SECTION 1.  In creating any solar incentive program under general law, session law, or other authority, after this law takes effect, the Department of Energy Resources shall develop programs which, to the greatest extent possible, do the following: (i) provide equitable access to all Massachusetts ratepayers, including low-income ratepayers; and (ii) address energy affordability for low income communities.  Any program created under this provision shall include effective consumer protection provisions and the department shall ensure that information about a program and its benefits are provided in a readily accessible manner to all ratepayers, including non-English speaking communities.  The department shall consult with a diverse range of stakeholders to inform the design of any program created pursuant to this section, including low-income ratepayers and organizations representing their interests.

SECTION 2. Section 139 of chapter 164 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in lines 60 through 64, inclusive,  the words “A solar net metering facility may designate customers of the same distribution company to which the solar net metering facility is interconnected and that are located in the same ISO-NE load zone to receive such credits in amounts attributed by the solar net metering facility.” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- A solar net metering facility may designate customers of any distribution company, regardless of which ISO-NE load zone the customers are located in, to receive such credits in amounts attributed by the solar net metering facility.;

and further amended by inserting in line 71 after the word “rate” the following:- (3) The owner of any solar net metering facility that is placed into service on or after January 1, 2020 may direct the distribution company to purchase all or a portion of net metering credits from the facility at the rates provided for in the applicable tariff without discount or penalty.

SECTION 3. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of energy resources and department of public utilities shall amend any rules, regulations, and tariffs to permit the owner of any new solar facility, including any solar energy generating source, that qualifies for programs pursuant to section 11F of chapter 25A of the General Laws and application regulations that achieves commercial operation on or after January 1, 2020 to: (i) receive credits for any electricity generated by a solar facility that exceeds the owner’s usage during a billing period, with such credits to be credited to a solar facility owner’s customer account with the relevant distribution company, and carried forward from month to month; (ii) designate customers of any distribution company, regardless of which ISO-NE load zone the customers are located in, to receive such credits in amounts attributed by the solar facility, with such credits applicable to any portion or all of a designated customer’s electric bill; and (iii) direct the distribution company to purchase all or a portion of any credits produced by a solar facility at the rates provided for in the applicable statute, regulation, or tariff without discount or penalty.

SECTION 4. This law shall take effect upon passage.