This 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 utility. The bill prohibits discrimination in electricity rates against customers who own or operate nonexport facilities, ensuring they are treated equitably compared to other customers. Additionally, it mandates the Arkansas Public Service Commission to establish rules for nonexport facilities by December 31, 2025, following public notice and comment. These rules will cover operational standards and an expedited review process for evaluating export control methods and interconnection.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies that nonexport facilities are excluded from the definition of "net-metering facility" 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 standards and requirements than net-metering facilities. Overall, the legislation aims to create a fair regulatory environment for nonexport facilities while promoting safe and reliable energy production.

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