# Rhode Island Net Metering 2026: Proposed Tariff Changes

> Rhode Island net metering changes are pending: home systems' surplus would earn a wholesale rate instead of the supply rate. Comments close Nov. 16, 2026.

- URL: https://solarexaminer.com/posts/rhode-island-net-metering-2026/
- Site: Solar Examiner (https://solarexaminer.com/)
- Category: News
- Published: 2026-10-22
- Last verified: 2026-10-22
- Author: John Marshall

## Key takeaways

- Rhode Island Energy has asked the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to approve a revised net metering tariff (Docket 26-30-EL). Nothing is approved yet; the evidentiary hearing is November 17, 2026.
- For systems of 25 kW or smaller, which covers typical home systems, the filing would credit all production above the home's own use in a billing period at a wholesale rate tied to the ISO New England energy price, instead of the Last Resort Service supply rate.
- It would also drop the 125% cap on excess credits for those small systems. Rhode Island Energy describes both changes as carrying out 2025 legislation that the PUC set aside for later review in 2026.
- Our example: 100 kWh of surplus in a summer month would earn about $11.09 at the April–September 2026 supply rate, versus about $6.59 at ISO New England's 2025 average real-time price. Actual wholesale credits would be set monthly.
- The headline 19¢ fixed credit in the filing is not for households. It is for public entities, schools, hospitals, nonprofits, some businesses and community remote systems.



Rhode Island Energy wants to change how its net metering tariff credits surplus power from home-size solar systems. Under the filing, solar output above a household's own use in a billing period would earn a **wholesale electricity rate** instead of the Last Resort Service supply rate. Nothing is approved. Public comments are due by **4 p.m. on November 16, 2026**, and the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) starts its evidentiary hearing the next morning.

The filing is Docket No. 26-30-EL, made August 14, 2026, and covers Rhode Island Energy's own net metering tariff. It proposed a September 13 effective date, but the PUC set a review schedule running into November and the docket shows no approval. Our [Rhode Island electricity rates and solar hub](/posts/rhode-island-electricity-rate-changes-2026/) has the current supply rates the credits are tied to.

## What Rhode Island Energy Proposes

The filing does two things at once: it implements 2026 legislation, and it re-proposes 2025 changes the PUC set aside last time.

| Change | Who it affects | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Surplus from systems of 25 kW or less credited at the "wholesale electricity rate," defined as the ISO New England energy clearing price, calculated monthly | Typical home systems | Proposed (2025 law; PUC left it open in Docket 25-50-EL) |
| 125% cap on excess credits removed for systems of 25 kW or less | Typical home systems | Proposed (2025 law) |
| Optional fixed credit of $0.19 per kWh, up 2.75% a year from Jan. 1, 2028, for 25 years | Public entities, schools, hospitals, nonprofits, multi-municipal collaboratives, some commercial or industrial customers, eligible community remote systems | Proposed (2026 law) |
| Cap on certain ground-mounted remote net metering projects cut from 275 MW to 175 MWac; deadline to be in operation or under construction moved from July 1, 2030 to Dec. 31, 2032 | Remote and community project developers | Proposed (2026 law) |

Sources: Rhode Island Energy tariff advice filing and testimony, Aug. 14, 2026; Division of Public Utilities and Carriers memo, Oct. 8, 2026.

Rhode Island Energy's testimony lists the small-system changes as the "removal of the credit cap at 125% of generation to usage for systems equal to or less than 25kW" and a change to the excess credit rate "to the Wholesale Electricity Rate." It says these items carry out 2025 legislative changes. The filing also adds a new definition of "under construction" for remote projects. The PUC approved the rest of the company's 2025 tariff update in Docket 25-50-EL but kept these sections open, and the parties agreed to revisit them after the 2026 legislative session.

## What It Means for Home Solar

Rhode Island's net metering tariff splits your solar output into two parts each billing period:

- **Output up to your own use.** This earns the full Renewable Net Metering Credit, built from the supply, distribution, transmission and transition per-kWh charges for your rate class. The filing does not change this for home systems.
- **Surplus above your use.** This earns an Excess Renewable Net Metering Credit. Today that is valued at the company's avoided cost, defined as the Last Resort Service kWh charge, and is limited to production up to 125% of use. The filing would value it at the monthly wholesale rate for systems of 25 kW or less, with no 125% cap. The filing says the company may use an annual, monthly or other average, or zonal pricing, subject to PUC approval.

So the change matters mostly for homes that regularly produce more than they use in a month, typically in late spring and summer.

**Our example, 100 kWh of surplus in a summer month:**

- At the April–September 2026 Last Resort Service rate of 11.092¢/kWh: about **$11.09**.
- At ISO New England's 2025 all-hours average real-time energy price of $65.89/MWh (6.589¢/kWh): about **$6.59**.
- At its 2025 average day-ahead price of $71.81/MWh (7.181¢/kWh): about **$7.18**.

That is a cut of roughly 35% to 41% on the surplus portion in this example. It is an illustration, not a forecast: the filing says the wholesale rate is calculated monthly from energy sales to ISO New England by net metered systems, so actual credits would move with the market and could differ from an all-hours average because solar sells mostly in daytime hours. The winter supply rate is higher (17.029¢ from October 2026 to March 2027, listed by the PUC as subject to final approval), but most homes produce little surplus in winter; see our guide to [how solar output changes in winter](/posts/solar-panels-in-winter/).

Removing the 125% cap helps homes that produce far more than they use: the tariff's billing schedule treats generation above that line as not eligible for net metering credit, and the filing would make an exception for systems of 25 kW and below so that surplus earns the excess credit. For most households sized near their own use, the lower rate on surplus is the bigger effect.

### What the filing leaves unclear

- **Existing systems.** The cover letter says "The Statute protects existing projects," but that sentence describes the 2026 law on the fixed credit and the remote project cap, not the 2025 small-system change. The small-system wording has no interconnection-date cutoff. We could not confirm whether current home systems would move to the wholesale rate.
- **Overlapping wording.** The definition sets the excess credit at the avoided cost rate, then sets production above 100% of use at the wholesale rate. For small systems, all surplus is above 100%, which points to the wholesale rate, but the PUC may ask for cleaner language.
- **Carry-forward.** The tariff lets the company, at its option, allow residential systems of 25 kW or less to carry unused credits into the next billing period. The filing does not say how that interacts with the new rate.

## What the State's Advocate Says

The Division of Public Utilities and Carriers recommended approval on October 8, "subject to the edits identified in this memorandum," mostly clean-up items and a clearer election form for the fixed credit. The memo said the filing "substantially implements the central 2026 statutory amendments." On the small-system change, it notes the item stems from the 2025 amendments and was left for later consideration, but does not take a separate position on it. Revity Energy and Ameresco, which intervened in the case, also filed position memos.

None of these is a ruling. The PUC can approve, modify or reject any part.

## Key Dates

1. **October 22:** Rhode Island Energy's rebuttal testimony due, if needed.
2. **November 10:** deadline for any settlement.
3. **November 16, 4 p.m.:** public comment deadline.
4. **November 17, 9:30 a.m.:** evidentiary hearing at the PUC office, Hearing Room A.
5. **December 1:** date by which, according to the Division, state law requires the PUC to approve a tariff. That does not mean every proposed change will be approved as filed.

To comment, write to the PUC and reference Docket No. 26-30-EL. If you are getting solar quotes now, ask how the installer's savings estimate values summer surplus, and whether it assumes today's supply-rate credit. Our [solar payback guide](/posts/solar-payback-period-without-federal-tax-credit/) shows how export credits change the math.

## Sources and Verification

| Important claim | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Filing date; small-system wholesale rate and 125% cap removal; wholesale rate definition; current avoided-cost (Last Resort Service) valuation; fixed credit terms and eligibility; cap and deadline changes; carry-forward option; "The Statute protects existing projects" | [Rhode Island Energy tariff advice filing and testimony, Docket 26-30-EL, Aug. 14, 2026](https://ripuc.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur841/files/2026-08/Docket%2026-30-EL%20-%20Net%20Metering%20Tariff%20Advice%20-%2008-14-2026.pdf) | Verified (existing-system treatment unclear in the filing; redline valuation wording overlaps) |
| Division recommends approval subject to edits; filing "substantially implements" 2026 amendments; small-system items stem from 2025 amendments left for later; PUC approval required by Dec. 1, 2026 | [Division of Public Utilities and Carriers memo, Oct. 8, 2026](https://ripuc.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur841/files/2026-10/26-30-EL%20Net%20Metering%20Tariff%20Advice%20-%20Division%20Memo%20%2810.8.26%29.pdf) | Verified |
| Procedural schedule, Nov. 16 comment deadline, Nov. 17 hearing | [PUC procedural schedule, Sept. 3, 2026](https://ripuc.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur841/files/2026-09/26-30-EL_Procedural%20Schedule.pdf); [Docket 26-30-EL page](https://ripuc.ri.gov/Docket-26-30-EL) | Verified |
| Last Resort Service residential rates: 11.092¢ (Apr.–Sept. 2026), 17.029¢ (Oct. 2026–Mar. 2027) | [PUC, Rhode Island Energy Last Resort Service](https://ripuc.ri.gov/utility-information/electric/rhode-island-energy-last-resort-service) | Qualified (page lists winter rate as subject to final approval) |
| ISO New England 2025 average energy prices: $71.81/MWh day-ahead, $65.89/MWh real-time | [ISO Newswire, June 3, 2026](https://isonewswire.com/2026/06/03/iso-ne-market-monitor-issues-2025-report/) | Verified |

Dollar examples and percentage cuts are our calculations from these figures.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is Rhode Island ending net metering?

No. The filing keeps net metering. Solar output up to your own use in a billing period would still earn the full net metering credit. What would change for systems of 25 kW or less is the value of surplus beyond that use, which would move to a wholesale rate.

### Would the change affect my existing solar system?

The filing does not say clearly. Rhode Island Energy's cover letter says the 2026 statute protects existing projects, but that refers to the fixed credit and remote project cap; the proposed wording for small systems carries no interconnection-date cutoff. Ask Rhode Island Energy or your installer, or raise it in a comment to the PUC.

### When would the new net metering rules take effect?

Not yet decided. Rhode Island Energy proposed September 13, 2026, but the PUC set a review schedule with comments due by 4 p.m. on November 16 and an evidentiary hearing starting November 17, and the docket shows no approval. The Division of Public Utilities and Carriers says state law requires the PUC to approve a tariff by December 1, 2026; the tariff sheets list the effective date as to be determined.

### Can I get the 19-cent fixed net metering credit for my home?

No. In the filing, the fixed credit of $0.19 per kWh, rising 2.75% a year from 2028 for 25 years, is limited to public entities, educational institutions, hospitals, nonprofits, multi-municipal collaboratives, certain commercial or industrial customers using net metering financing, and eligible community remote systems.

### How do I comment on Docket 26-30-EL?

Send a written comment to the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission referencing Docket No. 26-30-EL before 4 p.m. on November 16, 2026. The docket page on the PUC's website lists the filings and posts public comments.


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