Vermont regulators have ordered the Washington Electric Co-operative to suspend its net metering program, saying the small utility is violating state law.
The East Montpelier-based co-op announced in October that it was limiting net-metering projects to 5 kilowatts because it had exceeded a state cap saying it should get only 4 percent of its peak demand from such projects.
WEC filed papers with the Public Service Board describing the change. But this week, the board said the 5-kilowatt cap appears to violate state law. It suspended the program that WEC had described and said it would investigate the matter.
Co-op General Manager Patty Richards says the co-op will stop allowing new net metering projects for now and push for a change in the law in the Legislature.
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