SECTION 1.  Chapter 169 of the Acts of 2008, as amended by Chapter 209 of the Acts of 2012, is hereby further amended by inserting, after Section 83A, the following new section:-

              SECTION 83B.  Beginning on January 1, 2017 and continuing until December 31, 2020, all distribution companies in the commonwealth, as defined in section 1 of chapter 164 of the General Laws, shall be required in that time period to jointly solicit additional proposals from renewable energy developers and, provided reasonable proposals have been received, enter into additional cost-effective long-term contracts to facilitate the financing of renewable energy generation, apportioned among the distribution companies under this section. The timetable and method for solicitation and execution of such contracts shall be proposed by the distribution companies in consultation with the department of energy resources and shall be subject to review and approval by the department of public utilities. This long-term contracting obligation shall be separate and distinct from the electric distribution companies’ obligation to meet applicable annual renewable portfolio standard, hereinafter referred to as RPS, requirements, under section 11F of chapter 25A of the General Laws.

              A distribution company may fulfill its responsibilities under this section through individual competitive solicitations that are independent from the  joint solicitation(s) for proposals from renewable energy developers and, provided reasonable proposals have been received, enter into cost effective long-term contracts to facilitate the financing of renewable energy generation under this section if, upon petition to the department of public utilities prior to a  joint solicitation, the department rules that a solicitation by an individual distribution company would be more cost effective to ratepayers than said distribution company engaging in a joint solicitation.

              For purposes of this section, a long-term contract shall be a contract with a term of 10 to 25 years. In developing proposed long-term contracts, the distribution companies shall consider multiple contracting methods, including long-term contracts for renewable energy certificates, hereinafter referred to as RECs, for energy, and for a combination of both RECs and energy. Beginning January 1, 2017, the electric companies shall jointly select a reasonable method of soliciting proposals from renewable energy developers using a competitive bidding process only. Distribution companies may use timetables and methods for the solicitation of competitively bid long-term contracts approved by the department of public utilities prior to January 1, 2017. A distribution company may decline to consider contract proposals having terms and conditions that it determines would require the contract obligation to place an unreasonable burden on the distribution company’s balance sheet, and may structure its contracts, pricing or administration of the products purchased to mitigate impacts on the balance sheet or income statement of the distribution company or its parent company, subject to the approval of the department of public utilities; provided, that such mitigation shall not increase costs to ratepayers. The distribution companies shall consult with the department of energy resources and the attorney general’s office regarding the choice of contracting methods and solicitation methods. All proposed contracts shall be subject to the review and approval of the department of public utilities.

              The department of public utilities shall adopt regulations consistent with this section. The regulations shall: (a) allow renewable energy developers to submit proposals for long-term contracts conforming to the contracting methods specified in the second paragraph; (b) require that contracts executed by the distribution companies under such proposals are filed with, and approved by, the department of public utilities before they become effective; (c) provide for an annual remuneration for the contracting distribution company equal to 2.75 per cent of the annual payments under the contract to compensate the company for accepting the financial obligation of the long-term contract, such provision to be acted upon by the department of public utilities at the time of contract approval; (d) to the extent there are significant transmission costs included in a bid, the department of public utilities shall authorize the contracting parties to seek recovery of such transmission costs of the project through federal transmission rates, consistent with policies and tariffs of the federal energy regulatory commission, to the extent the department finds such recovery is in the public interest; and (e) require that the renewable energy generating source to be used by a developer under the proposal meet the following criteria: (1) have a commercial operation date, as verified by the department of energy resources, on or after January 1, 2017; (2) be qualified by the department of energy resources as eligible to participate in the RPS program, under said section 11F of said chapter 25A, and to sell RECs under the program; and (3) be determined by the department of public utilities to: (i) provide enhanced electricity reliability within the commonwealth; (ii) contribute to moderating system peak load requirements; (iii) be cost effective to Massachusetts electric ratepayers over the term of the contract; and (iv) where feasible, create additional employment and economic development in the commonwealth. As part of its approval process, the department of public utilities shall consider the attorney general’s recommendations, which shall be submitted to the department of public utilities within 45 days following the filing of such contracts with the department of public utilities. The department of public utilities shall consider both the potential costs and benefits of such contracts and shall approve a contract only upon a finding that it is a cost effective mechanism for procuring low cost renewable energy on a long-term basis taking into account the factors outlined in this section.

              The joint solicitations required under this section shall be coordinated among the electric distribution companies by the department of energy resources. If distribution companies are unable to agree on a winning bid under a solicitation under this section, the matter shall be submitted to the attorney general, in consultation with the department of energy resources and the department of public utilities, for a final, binding determination of the winning bid. The electric distribution companies shall each enter into a contract with the winning bidders for their apportioned share of the market products being purchased from the project. The apportioned share shall be calculated and based upon the total energy demand from all distribution customers in each service territory of the distribution companies.

              Distribution companies shall not be required by any rule, regulation or order of the department of public utilities to enter into long-term contracts under this section that would, in the aggregate, exceed 4 per cent of the total energy demand from all distribution customers in the service territory of the distribution company.

              An electric distribution company may elect to use any energy purchased under such contracts for resale to its customers, and may elect to retain RECs to meet the applicable annual RPS requirements under said section 11F of said chapter 25A. If the energy and RECs are not so used, such companies shall sell such purchased energy into the wholesale spot market and shall sell such purchased RECs through a competitive bid process. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the department of energy resources shall conduct periodic reviews to determine the impact on the energy and REC markets of the disposition of energy and RECs under this section and may issue reports recommending legislative changes if it determines that actions are being taken that will adversely affect the energy and REC markets.

              If a distribution company sells the purchased energy into the wholesale spot market and auctions the RECs as described in the fifth paragraph, the distribution company shall net the cost of payments made to projects under the long-term contracts against the proceeds obtained from the sale of energy and RECs, and the difference shall be credited or charged to all distribution customers through a uniform fully reconciling annual factor in distribution rates, subject to review and approval of the department of public utilities. The reconciliation process shall be designed so that a distribution company recovers all costs incurred under such contracts. If the RPS requirements of said section 11F of said chapter 25A terminate, the obligation to continue periodic solicitations to enter into long-term contracts shall cease; provided however, that contracts already executed and approved by the department of public utilities shall remain in full force and effect.

              This section shall not limit consideration of other contracts for RECs or power submitted by a distribution company for review and approval by the department of public utilities. If this section is subject to a judicial challenge, the department of public utilities may suspend the applicability of the challenged provision during the pendency of the judicial action until final resolution of the challenge and any appeals and shall issue such orders and take such other actions as are necessary to ensure that the provisions that are not challenged are implemented expeditiously to achieve the public purposes of this section.

              SECTION 2. (a) Upon the department of public utilities issuance of an order under subsection (b), all distribution companies in the commonwealth, as defined in section 1 of chapter164 of the General Laws, shall be required to jointly solicit from developers of clean energy generation sources, proposals to deliver an annual amount of electricity of not more than 18,900,000 MWh, via long-term contracts as designed in Section 3 or delivery commitment agreements in Section 4. The distribution companies shall solicit proposals simultaneously under Section 3 and Section 4.  Such solicitations may be conducted jointly with utilities and/or procuring entities from other states in New England.

              (b) The department of public utilities may require that the solicitation in subsection (a) be staggered and divided into two or more solicitations to occur within such time and of such size as the department orders provided that such staggered procurements are in the best interest of ratepayers.  Prior to any solicitation under this section, the department shall issue an order making such determination.  

              (c) For the purposes of this act, clean energy generation shall mean, individually or collectively, Class I RPS eligible renewable energy generation as defined under section 11F of said chapter 25A or hydroelectric generation. Said clean energy generation shall represent incremental generation delivered into the ISO New England Control Area after June 1, 2014. Incremental generation shall be from sources built after 2003; however, any proposal submitted under this act may include pre-2003 clean energy generation, up to a level necessary to firm and assure delivery of Class I resources under that proposal.  All clean energy generation shall use appropriate unit-specific tracking to ensure the delivery of clean energy. Said clean energy generation shall use appropriate unit-specific tracking to ensure the delivery of clean energy.

              SECTION 3.The distribution companies in the commonwealth shall solicit proposals, from developers of clean energy generation and, provided reasonable proposals have been received, may enter into additional cost-effective long-term contracts to facilitate the Commonwealth’s clean energy goals and compliance with the statewide greenhouse gas emissions limits.  The solicitation shall be composed of clean energy generation sources apportioned among the distribution companies under this act. The timetable and method for solicitation and execution of such contracts shall be proposed by the distribution companies in consultation with the department of energy resources and shall be subject to review and approval by the department of public utilities. The provisions of this section shall create authority to enter into long term contracts but shall not be construed to impose any mandates to enter into any such long term contracts.

              For purposes of this act, a long-term contract shall be a contract with a clean energy generation source with a term of 10 to 25 years. A contract may have a term longer than 25 years if the department of public utilities finds that it would be cost-effective for ratepayers when compared to one or more contracts proposed for other generation resources with the same physical attributes but that have a term of no more than 25 years.   In developing proposed long-term contracts, the distribution companies shall consider multiple contracting methods, including long-term contracts for renewable energy certificates, hereinafter referred to as RECs, for energy only, and for a combination of both RECs and energy only.  This long-term contracting option shall be separate and distinct from the distribution companies’ obligation to meet applicable annual renewable portfolio standard, hereinafter referred to as RPS, requirements, under section 11F of chapter 25A of the General Laws. The procurement of RECs under this act shall apply only to that portion attributable to Class I RPS-eligible renewable energy generation and shall not apply to hydroelectric generation sources larger than 30 MW contracted under this Act.

              The distribution companies shall jointly select a reasonable method of soliciting proposals from clean energy generation developers using a competitive bidding process only, which may include one developed by a regional organization in coordination with other New England States. A distribution company may decline to consider contract proposals having terms and conditions that it determines would require the contract obligation to place an unreasonable burden on the distribution company’s balance sheet, and may structure its contracts, pricing or administration of the products purchased to mitigate impacts on the balance sheet or income statement of the distribution company or its parent company, subject to the approval of the department of public utilities; provided, that such mitigation shall not increase costs to ratepayers. The distribution companies may propose a reasonable form of remuneration for entering into any long term contract that it files with the department of public utilities for approval and the department of public utilities may approve the proposal at the time of approving the long term contract, provided however that the department of public utilities shall provide for an annual remuneration for the contracting distribution companies equal to 2.75 per cent of the annual payments under the contract to compensate the company for accepting the financial obligation of long-term contracts associated with Class I RPS eligible renewable energy generation sources for up to 4 per cent of the annual load from all distribution customers in the service territories of the distribution companies. The distribution companies shall consult with the department of energy resources and the Attorney General regarding the choice of contracting methods and solicitation methods. All proposed contracts shall be subject to the review and approval of the department of public utilities.

              The department of public utilities shall adopt regulations consistent with this section and any applicable rules, orders and regulations established by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The regulations shall: (a) allow clean energy generation developers to submit proposals for long-term contracts conforming to the contracting methods specified in the second paragraph; (b) require that contracts executed by the distribution companies are filed with, and approved by, the department of public utilities before they become effective; (c) encourage proposals from diverse energy sources (d) authorize the evaluation of combination proposals which allow for resource diversity; and (e) require that the clean energy generation sources under the proposal meet the following criteria: (1) any Class I RPS eligible renewable energy generation source must be qualified by the department of energy resources as eligible to participate in the RPS program under said section 11F of said chapter 25A, and to sell RECs under the program; and (2) be determined by the department of public utilities to: (i) provide enhanced electricity reliability within the commonwealth, including, where feasible, the ability to replace energy provided by retiring carbon emitting generation sources in the commonwealth; (ii) contribute to energy source diversity; (iii) be cost effective to Massachusetts electric ratepayers over the term of the contract; (iv) where feasible, create additional employment and economic development in the commonwealth; (v) contribute to greenhouse gas reductions pursuant to chapter 238 of the acts of 2008; (vi) demonstrate project viability through evidence including: (a) appropriate federal, state and local permits are substantially likely to be obtained (b) land rights have been or are substantially likely to be obtained, (c) corporate approvals for contracts have been obtained, and (d) security payments have been posted; and (vii) demonstrate that the clean energy generations sources will be delivered to the ISO New England Control Area.

              As part of its approval process, the department of public utilities shall consider the attorney general’s recommendations, which shall be submitted to the department of public utilities within 45 days following the filing of such contracts with the department of public utilities. The department of public utilities shall consider both the potential costs and benefits of such contracts and shall approve a contract only upon a finding that it is a cost effective mechanism for procuring clean energy generation source(s) on a long-term basis taking into account the factors outlined in this act. The department of public utilities shall approve a contract upon a finding that it is likely to result in net ratepayer savings as compared to current and projected future costs associated with energy, RECs, or other obligations of the company over the course of the contract period.

              Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, that portion of the electricity generation attributable to hydroelectric generation larger than 30 MW shall not be eligible to participate in the Commonwealth’s RPS program under said section 11F of said chapter 25A.

              For the purposes of subsection (a), the joint solicitation and evaluation of submitted proposals required under this act shall be coordinated among the distribution companies by the department of energy resources. The electric distribution companies may, but are not required to, select a winning bidder.  However, if distribution companies are unable to agree on whether to select a winning bidder for a contract or cannot agree on a winning bid from the solicitations submitted under this act, the matter shall be submitted to the attorney general, for a final, binding decision regarding the bids. The distribution companies may each enter into a contract with the winning bidders for their apportioned share of the market products being purchased from the project. The apportioned share shall be calculated and based upon the total energy demand from all distribution customers in each service territory of the distribution companies.

              A distribution company may elect to use any energy purchased under such contracts for resale to its customers, and for that portion of the energy generation attributable to Class I RPS eligible renewable generation may elect to retain RECs to meet the applicable annual RPS requirements under said section 11F of said chapter 25A. If the energy and/or RECs are not so used, such companies shall sell such purchased energy into the wholesale spot market and/or shall sell such purchased RECs through a competitive bid process.

              Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the department of energy resources shall conduct periodic reviews to determine the impact on the energy and REC markets of the disposition of energy and RECs under this act and may issue reports recommending legislative changes if it determines that actions are being taken that will adversely affect the energy and REC markets.

              If a distribution company sells the purchased energy into the wholesale spot market and auctions the RECs as described in the eighth paragraph, the distribution company shall net the cost of payments made to projects under the long-term contracts against the proceeds obtained from the sale of energy and RECs, and the difference shall be credited or charged through the DBA as provided in Section 5, subject to review and approval of the department of public utilities.

              SECTION 5. (a) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

              “DBA”, a retail diversity benefits allocator authorized by the department of public utilities for each electric distribution company for the purpose of allocating and crediting financing benefits and allocating and recovering the costs of the clean energy procurement program under this section equitably across all customers of each electric distribution company.

              (b) The costs incurred, including above-market costs, and any below-market financial benefits obtained by the electric distribution companies through the procurements under section 3 or section 4 shall be recovered, funded, and credited, as applicable, through a DBA. Each electric distribution company shall reconcile its costs and revenues in accordance with this section separately from the other electric distribution companies.

              (c) A DBA shall be applied by all electric distribution companies, as reviewed and approved by the department of public utilities for each electric distribution company.  A DBA shall apply to all customers receiving any type of delivery service from the electric distribution company or otherwise remaining connected to the distribution system for service when a form of self-supply is not available. A DBA shall be designed to assure recovery of the costs equitably from all distribution customers across all rate classes in a manner that is not by-passable, regardless of whether the customer is purchasing commodity from basic service or a retail choice supplier, self-generating all or a portion of its own energy, receiving net metering credits, being served through third party owned distributed generation, or otherwise self-supplying.

              The proceeds received from a DBA shall be held by the electric distribution company and credited to a DBA reconciliation account.  Electric distribution companies shall be held harmless through the proceeds of the DBA fund for any bad debt associated with collection of the DBA from either basic service customers or retail choice customers.

              (d)  Below-market revenue benefits and all costs incurred by each electric distribution companies under power purchase or other agreements approved by the department of public utilities under this section shall be credited and funded, as applicable, through the applicable DBA of each electric distribution company.  Each electric distribution company shall account for its individually received revenue and individually incurred purchase costs.

              (e) The department of public utilities shall develop an annual filing and rate process that establishes a DBA in advance of an applicable year using forecasts of costs and revenues. Such process shall include an annual reconciliation the actual and forecasted costs incurred by each electric distribution company against all the actual and forecasted revenues received by the electric distribution company that are obtained from the resale of the market products acquired in any power purchase or other agreements approved by the department of public utilities under this section, including an appropriate interest rate on positive and negative balances.

              (f) Each electric distribution company shall make individual annual filings that reflect its own projected and actual costs and revenues.  To the extent that there is a positive balance after the netting of costs against revenues, the balance shall be refunded to all electric distribution customers of the applicable electric distribution company through a DBA, applied as a credit against the total electric bill of each electric distribution customer, subject to the approval of the department of public utilities.  To the extent that there is a negative balance after netting of costs against revenues, the negative balance shall be recovered from all electric distribution customers through a DBA, subject to the approval of the department of public utilities.

              Such process shall be repeated for each year, or for the applicable reconciliation period if shorter than a year, as approved by the department of public utilities.

              SECTION 6.  This act, and the implementation thereof, shall be subject to any applicable rules, orders and regulations established by the federal energy regulatory commission.  No approval order or regulation issued by the department of public utilities to implement this act shall constitute approval of any rate or charge collected or imposed by the clean energy generation supplier.  Such order or regulation shall not affect in any way the obligation of any party to an agreement entered into with an electric distribution company pursuant to this act to file the agreement with the federal energy regulatory commission or to comply with any tariff or rule approved by the federal energy regulatory commission with respect to the sale or resale of electric energy in interstate commerce.

              If this act is subject to a judicial challenge, the department of public utilities may suspend the applicability of the challenged provision during the pendency of the judicial action until final resolution of the challenge and any appeals and shall issue such orders and take such other actions as are necessary to ensure that the provisions that are not challenged are implemented expeditiously to achieve the public purposes of this act.

              SECTION 7. Provided that an electric distribution company has entered into long-term contracts in compliance with sections 83 to 83B, inclusive, of chapter 169 of the acts of 2008, it shall not be required by regulation or order or by other agreement to enter into additional long-term contracts; provided, however, that an electric distribution company may execute such contracts voluntarily, subject to the approval of the department of public utilities, or under the other provisions of this act.

              SECTION 8.  Notwithstanding section 83B of chapter 169 of the acts of 2008, or any other general or special law to the contrary, the long-term contracting requirements set forth under said section 83B shall be reduced by the quantity of energy, from Class I RPS eligible renewable energy generation sources under contract with a distribution company as approved by the department of public utilities under section 3.

              SECTION 9. The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), in consultation with the department of energy resources and the office of coastal zone management, shall study how to best advance the development of wind generation opportunities off the shore of the commonwealth. The study shall include a plan that evaluates (a) the design, ownership interest, federal and state permitting, and financing; (b) existing state or federal programs available to assist in off shore wind development; and (c) the creation of new programs, grants, rate mechanisms, or other incentives to promote off shore wind development.  The MassCEC shall present its findings, along with any proposed recommendations and plan of action, to the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy within one year of the enactment of this legislation.