Amendment ID: S3143-19

Amendment 19

LMI Solar Access

Mr. Driscoll moves that the proposed new text be amended by adding the following section:-

SECTION XX. Chapter 25A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following section:

Section 22.

(a) Notwithstanding and general or special law to the contrary, the department shall ensure equity, accessibility, and promote participation by renters and low-income retail electric customers in the solar incentive program established in section 11 of chapter 75 of the acts of 2016, and in any successor solar incentive program.

(b) For the purposes of any such solar incentive program, a low-income multi-residential building shall qualify as one Low Income Customer is such building:

(i) meets the definition of low or moderate income housing pursuant to chapter 40B, section 20; or

(ii) receives an allocation of federal low-income housing tax credits pursuant to section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code.

(c) A building qualifying under subsection (b) shall be treated as a single Low Income Customer without regard to the number of dwelling units, utility meters, or accounts located therein, and electric distribution companies shall administer billing credits, incentive eligibility, and capacity allocations consistent with this section.

Section 2. The department shall promulgate regulations to implement this section within 180 days.

(d) The Department shall consider and implement methodologies to allow the tenants of master-metered residential facilities to participate in the program and benefit directly from any associated electric bill savings.