The bill amends existing Arkansas law to regulate nonexport facilities, which are defined as facilities that produce electrical energy solely for a customer's own use within a designated electric utility's service area and do not intentionally feed electricity back to the grid. It prohibits discrimination in electricity rates against customers who own or operate these nonexport facilities, ensuring they are treated equitably compared to other customers. The Arkansas Public Service Commission is tasked with developing rules for the operation of nonexport facilities by December 31, 2025, which will include standards for safe operation and an expedited review process for interconnection and export control methods.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that nonexport facilities are not classified as net-metering facilities under the Arkansas Cost-Shifting Prevention Act of 2023. This distinction is important for regulatory purposes and ensures that nonexport facilities are subject to different rules and standards than those applied to net-metering facilities. Overall, the legislation aims to create a supportive regulatory environment for nonexport facilities while maintaining safety and reliability standards in the energy sector.

Statutes affected:
HB 1892: 23-4-202, 23-18-603(9)