The state of New York has amended its net metering laws in a renewed bid to draw 45 percent of its electricity needs from energy efficiency and renewables by 2015.

The new rule will allow electricity customers with eligible renewable energy systems to sell back their excess electricity to their local utility.

A nonresidential customer in New York who owns or operates solar electric generating equipment with a rated capacity of not more than 25 kilowatts can now earn a maximum amount of $350 for the electricity sold back to utilities.

Likewise, the amendment specifies that a customer who owns a combined capacity of not more than 25 kW can earn a maximum of $750 from the excess electricity.

The new rules are part of an important recommendation coming from New York’s state energy plan to develop new energy supplies.

According to the states’ Renewable Energy Assessment Plan for 2009, state and federal governments can help aid the wide-scale deployment of solar energy systems by supporting market transformation programs and committing to long-term incentives.

The net metering system, for example, can encourage end-users to install solar electric generating equipment by allowing consumers to earn revenue when the system creates more energy than what the consumer needs.

New York’s “45 by 15” target, if met, is expected to lessen the state’s electric consumption by 15 percent below forecasted levels while obtaining the remaining 30 percent of the state’s electricity needs from renewable energy sources.

"As called for in the state energy plan, clean energy initiatives will create local job growth, reduce greenhouse gas pollution, and improve public health, the environment, and the state's energy independence,” Governor David Paterson said.

The new bill is a result of the “Net Metering Summit,” an event organized by the governor last fall to orchestrate an agreement between installers of renewable energy and the state’s major utilities.