Raised Bill No. 5340, effective October 1, 2026, aims to enhance renewable energy generation in Connecticut by establishing a successor program to the existing Residential Renewable Energy Solutions program. The bill mandates the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to initiate a proceeding by July 1, 2027, to create tariffs for electric distribution companies, set rates, and determine timeframes for calculating net energy produced by distributed energy resources. Starting July 1, 2028, electric distribution companies will be required to offer tariffs for energy products generated from distributed energy resources that meet specific criteria, including being pollutant-free and having a capacity rating of 25 kilowatts or less. The bill emphasizes equitable access to renewable energy benefits, particularly for low-income customers, and allows for the recovery of costs incurred by electric distribution companies in implementing these provisions.

The bill also introduces new definitions and regulations for "portable solar generation devices" and establishes a framework for agrivoltaics projects, which are large-scale solar systems on agricultural land. It extends the termination date of a task force focused on consumer protection and disclosure requirements for solar photovoltaic systems from January 1, 2025, to February 1, 2027, and mandates the creation of a tariff proposal for energy generated by agrivoltaics projects. Additionally, the bill amends section 16-245o of the general statutes to allow hardship customers to enroll with electric suppliers under specific conditions, removing the previous requirement that all contracts must adhere to standard service rates. The bill also outlines objectives for developing successor programs for existing renewable energy initiatives and establishing pilot programs for solar installations in environmental justice communities.