SB 1491 - The act modifies certain provisions relating to the Net Metering and Easy Connection Act and solar panels rules by homeowner's associations. Under the act, a retail electric supplier shall make net metering available to customer-generators until the total rated generating capacity of net metering equals 15%, instead of 5%, of the retail electric supplier's single-hour peak load during the previous year, after which the total rated generating capacity of net metering may be increased above 15%, instead of 5%. In a given year, no retail electric supplier shall be required to approve any application for interconnection if the total rate generating capacity equals or exceeds 2%, instead of 1%.
A retail electric supplier shall offer to the customer-generator the retail electric rate that is a tariff or a contract and identical in electric energy rates.
A retail electric supplier shall disclose annually the availability of the net metering program to its customers with the method of disclosure being at the discretion of the Public Service Commission, instead of the supplier.
If the customer generator's existing meter equipment does not meet certain requirements, the customer-generator shall reimburse the retail electric supplier for the costs associated with the additional equipment approved by the Commission.
The act repeals certain provisions relating to net electrical energy measurement requirements and provides that if the electricity generated by a customer-generator exceeds the electricity supplied by the supplier during a billing period, the customer shall be credited an amount at least equal to the retail electric costs, instead of the avoided fuel, with the credit applied anytime during the following 12-month period, instead of the following billing period.
The act repeals provisions relating to certain safety and performance requirements for each electric energy generation unit and provides that each unit shall meet the requirements of the unified solar permit and inspection form promulgated by the Commission.
For systems of 100 kilowatts or less, instead of 10 kilowatts, a customer-generator shall not be required to install additional controls or pay for additional equipment. For systems of greater than 100 kilowatts, instead of 10 kilowatts, the commission for electrical corporations and the respective governing body shall meet Commission standards and shall be reviewed and responded to by the electric supplier within 30 days or the application for interconnection of a qualified electric energy generation unit shall be considered approved. The act repeals certain provisions relating to the application requirements.
The Commission shall, within 6 months of January 1, 2025, instead of within 9 months of January 1, 2008, promulgate initial rules for the administration of the provisions of the Net Metering and Easy Connection Act. For systems of 100 kilowatts or less, instead of 10 kilowatts, the application process shall use an all-in-one document as described in current law.
The act repeals certain provisions relating to simple contracts to be used for interconnection and net metering by the governing body of a rural electric cooperative or municipal utility.
Before January 1, 2025, the Commission shall create and implement a unified solar permit and inspection form and automated permitting and inspection software for solar energy. Certain governing bodies, as described in the act, shall utilize such software and collect fees from applicants for solar energy device permits. The fees shall be forwarded to the Commission.
A homeowner's association shall deny or request re-submission of any applications for solar panels or solar collectors within 30 days or receipt or the application shall be considered approved. A homeowner's association shall not require the application to pass review or be approved by any committee or board designed to address architectural or aesthetic qualities or conditions.
Additionally, the act creates new definitions and modifies certain existing definitions.
The act is identical to HB 2592 (2024).
JULIA SHEVELEVA