SB 660

Abstract

Shared solar programs for Phase I Utilities and electric cooperatives; workgroup. Directs the State Corporation Commission to convene a stakeholder workgroup to evaluate shared solar programs for American Electric Power and requires the Commission to report on its findings to the Chairmen of the Senate Commerce and Labor and the House Commerce and Energy Committees by November 30, 2022. Additionally, the bill directs the Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives and the Coalition for Community Solar Access to jointly convene a stakeholder process to evaluate shared solar programs for electric cooperatives, and requires a report on its findings to the Chairmen of the Senate Commerce and Labor and the House Commerce and Energy Committees by November 30, 2022. This bill incorporates SB 659.

Shared solar programs for Phase I Utilities and electric cooperatives; workgroup. Directs the State Corporation Commission to convene a stakeholder workgroup to evaluate shared solar programs for American Electric Power and requires the Commission to report on its findings to the Chairmen of the Senate Commerce and Labor and the House Commerce and Energy Committees by November 30, 2022. Additionally, the bill directs the Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives and the Coalition for Community Solar Access to jointly convene a stakeholder process to evaluate shared solar programs for electric cooperatives,  and requires a report on its findings to the Chairmen of the Senate Commerce and Labor and the House Commerce and Energy Committees by November 30, 2022. This bill incorporates SB 659.

Shared solar programs for electric cooperatives;pilot. Creates a pilot program for participation by electric cooperativesto the shared solar programs that allow customers of investor-ownedutilities to purchase electric power through a subscription in a sharedsolar facility. The bill provides that, for each electric cooperative,the State Corporation Commission shall approve a shared solar facilityprogram and the Commission may, after notice and opportunity for hearing,establish a maximum amount of shared solar permissible in each electriccooperative's territory. Such maximum amount shall not be lower thanthe lesser of 15 megawatts or one percent of the electric cooperative'sprevious year peak load, with a minimum requirement that 30 percentof each cooperative's shared solar program is reserved for low-incomecustomers. The bill permits electric cooperatives to recover interconnectioncosts through rate proceedings with the Commission, although fiber-opticupgrades are rebuttably presumed as not cost-justified for the purposesof rate recovery. The bill also includes instructions and a timelinefor submission of an interconnection request by an owner of a sharedsolar project to an electric cooperative. The bill directs the Commissionto review the pilot program every two years, beginning July 1, 2025.