This bill makes several changes to the net metering program. It adds a definition for "community remote system" which is a facility that generates electricity using an eligible net-metering resource and allocates net-metering credits to low- or moderate-income housing or eligible credit-recipient customer accounts. It also adds a definition for "eligible credit recipient" which includes residential accounts in good standing, housing developments that receive government assistance, and educational institutions. The bill expands the net metering program to include community remote systems and clarifies the eligibility criteria for net-metering customers.

The bill also makes changes to the definition of "excess renewable credit" in relation to net-metering systems. It specifies that for electrical energy produced greater than 100% but less than 110% of the renewable self-generator's own electricity consumption, the excess renewable net-metering credits shall be equal to the electric distribution company's avoided cost rate. It also states that for electrical energy produced at or greater than 110% of the renewable self-generator's own electricity consumption, the excess renewable net-metering credits shall be equal to 103% of the wholesale electricity rate. The bill also includes definitions for terms such as "farm," "hospital," "collaborative," "municipality," "net metering," "customer," "financing arrangement," "nonprofit," and "person." It clarifies that all buildings associated with a farm are eligible for net-metering credits as long as they are owned by the same entity operating the farm and are on the same farmland as the project. It also defines a hospital as set forth in chapter 17 of title 17 and a collaborative as a group of towns and/or cities that enter into an agreement for the purpose of co-owning a renewable-generation facility or entering into a financing arrangement.

Statutes affected:
5033: 39-26.4-2