Distributed Generation
(Solar, Batteries, etc.)
The Littleton Electric Light & Water Departments allows customers to install solar and other distributed generation systems on their home or business. Customers should read the Interconnection Standards for Distributed Generation and the LELWD Rate Schedules. We cannot recommend installers, but we can recommend you talk to local installers, as they are most familiar to local ordinances and regulations as well as LELWD requirements. When an installer makes a proposal/estimate, make sure they are using LELD rates and charges. There is an application fee that is required when applying for interconnection, and will only be processed when the interconnection application is approved. This fee is waived for municipal entities.
Residential Interconnection
Residential Customers have a few options when adding solar and/or a battery to their home.
Net Metering (up to 8kW AC)
Excess energy is credited for being exported to the grid
- Annual consumption history required for system size approval.
Net Metering system size calculation- The sum of the 12 month billing cycle (kwh usage) determines system size for net metered systems. If the sum is greater than 10,560 kWh (the cap), then the customer is eligible for the maximum size allowed (8kW AC). Any sum below that is limited to that sum.
Annual consumption (kWh) / 110 kWh (industry standard) / 12 (months) = system size in kW AC
- Eligible for the Solar Rebate, $1per Watt of AC
- Subject to Rate 70, customers should read and fully understand that rate.
Non-Net Metering (up to 15kW AC)
Excess energy is not credited for being exported to the grid
- A net metering debarment acknowledgement must be established.
- System Size -The maximum allowable residential interconnection is 15 kW (AC Rating). Non-net metered systems don’t require annual consumption history.
Application Checklist for Residential Interconnection
- $250 Application fee (check payable to “LELD”)
- Interconnection application (Interconnection Standards)
- One-line drawing
- Plan View. to include- electric meter, disconnect switch and for rebate participants, an external production meter socket
Commercial Interconnection
Commercial Customers must be net metered and follow the interconnection standard based on their rate class.
Commercial customers must have net metering and are subject to Rate 70 and should read and fully understand that rate.
System Size -The maximum allowable small business, small commercial, or small industrial (Rate 20 – Customer Demand less than 40 kVA) interconnection cannot be sized larger than a system that annually produces more than 50% of the energy of the previous 12 months of the customer’s bills.
The maximum allowable large business, large commercial, or large industrial (Rate 30 and Rate 40 – Customer Demand greater than 40 kVA) interconnection cannot be sized larger than 50% of the highest monthly peak demand from the previous 12 months of the customer’s bills.
The maximum allowable municipal (Rate 50 and Rate 60) – interconnection cannot be sized larger than 100% of the previous 12 months of energy consumed.
Application Checklist for Commercial Interconnection
- Application fee (check payable to “LELD”) The fee is waived for municipal entities
- Interconnection application (Interconnection Standards)
- One-line drawing
- Plan View. to include- electric meter, disconnect switch, an external production meter socket
Solar Rebate
program has ended for 2025
LELWD is offering a residential rebate of $1.00 per watt (AC), up to 50% of system costs, for approved net metering projects. Rebates will be dispensed on a first come, first served basis until all funds have been spent for solar projects that meet specific requirements. Rebates will be reserved for the term of the applicant’s interconnection application. The rebate is to make solar technology more affordable for our customers to transition to renewable energy.
Applicants must submit the Rebate Application and Participant’s Agreement after receiving Interconnection Application approval to reserve the rebate. After the solar project is complete and receives permission to operate from LELWD, the applicant must submit the Completion Form and a photo of the meter socket to start the rebate payment process.
Please download the program documents and submit them to [email protected], or deliver to LELWD at 39 Ayer Road, Littleton MA 01460.
Rebate Process
- Installer applies for interconnection to install with LELWD.
- If LELWD issues interconnection approval, the installer and customer can apply for the rebate.
- LELWD reviews the rebate application.
- If approved, LELWD returns the application with the eligible rebate amount.
- The installer and customer completes installation per LELWD’s interconnection standards and submits completion documents.
- LELWD reviews and completes final inspection of the project.
- Upon completion approval, LELWD will issue the rebate to the customer.
FAQ
No, an LELD customer must own the property and the distributed generation in order to interconnect to LELD’s distribution system. Any energy generated from a third party would have to be purchased directly by LELD through a purchased power agreement.
No, energy generated from a solar system must be applied to the meter of the account holder of record. Applying the energy usage to another account or property is not permitted as that is considered retail wheeling and not allowed in LELD service territory.
The maximum allowable residential interconnection is 15 kW (AC Rating). For net metered systems, a system sized estimated not to produce more annual energy than the previous 12 months of the customer’s bills, up to 8 kW (AC Rating) is eligible.
The maximum allowable small business, small commercial, or small industrial (Rate 20 – Customer Demand less than 40 kVA) interconnection cannot be sized larger than a system that annually produces more than 50% of the energy of the previous 12 months of the customer’s bills.
The maximum allowable large business, large commercial, or large industrial (Rate 30 and Rate 40 – Customer Demand greater than 40 kVA) interconnection cannot be sized larger than 50% of the highest monthly peak demand from the previous 12 months of the customer’s bills.
The maximum allowable municipal (Rate 50 and Rate 60) – interconnection cannot be sized larger than 100% of the previous 12 months of energy consumed.
Yes, however, if the battery is AC coupled (having it’s own inverter) then it will impact the system size allowed for total interconnection. If the battery is DC coupled, it will have no impact but should still be stated on the application.
LELD uses true bidirectional meters for distributed generation customers, not net meters. Therefore, any surplus energy that is returned to the grid is accounted for at that moment. LELD charges the customer for all of the power that’s purchased from LELD and credit the customer for all that is returned and that energy is captured in separate registers in the meter. Example, if you take 1,000 kWh from LELD in a month and give back 800 kWh, you would be charged for 1,000 kWh and credited for 800 kWh, not simply charged for 200 kWh.