilowatt-hours to offset your billed consumption. This bill credit would be applied to your first bill of the new year and remain on your account until used.

All Self-Generating Customers will have an Anniversary Date of January 1 of any given year.

This is the date that any excess “banked” surplus kilowatt-hours (kWh) will be applied towards previously billed energy (kWh) within the same calendar year.

If you participate in the Self-Generation Option and are on the time-of-day rate, we will measure any electricity consumed from or delivered to the grid within the same time-of-day periods used for billing purposes. You will be billed and credited for consumption and excess generation by each time-of-day period without the transfer of surplus energy from one time-of-day period to another (from one rate to another).

If you end the year with excess generation remaining, NS Power would apply this excess generation to any billed consumption (kWh from all time-of-day periods) within the same calendar year up to a maximum of your total billed energy within the same calendar year.

Any excess “banked” surplus kilowatt-hours (kWh) will be applied towards any billed energy (kWh) within the same calendar year up to the date you discontinue your service.

Any excess “banked” surplus kilowatt-hours (kWh) held above your billed energy (kWh) within the same calendar year up to the date you discontinue your service would be retired.

The Self-Generating Option allows you to install a qualified generator with a capacity of 27 kW or less to offset part or all of your own electricity needs.

This option is not intended for the purpose of customer sale of electricity, so it is important to speak with your installer about the expected output of your generator before installation to ensure your system is sized appropriately to your needs. Excess generation above your annual consumption within the same calendar year would not be purchased by NS Power.

No. Your generator must share the same meter as your home or business and energy credits can only be applied to the same account in which the generator is connected to.

Once the installation of your system has been completed and your installer has arranged and completed a final electrical inspection, your system can be turned on.

Note: If your existing meter is not capable of measuring the flow of electricity in two directions, one will be installed for you. We will also adjust your account to allow excess generation to be reflected on your bill effective the date the final electrical inspection was completed.

 

Yes! You now have full access to MyEnergy Insights on MyAccount, which has been developed specifically to meet the needs of solar customers to provide insights into energy usage including energy flow from grid (consumption), to grid (surplus), and estimated self-generation.