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CEC members who generate their own electricity using solar, wind, fuel cells, or hydroelectric power may interconnect with CEC’s electric grid by entering into a Net Metering Agreement with CEC. Net Metering means that the member-generator will only be billed for the difference in what the member uses and what they generate during a billing month. The agreement is a formal contract that spells out the responsibilities of member-generator and CEC when members wish to send electricity back onto CEC’s grid.
Note: Some alternative energy sources may qualify for a State of Oregon incentive through the Oregon Department of Energy, or the federal tax credit, before installing the system.
No matter what energy source you choose for your electricity, conservation is the most cost-effective resource available to us and most people should look for ways to reduce their energy usage before pursuing their own generation.
Where Do I Start?
Here are the steps to begin:
- Contact a few vendors to provide you system quotes. These vendors will match your system size with the usage in your home.
- Select a vendor.
- Obtain CEC pre-approval. Your vendor will provide you the system details, site plan, and one-line diagram you will need to fill out a CEC Net Metering Agreement. Note: Every system must be reviewed and pre-approved by CEC before work begins.
- Small Net-Metering Agreement (for qualifying Net-Metering Facilities with a maximum nameplate generating capacity of not more than 25 kW)
- Large Net-Metering Agreement (for qualifying Non-Residential Net-Metering Facilities with a maximum nameplate generating capacity greater than 25 kW and not more than 1 MW.)
- CEC will review the application and if pre-approved we will send a confirmation email to both the member and contractor. If the house electrical service needs to be upgraded a CEC engineer will be in contact. In the case of a service upgrade the new service will need to be in-process before a net metering pre-approval can be given from CEC. The system installation must meet our requirements and terms.
- Once the system is complete the final county inspection report will be emailed to our Energy Services mailbox.
- Please allow 3 weeks for a new bi-directional net meter to be installed on the system. Be sure to keep your system turned off. CEC will turn the system on once the new meter is installed.
CEC members who generate their own electricity using solar, wind, fuel cells, or hydroelectric power may interconnect with CEC’s electric grid by entering into a Net Metering Agreement with CEC. Net Metering means that the Customer-generator will only be billed for the difference in what the customer uses and what they generate during a billing month.
Yes. If you generate excess electricity in a billing month, that energy is credited to your account at the average system cost for wholesale power over the applicable valuation period, which is what CEC would pay to purchase energy on the open market. The current rate is $0.0468 per kWh and was updated November 1, 2025.
Central Electric does not “bank” kilowatt hours to be used at a later date. You are reimbursed for the excess power at the end of every billing month.
The facilities charge will continue to be paid by each member connected to Central Electric’s distribution lines or grid. This cost is attached to each meter and helps cover the cost of infrastructure like lines and poles. It is not based on the amount of energy a member may or may not use. Excess generation can help offset the fixed charge, but regardless of how much power is generated or used this charge will occur.
CEC does not do “aggregated metering” (tying in multiple meters to one system).
It is a common misconception that once a renewable energy system is turned on it will generate power directly into the CEC power grid and that our meter records total system generation.
Instead, your renewable energy system generates power directly into your home and any excess energy your home doesn’t need gets sent back into CEC’s grid. CEC’s meter will only record the excess energy and not the total generation of your system. This means that your system’s recording device will always have a higher generation figure than the CEC meter.
Your home uses your renewable energy system power first, and the CEC meter will record any additional power your home needs that your system can’t provide. On a monthly bill cycle the excess energy is subtracted from the power that your home used to give you total net usage or generation.
If at the end of the bill cycle your system generates more power than you use any excess is immediately credited to you at CEC’s wholesale power rate. This financial credit can help offset your monthly facilities charge. If there is any excess dollar credit beyond the facilities charge it can roll over into the following month.
For further questions you can refer to our Net Metering Rate or call Central Electric at (541) 548-2144 and select option 6.