Bill Text: NH SB165 | 2019 | Regular Session | Amended

New Hampshire Senate Bill 165 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Relative to net energy metering by low-moderate income community solar projects.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-1)

Status: (Passed) 2019-07-24 - Signed by the Governor on 07/19/2019; Chapter 271; Effective 07/01/2019 [SB165 Detail]

Download: New_Hampshire-2019-SB165-Amended.html

SB 165 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

03/28/2019 1169s

23May2019... 1827h

2019 SESSION

19-1079

10/08

SENATE BILL 165

AN ACT relative to net energy metering by low-moderate income community solar projects.

SPONSORS: Sen. Feltes, Dist 15; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Hennessey, Dist 5; Rep. Moffett, Merr. 9; Rep. Oxenham, Sull. 1; Rep. Luneau, Merr. 10; Rep. Myler, Merr. 10

COMMITTEE: Energy and Natural Resources

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ANALYSIS

This bill modifies the method for calculating net energy metering credits for low-moderate income community solar group host projects.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

03/28/2019 1169s

23May2019... 1827h 19-1079

10/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen

AN ACT relative to net energy metering by low-moderate income community solar projects.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Short Title. This act shall be known as the "Low-Income Community Solar Act of 2019."

2 Net Energy Metering; Group Host; Community Solar. Amend RSA 362-A:9, XIV(c) to read as follows:

(c) Notwithstanding paragraph V, a group host shall be paid for its surplus generation at the end of each billing cycle at rates consistent with the credit the group host receives relative to its own net metering under either subparagraph IV(a) or (b) or alternative tariffs that may be applicable pursuant to paragraph XVI. [Each group member of] Alternatively, a group host [for a low-moderate income community solar project, as defined in RSA 362-F:2, X-a,] may elect to receive credits on the customer electric bill for each member and the host[, provided that there shall be only one new project under this paragraph in each utility's service territory by December 31, 2019 with such projects available on a first-come, first-served basis], with the utility being allowed the most cost-effective method of doing so according to an amount or percentage specified for each member on PUC form 909.09 (Application to Register or Re-register as a Host), along with a 3 cent per kwh addition from July 1, 2019 through July 1, 2021 and a 2.5 cent per kwh addition thereafter for low-moderate income community solar projects, as defined in RSA 362-F:2, X-a. On or before July 1, 2022, the commission shall report on the costs and benefits of such an addition and the development of the market for low-moderate income community solar projects, and provide a recommendation on whether the addition shall be increased or decreased. The commission shall report on the costs and benefits of [such projects] low-moderate income community solar projects, as defined in RSA 362-F:2, X-a on or before [December 31, 2019] June 1, 2020. The commission shall authorize at least 2 new low-moderate income community solar projects, as defined in RSA 362-F:2, X-a, each year in each utility's service territory beginning January 1, 2020. On an annual basis, for all group host systems except for residential systems with an interconnected capacity under 15 kilowatts, the electric distribution utility shall calculate a payment adjustment if the host's surplus generation for which it was paid is greater than the group's total electricity usage during the same time period. The adjustment shall be such that the resulting compensation to the host for the amount that exceeded the group's total usage shall be at the utility's avoided cost or its default service rate in accordance with subparagraph V(b) or paragraph VI or alternative tariffs that may be applicable pursuant to paragraph XVI. The utility shall pay or bill the host accordingly.

3 Definition; Low-moderate Income Community Solar Project. Amend RSA 362-F:2, X-a to read as follows:

X-a. "Low-moderate income community solar project" means ground-mounted or rooftop solar arrays that directly benefit a group of at least 5 residential end-user customers, where at least a majority of the residential end-user customers are at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. No more than 15 percent of the projected load for such project shall be attributable to non-residential end-user customers.

4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2019.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.