Bill Text: MS SB2201 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced

Mississippi Senate Bill 2201 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Net-energy metering; require electric utilities to allow.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2011-02-01 - Died In Committee [SB2201 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2011-SB2201-Introduced.html

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2011 Regular Session

To: Public Utilities

By: Senator(s) Tollison

Senate Bill 2201

AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT ACT; TO DECLARE LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS; TO REQUIRE ELECTRIC UTILITIES TO ALLOW NET-METERING FACILITIES TO BE INTERCONNECTED; TO REQUIRE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH APPROPRIATE RATES, TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR NET-METERING CONTRACTS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION MAY AUTHORIZE A GREATER FEE OR CHARGE ON THE NET-METERING CUSTOMER, IF THE UTILITY'S DIRECT COSTS OUTWEIGH THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC POLICY BENEFITS OF ALLOCATING THE COSTS AMONG THE UTILITY'S ENTIRE CUSTOMER BASE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. This act shall be known and cited as the "Mississippi Renewable Energy Development Act."

SECTION 2. (1) Net-energy metering encourages the use of renewable energy resources and renewable energy technologies by reducing utility interconnection and administrative costs for small consumers of electricity. Over thirty (30) other states have passed similar laws or regulations in support of net-energy metering programs. Increasing the consumption of renewable resources promotes the wise use of Mississippi's natural energy resources to meet a growing energy demand; increases Mississippi's use of indigenous energy fuels while reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels; fosters investments in emerging renewable technologies to stimulate economic development and job creation in the state including the agricultural sectors; reduces environmental stresses from energy production; and provides greater consumer choices.

(2) Net-metering would help to further attract energy technology manufacturers, to provide a foothold for these technologies in the Mississippi economy, and to make it easier for customer access to these technologies.

(3) Therefore, the Mississippi Legislature finds that it is in the State of Mississippi's long-term interest to adopt the provisions of this act.

SECTION 3. For the purposes of this act:

(a) "Commission" means the Mississippi Public Service Commission or other appropriate governing body for an electric utility as defined in paragraph (b).

(b) "Electric utility" means a public or investor-owned utility, an electric cooperative, municipal utility, or any private power supplier or marketer that is engaged in the business of supplying electric energy to the ultimate consumer or any customer classes within the state.

(c) "Net-metering" means measuring the difference between electricity supplied by an electric utility and the electricity generated by a net-metering customer and fed back to the electric utility over the applicable billing period.

(d) "Net-metering customer" means an owner of a net-metering facility.

(e) "Net-metering facility" means a facility for the production of electrical energy that:

(i) Uses solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, or biomass resources to generate electricity, including, but not limited to, fuel cells and microturbines that generate electricity if the fuel source is entirely derived from renewable resources;

(ii) Has a generating capacity of not more than twenty-five (25) kilowatts for residential or one hundred (100) kilowatts for commercial or agricultural use;

(iii) Is located in Mississippi;

(iv) Can operate in parallel with an electric utility's existing transmission and distribution facilities; and

(v) Is intended primarily to offset part or all of the net-metering customer requirements for electricity.

SECTION 4. (1) An electric utility that offers residential or commercial electrical service, or both, shall allow net-metering facilities to be interconnected using a standard meter capable of registering the flow of electricity in two (2) directions.

(2) The commission, following notice and opportunity for public comment:

(a) Shall establish appropriate rates, terms and conditions for net-metering contracts, including a requirement that metering equipment be installed to both accurately measure the electricity supplied by the electric utility to each net-metering customer and also to accurately measure the electricity generated by each net-metering customer that is fed back to the electric utility over the applicable billing period;

(b) May authorize an electric utility to assess a net-metering customer a greater fee or charge, of any type, if the electric utility's direct costs of interconnection and administration of net-metering outweigh the distribution system, environmental and public policy benefits of allocating the costs among the electric utility's entire customer base; and

(c) May expand the scope of net-metering to include additional facilities that do not use a renewable energy resource for a fuel or may increase the peak limits for individual net-metering facilities, if so doing results in desirable distribution system, environmental or public policy benefit.

SECTION 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2011.