This bill proposes amendments to the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission in West Virginia, specifically changing the terminology from "solar photovoltaic energy facility" to "on-site energy facility." It establishes that an on-site energy facility, designed to meet the electrical needs of a retail electric customer and subject to a power purchase agreement (PPA), will not be classified as a public service under certain conditions. These conditions include stipulations regarding the size limits of the facilities for residential, commercial, and industrial customers, as well as requirements for notification to utilities when entering into PPAs.
Additionally, the bill introduces new provisions that mandate public entities to ensure that PPAs guarantee a total cost per kilowatt-hour that is lower than that offered by the local public electrical utility, and limits the duration of such agreements to a maximum of five years, with the possibility of renewal. The bill aims to clarify the regulatory framework surrounding on-site energy facilities and enhance the financial protections for customers entering into power purchase agreements.
Statutes affected: Introduced Version: 24-2-1