Amendment ID: S2477-37

Amendment 37

Removing Barriers to Low-Income Solar

Mr. Eldridge, Ms. Jehlen, Messrs. Collins, Welch and O'Connor and Ms. Chang-Diaz move that the proposed new draft be amended by inserting after Section 45 the following sections:-

SECTION XX. For any solar incentive program, storage incentive program, electric passenger vehicle incentive program or residential renewable heating incentive program under general law, session law, or other authority, after this law takes effect, the Department of Energy Resources shall, to the greatest extent possible, design such programs to address the energy affordability issues that many residents currently face; provided, that all programs shall include strong consumer protection provisions to safeguard residents from exploitation or manipulation; and provided further, that the department shall ensure that information about a program and its benefits are provided in a readily accessible, transparent, and user friendly manner to all users, including residents of communities whose primary language is not English. In creating any program pursuant to this section, the department shall proactively engage and consult with low-income residents, traditionally underserved customers and communities, and organizations that serve these constituencies or represent their interests.

SECTION XX. Section 139 of chapter 164 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in subsection (a) clause (1), the words “A Class I or Class II net metering facility may designate customers of the same distribution company to which the Class I or Class II 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 Class I or Class II net metering facility.” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- A Class I or Class II 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 Class I or Class II net metering facility;

by striking out, in subsection (b1/2) clause (1), 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

by inserting after paragraph (2) of subsection (b ½) the following words:- “(3) A solar net metering facility may elect to receive all or a portion of the net metering credits generated by the solar net metering facility during a billing period in the form of a direct payment by requesting the distribution company purchase such net metering credits, without discount or penalty, at the rates provided for in the applicable tariff.”

SECTION XX. 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 any new solar facility, including any solar energy generating source, that qualifies for incentive programs pursuant to section 11F of chapter 25A of the General Laws and achieves commercial operation on or after January 1, 2021 to: (a) receive credits for any electricity generated by the solar facility that exceeds the kilowatt-hour usage of the associated distribution company’s customer account during a billing period, with such credits to be credited to the distribution company’s customer account, and carried forward from month to month; (b) 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 (c) receive direct payment for credits by requesting 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.