House Bill No. 5340, titled "An Act Concerning Renewable Power Generation," seeks to enhance renewable energy initiatives in Connecticut by establishing new definitions and provisions for renewable energy sources, including "shared clean energy facility," "residential customer," and "low-income customer." The bill mandates the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to initiate a proceeding by July 1, 2027, to create a successor program to the existing Residential Renewable Energy Solutions program, which will include tariff structures for electric distribution companies and guidelines for calculating net energy produced by distributed energy resources. The authority must consider the impact of these resources on the state's greenhouse gas reduction goals and issue a final order by April 1, 2028. The bill also emphasizes equitable access for low-income customers, requiring them to select one tariff option and ensuring that distributed energy resources do not exceed the load at the customer's electric meter.

Additionally, the bill introduces a framework for shared clean energy facilities, requiring EDCs to offer specific tariffs by July 1, 2028, and establishes a task force to enhance consumer protection for solar photovoltaic systems. It includes provisions for portable solar generation devices and agrivoltaics projects, with DEEP tasked to develop a program supporting these initiatives. The bill modifies existing laws regarding customer enrollment with electric suppliers, allowing hardship cases to enter contracts at or below the standard service rate, and it repeals certain provisions to clarify the roles of involved parties. Overall, HB5340 aims to promote renewable energy access and affordability while ensuring consumer protections for vulnerable populations, with a focus on environmental justice communities.