BEFORE YOU BEGIN:
Before deciding to install solar panels or any other form of renewable energy production, please take the time to fully understand the City of Siloam Springs' Buy-All/ Sell-All policy. You are welcome to direct your questions to Phil Stokes, the City Electric Department Director, at 479-373-1942. See the full flyer HERE.
WHAT IS NET METERING?
Simply stated, Net Metering allows for any surplus power generated from solar panels or a wind turbine to be credited to the utility customers account at the same rate that the utility company sells the electricity to its retail customers.
WHAT POLICY DOES THE CITY OF SILOAM SPRINGS HAVE CONCERNING RENEWABLE ENERGY SUCH AS SOLAR PANELS?
The City does not operate under a Net Metering policy as described above. Instead, the City operates under a policy referred to as A Buy-All/Sell-All policy. This policy was implemented in June 2020 and ensures that each electrical customer has an opportunity to utilize renewable energy without imposing cost upon customers without solar power or other renewable energy production.
WHAT IS A BUY-ALL/SELL-ALL POLICY?
A Buy-All/Sell-All policy operates just as it sounds. The electric utility purchases all of the electricity generated from the customer's renewable energy source (solar panels) at the same rate as what the electric utility purchases electricity from its wholesale provider and all of the energy consumed by the customer is sold to the customer at the electric utility's retail rate. A second electric meter is added to the home to track the production of the renewable energy.
You may direct your questions to Phil Stokes, the City Electric Department Director, at 479-373-1942.