{"id":14,"date":"2013-03-24T14:32:39","date_gmt":"2013-03-24T18:32:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2013\/03\/hb-657-the-rural-georgia-economic-recovery-and-solar-resource-act-of-2014.html"},"modified":"2013-03-24T14:32:39","modified_gmt":"2013-03-24T18:32:39","slug":"hb-657-the-rural-georgia-economic-recovery-and-solar-resource-act-of-2014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2013\/03\/hb-657-the-rural-georgia-economic-recovery-and-solar-resource-act-of-2014.html","title":{"rendered":"HB 657, the Rural Georgia Economic Recovery and Solar Resource Act of 2014"},"content":{"rendered":"

\nThe solar bill that’s been talked about for weeks has finally appeared in the\nGeorgia legislature:\n\nHB 657<\/a>.\nIt’s better than I expected, because it’s about rural solar generation and distribution.\nHowever, there is a catch: a “community solar provider” must be certified\nby the Public Service Commission, instead of just setting up in business\nas in most states, and the PSC could certify only one state-wide monopoly;\nnote the summary at the front says “an independent community solar\nprovider” as in only one.\nBut the body of the bill is more circumspect and says “any”.\nPerhaps if we get enough installations\nthe benefits of solar will become obvious enough that\nthe PSC will certify a lot of community solar providers,\nand we can get on with solar in Georgia,\nincluding house and business rooftop solar.\nMany thanks to Representatives Kidd of the 145th, Kirby of the 114th, Rogers of the 10th, Brockway of\nthe 102nd, Fullerton of the 153rd, and others.\nAnd special credit to Robert E. Green, Shane Owl-Greason, and Ted Terry\nof Georgia Solar Utilities (GaSU) for shepherding this bill\ninto the legislature.\n<\/p>\n

\n\n\"Shane<\/a>\n
\nShane Owl-Greason, Ted Terry, Robert E. Green\nat the\n\nDublin High School solar groundbreaking<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe bill requires the PSC to study changes in retail\nrates<\/a> because of this bill.\nToo bad it doesn’t go the rest of the way to\n\nwhat North Carolina did<\/a>,\nand require timely public posting of who buys and sells which types\nof energy at which prices, but at least it’s a start.\n<\/p>\n

\nMaybe HB 657 will help get\n\nHB 503<\/a> passed for Renewable Portfolio Standards.\nHowever, HB 657 is cleaner than either HB 503 or SB 51<\/a> because it does not mess around\nwith biomass or for that matter any other energy source:\nHB 657 is about solar energy and nothing else.\n<\/p>\n

\nThe main part of HB 657 is in Section 1<\/a>, but first here’s how it\nshoehorns\n\n\ncommunity service providers into the existing law.\nSections 2, 3, and 4 say a community solar provider\nshall be considered a customer generator<\/a>\nlike any other,\nwith energy flows<\/a> measured the same way,\nand rates and quantities<\/a> set the same way.\nSection 5<\/a> says this Act becomes effective immediately upon becoming law.\nText of\nthe bill as filed<\/a> is appended.\n<\/p>\n

\n-jsq\n<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>13
\nLC 36 2362ER
\nHouse Bill 657
\nBy: Representatives Kidd of the 145th, Kirby of the 114th, Rogers of the 10th, Brockway of
\nthe 102nd, Fullerton of the 153rd, and others \n

\nA BILL TO BE ENTITLED
\nAN ACT\n<\/h2>\n1 To amend Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 46 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
\n2\nrelating to generation and distribution of electricity generally, so as to authorize the Public
\n3\nService Commission to establish a rural community solar initiative and oversee and manage
\n4\na responsible expansion of solar energy in this state; to provide for a short title; to provide
\n5\nfor legislative findings and intent; to provide for the commission to initiate a rulemaking and
\n6\na certain proceeding; to provide for the certification of an independent community solar
\n7\nprovider; to define terms; to expand opportunities for retail ratepayers to offset their energy
\n8\nneeds with solar energy; to prevent involuntary ratepayer subsidies of solar energy; to
\n9\nauthorize rate-reduction refunds for customers participating in the rural community solar
\n10\ninitiative; to provide for the payment of certain costs associated with the rural community
\n11\nsolar initiative; to provide for applicability; to provide for related matters; to provide an
\n12\neffective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
\n13\n

\nBE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:<\/h2>\n14\n

\n<\/a>\nSECTION 1.\n<\/h3>\n15\nArticle 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 46 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
\n16\ngeneration and distribution of electricity generally, is amended by adding a new part to read
\n17\nas follows:
\n18\n 
\n“Part 4<\/span>
\n19\n46-3-60.<\/span>
\n20\nThis part shall be known and may be cited as the ‘Rural Georgia Economic Recovery and<\/span>
\n21\nSolar Resource Act of 2014.’<\/span>
\n22\n46-3-61.<\/span>
\n23\n(a)  The General Assembly finds that:<\/span>
\nH. B. 657<\/span>
\n– 1 –
\n
\n<\/a>13
\nLC 36 2362ER<\/span>
\n24\n(1)  It is in the public interest to expand solar electric generation in Georgia.  High levels<\/span>
\n25\nof solar radiation available in this state represent a valuable natural resource, and recent<\/span>
\n26\nadvances in technology and manufacturing have made it economical to recover much<\/span>
\n27\nmore of this natural resource to produce affordable and environmentally sustainable<\/span>
\n28\nelectricity in this state.  Increasing the share of this state’s energy needs served by solar<\/span>
\n29\nelectricity will produce long-term benefits for public health, the environment, and the<\/span>
\n30\neconomy;<\/span>
\n31\n(2)  It is in the public interest to encourage broader participation in the deployment of<\/span>
\n32\nsolar electric generation by residents, businesses, and community institutions to achieve<\/span>
\n33\neconomies of scale for solar generation facilities, financing advantages, lower costs,<\/span>
\n34\nimproved reliability, and optimized generating capacity;<\/span>
\n35\n(3)  Residents, businesses, and community institutions wanting to participate in deploying<\/span>
\n36\nsolar generation facilities face obstacles that prevent them from doing so, including, but<\/span>
\n37\nnot limited to:<\/span>
\n38\n(A)  Lack of sufficient property rights, rooftop access, or direct sun exposure needed<\/span>
\n39\nto own or install rooftop solar facilities;<\/span>
\n40\n(B)  Inability to bear the up-front costs associated with sole ownership of rooftop solar<\/span>
\n41\nfacilities;<\/span>
\n42\n(C)  Difficulty in meeting contiguous real property requirements to operate shared solar<\/span>
\n43\ngeneration facilities; and<\/span>
\n44\n(D)  Lack of opportunities to own or purchase the output from solar generation<\/span>
\n45\nfacilities; and<\/span>
\n46\n(4)  The rapid pace of innovation in solar electric generation calls for innovative<\/span>
\n47\napproaches to encouraging investment and deployment, and additional tools and<\/span>
\n48\nflexibilities for solar resources must be provided to supplement the state’s regulatory<\/span>
\n49\nframework as set forth in Part 1 of this article, the ‘Georgia Territorial Electric Service<\/span>
\n50\nAct,’  Part 3 of this article, ‘The Georgia Cogeneration and Distributed Generation Act of<\/span>
\n51\n2001,’ and other related laws and regulations, while  maintaining the integrity and
\n52\napplicability of that framework for generation and distribution resources not covered by<\/span>
\n53\nthis part.<\/span>
\n54\n(b)  The intent of the General Assembly is to provide opportunities to residents of this state<\/span>
\n55\nto utilize solar engery resources, without regard to where they choose to live in this state,<\/span>
\n56\nwhether they rent or own, or whether they can afford the costs of sole ownership of solar<\/span>
\n57\ngeneration facilities. The General Assembly declares that such opportunities should be<\/span>
\n58\nvoluntary and should not impose subsidy costs on ratepayers but should put downward<\/span>
\n59\npressure on retail electricity rates over time by reducing the costs borne by ratepayers to<\/span>
\n60\nbuild and replace traditional generation resources.<\/span>
\nH. B. 657<\/span>
\n– 2 –
\n
\n<\/a>13
\nLC 36 2362ER<\/span>
\n61\n46-3-62.<\/span>
\n62\nAs used in this part, the term:<\/span>
\n63\n(1)  ‘Community solar facility’ means a solar generation facility owned or operated by the<\/span>
\n64\ncommunity solar provider primarily for the production and sale of electrical energy to an<\/span>
\n65\nelectric utility for the purpose of offsetting part or all of its subscribers’ requirements for<\/span>
\n66\nelectricity.  A community solar facility shall be deemed to be a distributed generation<\/span>
\n67\nfacility for the purposes of this part, notwithstanding its location, capacity, or manner of<\/span>
\n68\ninterconnection.<\/span>
\n69\n(2) ‘Community solar provider’ means a company certified by the commission pursuant<\/span>
\n70\nto this part to own and operate solar generation facilities and otherwise carry out the<\/span>
\n71\npurposes of the rural community solar initiative and the purposes of this part.<\/span>
\n72\n(3) ‘Customer generator’ shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section<\/span>
\n73\n46-3-52.<\/span>
\n74\n(4)  ‘Distributed generation facility’ shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code<\/span>
\n75\nSection 46-3-52.<\/span>
\n76\n(5) ‘Rural community solar initiative’ means the initiative to be established through the<\/span>
\n77\nrulemaking proceeding under Code Section 46-3-63.<\/span>
\n78\n(6) ‘Solar generation facility’ means a photovoltaic system or other system used to convert<\/span>
\n79\nsunlight into electricity and transfer that electricity.<\/span>
\n80\n(7)  ‘Subscriber’ means a retail electric customer who has elected to pay the community<\/span>
\n81\nsolar provider for billing credits associated with energy produced by solar generation<\/span>
\n82\nfacilities for the purpose of offsetting part or all of such customer’s requirements for<\/span>
\n83\nelectricity.<\/span>
\n84\n46-3-63.<\/span>
\n85\nNo later than 15 days after the effective date of this Act, the commission shall initiate a<\/span>
\n86\nrulemaking proceeding to establish a state-wide rural community solar initiative, the<\/span>
\n87\npurposes of which shall be to:<\/span>
\n88\n(1)  Encourage the deployment of solar generation facilities across this state and to ensure<\/span>
\n89\nopportunities are available for all retail electric customers in this state to voluntarily<\/span>
\n90\nparticipate in such deployment, including methods by which a customer can purchase or<\/span>
\n91\nreceive credit for energy generated by solar generation facilities not located on such<\/span>
\n92\ncustomer’s premises and which offer customers alternatives to the prohibitive costs of<\/span>
\n93\nsole ownership of solar generation facilities;<\/span>
\n94\n(2) Determine the processes that will be used to set long-term targets for total solar<\/span>
\n95\nelectric generating capacity and electricity generated by residents and ratepayers in this<\/span>
\nH. B. 657<\/span>
\n– 3 –
\n
\n<\/a>13
\nLC 36 2362ER<\/span>
\n96\nstate, including minimum amounts of electric energy that an electric utility must purchase<\/span>
\n97\nfrom the community solar provider;<\/span>
\n98\n(3)  Prescribe the methods by which customers shall participate as subscribers to the<\/span>
\n99\ncommunity solar provider,  whether using voluntary opt in or opt out approaches or<\/span>
\n100\notherwise, and how designated shares will be determined for customers that opt in or<\/span>
\n101\nchoose not to opt out, including, by example, whether the designated amount shall be<\/span>
\n102\nbased on the subscribers’ historical or projected usage.  By opting in or choosing not to<\/span>
\n103\nopt out of this rural community solar initiative, customers shall agree to pay an electric<\/span>
\n104\nutility for their designated shares of the total solar energy produced by the community<\/span>
\n105\nsolar provider, including standard payment methods by which the electric utility shall<\/span>
\n106\npurchase solar energy from the community solar provider, at a rate on file with the<\/span>
\n107\ncommission, and credit the appropriate portion of such energy to each subscriber on the<\/span>
\n108\nsubscriber’s bill, at a rate on file with the commission;<\/span>
\n109\n(4)  Prescribe the processes for determining just and reasonable rates for the community<\/span>
\n110\nsolar provider to sell solar energy to an electric utility for the purpose of allocating credits<\/span>
\n111\nto subscribers for such energy, including total amounts of electricity an electric utility is<\/span>
\n112\nrequired to purchase from the community solar provider and the terms upon which such<\/span>
\n113\npurchases shall be made; provided, however, that the community solar provider shall be<\/span>
\n114\nentitled to retain ownership or other benefits of any tradable attributes or allowances, or<\/span>
\n115\nany attributes with a monetary or market value, which may at any time be associated with<\/span>
\n116\nthe capabilities of any community solar facility, including renewable energy credits,<\/span>
\n117\nenvironmental credits, emissions allowances, and other green credits; provided, further,<\/span>
\n118\nthat the commission may require the community solar provider to trade or sell for fair<\/span>
\n119\nvalue such attributes or allowances to an electric utility, or other entity, in order to reduce<\/span>
\n120\nenvironmental compliance costs or achieve other savings to ratepayers, or to direct the<\/span>
\n121\nproceeds of any trades or sales into a reserve fund for rate reduction established under<\/span>
\n122\nthis part;<\/span>
\n123\n(5)  Prescribe the processes for determining just and reasonable rates for an electric utility<\/span>
\n124\nto allocate credits to a subscriber’s monthly service bill, on a kilowatt-hour basis, for the<\/span>
\n125\nenergy produced by the community solar provider and for recovering from subscribers<\/span>
\n126\nthe costs of purchasing such energy;<\/span>
\n127\n(6)  Prescribe standard procedures and enforceable timelines for interconnection service<\/span>
\n128\nrequests for solar generation facilities that ensure electric utilities are making available<\/span>
\n129\nfair, open, and timely access to their distribution systems for customer generators and the<\/span>
\n130\ncommunity solar provider and to determine just and reasonable rates and charges for<\/span>
\n131\ninterconnection service and related access charges; provided, however, that such rates and<\/span>
\nH. B. 657<\/span>
\n– 4 –
\n
\n<\/a>13
\nLC 36 2362ER<\/span>
\n132\ncharges shall reasonably conform to an electric utility’s actual cost of providing the<\/span>
\n133\nservice for which the charges or fees are imposed;<\/span>
\n134\n(7)  Set minimum requirements for financial viability and technical capability for<\/span>
\n135\ncompanies desiring to be the community solar provider;<\/span>
\n136\n(8)  Set other minimum requirements that the commission finds to be in the public<\/span>
\n137\ninterest for companies desiring to be the community solar provider; and<\/span>
\n138\n(9)  Prescribe the minimum filing requirements and the processes that the commission<\/span>
\n139\nwill use to select and certify the community solar provider.<\/span>
\n140\n46-3-64.<\/span>
\n141\n(a)  On or before December 1, 2014, the commission shall certify an independent<\/span>
\n142\ncommunity solar provider which shall make opportunities available for customers to take<\/span>
\n143\nadvantage of solar energy and to otherwise implement the purposes of this part by:<\/span>
\n144\n(1)  Owning, operating, and maintaining community solar facilities;<\/span>
\n145\n(2)  Establishing and conducting a process for soliciting competitive bids for the<\/span>
\n146\nconstruction of community solar facilities by third-party companies designed to maximize<\/span>
\n147\nthe accrual of long-term value and cost savings to subscribers over the useful life of such<\/span>
\n148\ncommunity solar facilities;<\/span>
\n149\n(3)  Selling energy produced by community solar facilities to an electric utility, at rates<\/span>
\n150\nand upon terms determined by the commission, for the purpose of allocating such energy<\/span>
\n151\nto subscribers’ bills, on a kilowatt-hour basis, on terms prescribed by the commission;<\/span>
\n152\n(4)  Ensuring that the deployment of solar electric generation in this state is coordinated<\/span>
\n153\nto allow customers to benefit from economies of scale, to avoid inappropriate subsidies<\/span>
\n154\nof solar energy by customers that do not volunteer to participate in such deployment, and<\/span>
\n155\nto ensure that solar electric generation results in downward pressure on retail electric<\/span>
\n156\nservice rates; and<\/span>
\n157\n(5)  Working with electric utilities to ensure the availability of appropriate<\/span>
\n158\ninterconnection service and metering facilities for community solar facilities and to<\/span>
\n159\nensure electricity supplied by community solar facilities is accurately credited to<\/span>
\n160\nsubscribers’ monthly retail electric service bills, along with any fees or costs.<\/span>
\n161\n(b)   When certifying a community solar provider, the commission shall select a company<\/span>
\n162\nthat has submitted to the commission a comprehensive and innovative planning proposal<\/span>
\n163\nfor encouraging the state-wide deployment of solar generation facilities, including financial<\/span>
\n164\nperformance standards for meeting efficiencies of scale and cost savings to ensure such<\/span>
\n165\ndeployment results in downward pressure on retail electric service rates.<\/span>
\nH. B. 657<\/span>
\n– 5 –
\n
\n<\/a>13
\nLC 36 2362ER<\/span>
\n<\/a>\n166\n46-3-65.<\/span>
\n167\n(a)  The cost to the commission of providing reasonably necessary specialized testimony<\/span>
\n168\nand assistance associated with the rural community solar initiative shall be charged to the<\/span>
\n169\nelectric utility until the community solar provider has been selected; thereafter, the cost<\/span>
\n170\nshall be charged to the community solar provider.  The amount of any such charges shall<\/span>
\n171\nnot exceed $600,000.00 per year. The maximum amount shall be adjusted on an annual<\/span>
\n172\nbasis based on the Consumer Price Index as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of<\/span>
\n173\nthe United States Department of Labor.  In the event the Consumer Price Index is no longer<\/span>
\n174\navailable, the commission shall select a comparable broad national measure of inflation.<\/span>
\n175\nAt the time the commission determines that specialized testimony and assistance is<\/span>
\n176\nrequired, the commission shall issue an order setting forth the scope and budget for such<\/span>
\n177\ntestimony and assistance.  All invoices relating to the testimony and assistance shall be<\/span>
\n178\nsubject to commission review and approval, and no electric utility or community solar<\/span>
\n179\nprovider shall be required to pay any invoice not approved by the commission.<\/span>
\n180\n(b)  The amounts paid by an electric utility or community solar provider under this Code<\/span>
\n181\nsection shall be deemed a necessary cost of providing service, and the electric utility or<\/span>
\n182\ncommunity solar provider shall be entitled to recover the full amount of any costs charged<\/span>
\n183\nto the electric utility or community solar provider pursuant to this Code section.  For any<\/span>
\n184\namounts paid by an electric utility or community solar provider under this Code section<\/span>
\n185\nthat could result in an inappropriate subsidy to subscribers or to an electric utility’s<\/span>
\n186\nnonsubscriber customers, the electric utility or community solar provider may petition the<\/span>
\n187\ncommission to direct that appropriate payments be made by or between the electric utility<\/span>
\n188\nand the community solar provider to prevent such subsidy.<\/span>
\n189\n<\/a>\n46-3-66.<\/span>
\n190\nOn or before July 1, 2015, the commission shall initiate a proceeding to:<\/span>
\n191\n(1)  Consider the long-term impact of the rural community solar initiative on retail<\/span>
\n192\nelectric rates;<\/span>
\n193\n(2)  Issue findings regarding any reductions in customer demand for electric service<\/span>
\n194\nprovided from traditional generation facilities that are attributable to energy supplied<\/span>
\n195\nfrom community solar facilities and other solar generation facilities;<\/span>
\n196\n(3)  Identify reasonably foreseeable costs that may be prudently incurred by electric<\/span>
\n197\nutilities, owners and operators of electric transmission and distribution facilities, and<\/span>
\n198\nretail electric customers as a result of expanded utilization of solar energy, and to<\/span>
\n199\ndetermine a method by which such costs can be appropriately recovered from users and<\/span>
\n200\nproviders of solar energy to prevent inappropriate subsidies of solar energy by other retail<\/span>
\n201\nelectric customers;<\/span>
\nH. B. 657<\/span>
\n– 6 –
\n
\n<\/a>13
\nLC 36 2362ER<\/span>
\n202\n(4)  Identify any foreseeable costs associated with environmental compliance, retrofits,<\/span>
\n203\nor other liabilities that may be reduced or offset by the deployment of community solar<\/span>
\n204\nfacilities and other solar generation facilities, and the extent to which such reductions or<\/span>
\n205\noffsets could achieve savings for ratepayers or result in downward pressure on rates over<\/span>
\n206\ntime; and<\/span>
\n207\n(5)  Require the community solar provider and any electric utility to make payments, and<\/span>
\n208\nto hold funds in reserve to cover the cost of such payments, as appropriate, for:<\/span>
\n209\n(A)  Compensation to electric utilities and other affected companies by the community<\/span>
\n210\nsolar provider for unrecovered, prudently incurred costs identified pursuant to this Code<\/span>
\n211\nsection;<\/span>
\n212\n(B)  Compensation to the community solar provider by an electric utility for any<\/span>
\n213\nunrecovered value of attributes or allowances associated with community solar facilities<\/span>
\n214\nused to offset environmental compliance costs for electric utilities or to otherwise<\/span>
\n215\nachieve savings for electric utilities;<\/span>
\n216\n(C)  Compensation to the community solar provider by an electric utility for other cost<\/span>
\n217\nsavings and offsets resulting from solar energy production under the rural community<\/span>
\n218\nsolar initiative, where such savings or offsets accrue to the benefit of an electric utility<\/span>
\n219\nor customers who are not subscribers;<\/span>
\n220\n(D)  Charges to the community solar provider for the expenses to the commission of<\/span>
\n221\nconducting proceedings related to the rural community solar initiative or for any expert<\/span>
\n222\ntestimony and assistance that is reasonably necessary for issues relating to the<\/span>
\n223\ndeployment of solar generation facilities in Georgia;<\/span>
\n224\n(E)  Compensation to the state by the community solar provider for the valuable use and<\/span>
\n225\nenjoyment of solar energy in this state; and<\/span>
\n226\n(F)  Rate-reduction refunds to subscribers by the community solar provider, which shall<\/span>
\n227\nbe designed to pass through to subscribers any cost savings realized by the community<\/span>
\n228\nsolar provider resulting from declining costs of solar energy production and which shall<\/span>
\n229\nbe paid from any surplus profits earned by the community solar provider beyond a rate<\/span>
\n230\nof return approved by the commission for the community solar provider’s activities<\/span>
\n231\nunder the rural community solar initiative.<\/span>
\n232\n46-6-67.
\n233\nThis part is not intended to repeal Part 1 of this article,  the ‘Georgia Territorial Electric<\/span>
\n234\nService Act,’ or to materially alter the rights of customers or customer generators not<\/span>
\n235\nparticipating in the rural community solar initiative.  The commission shall make<\/span>
\n236\nreasonable efforts to implement this part in a manner that maintains the rights and benefits<\/span>
\n237\nexisting under prior law for customers not participating in the rural community solar<\/span>
\nH. B. 657<\/span>
\n– 7 –
\n
\n<\/a>13
\nLC 36 2362ER<\/span>
\n238\ninitiative; provided, however, that any conflict between this part and any other provision<\/span>
\n239\nof law shall be resolved in favor of this part and the purposes set forth herein.<\/span>
\n240\n46-3-68.<\/span>
\n241\nThis part shall not apply to any electric utility whose rates are not fixed by the<\/span>
\n242\ncommission.”<\/span>
\n243\n

\n<\/a>\nSECTION 2.\n<\/h3>\n244\nSaid article is further amended by revising Code Section 46-3-54, relating to electric service
\n245\nproviders rates and fees, as follows:
\n246\n“46-3-54.
\n247\nAn electric service provider:
\n248\n(1)  Shall make either bidirectional metering or single directional metering available to
\n249\ncustomer generators depending on how the distributed generation facility is connected
\n250\nto the distribution system of the electric service provider;
\n251\n(2)  Shall enter into a written agreement with the customer generator to charge the
\n252\ncustomer generator the rate established by the commission, or the appropriate governing
\n253\nbody, in the case of any other electric service provider or electric supplier, for metering
\n254\nservices;
\n255\n(3)  In setting the fees for metering service, the commission, or the appropriate governing
\n256\nbody, in the case of any other electric service provider or electric supplier, will<\/span> shall
\n257\ninclude the direct costs associated with interconnecting or administering metering
\n258\nservices or distributed generation facilities and will<\/strike>shall<\/span>not allocate these costs among
\n259\nthe electric<\/span> utility’s entire customer base; and<\/span>
\n260\n(4)  In establishing such a fee for metering services, the electric service provider shall not
\n261\ncharge the customer generator any standby, capacity, interconnection, or other fee or
\n262\ncharge, other than a monthly service charge, unless agreed to by the customer generator
\n263\nor approved by the commission, in the case of an electric utility, or the appropriate
\n264\ngoverning body, in the case of any other electric service provider or electric supplier; and<\/span>
\n<\/a>\n265\n(5)  In the case of any electric utility subject to Part 4 of this article, shall consider the<\/span>
\n266\ncommunity solar provider certified under Code Section 43-3-64 to be a customer<\/span>
\n267\ngenerator for the purposes of this part, subject to other terms and conditions set forth by<\/span>
\n268\nthe commission.”<\/span>
\n269\n

<\/a>\nSECTION 3.\n<\/h3>\n270\nSaid article is further amended by revising Code Section 46-3-55, relating to measurement
\n271\nand payment of energy flow, as follows:
\nH. B. 657
\n– 8 –
\n
\n<\/a>13
\nLC 36 2362ER
\n272\n“46-3-55.
\n273\nConsistent with the other provisions of this chapter, the energy flow shall be measured and
\n274\npaid for in the following manner:
\n275\n(1)  If the distributed generation facilities are connected to the electric service provider’s
\n276\ndistribution system on the customer generator’s side of the customer’s meter, the electric
\n277\nservice provider shall:
\n278\n(A)  Measure the electricity produced or consumed during the billing period, in
\n279\naccordance with normal metering practices using bidirectional metering;
\n280\n(B)  When the electricity supplied by the electric service provider exceeds the
\n281\nelectricity generated by the customer’s distributed generation, the electricity shall be
\n282\nbilled by the electric service provider, in accordance with tariffs filed with the
\n283\ncommission; or
\n284\n(C)  When electricity generated by the customer’s distributed generation system exceeds
\n285\nthe electricity supplied by the electric service provider, the customer generator:
\n286\n(i)  Shall be billed for the appropriate customer charges for that billing period; and
\n287\n(ii)  Shall be credited for the excess kilowatt-hours generated during the billing period
\n288\nat an agreed to rate as filed with the commission, with this kilowatt-hour credit
\n289\nappearing on the bill for the billing period; or
\n290\n(2)  If the distributed generation facilities are connected to the electric service provider’s
\n291\ndistribution system on the electric service provider’s side of the customer’s meter, the
\n292\nelectric service provider shall:
\n293\n(A)  Measure the electricity produced or consumed during the billing period, in
\n294\naccordance with normal metering practices using single directional metering;
\n295\n(B)  Charge the customer generator a minimum monthly fee as established in Code
\n296\nSection 46-3-54; and
\n297\n(C)  If there is electricity generated by the customer generator for the billing period, the
\n298\ncustomer generator shall be compensated at an agreed to rate as filed with the
\n299\ncommission; or<\/span>
\n<\/a>\n300\n(3)  Energy flow associated with community solar facilities or other solar generation<\/span>
\n301\nfacilities owned or operated by the community solar provider, as provided for in Part 4<\/span>
\n302\nof this article, shall be measured as determined by the commission and paid for in<\/span>
\n303\naccordance with rates and tariffs on file with the commission.”<\/span>
\n304\n

<\/a>\nSECTION 4.\n<\/h3>\n305\nSaid article is further amended by revising Code Section 46-3-56, relating to requirement to
\n306\npurchase energy from customer generator and safety standards and regulations, as follows:
\nH. B. 657
\n– 9 –
\n
\n<\/a>13
\nLC 36 2362ER
\n307\n“46-3-56.
\n308\n(a)  An electric service provider will<\/span>shall<\/span>only be required to purchase energy as specified
\n309\nin Code Section 46-3-55 from an eligible customer generator on a first-come, first-served
\n310\nbasis until the cumulative generating capacity of all renewable energy sources equals 0.2
\n311\npercent of the utility’s annual peak demand in the previous year; provided, however, that
\n312\nno electric service provider will<\/span>shall<\/span>be required to purchase such energy at a price above
\n313\navoided energy cost unless that amount of energy has been subscribed under any renewable
\n314\nenergy program.
\n315\n(b)  Once the capacity is subscribed, an electric service provider may purchase energy from
\n316\nan eligible customer generator at a cost of energy as defined for a utility by the
\n317\ncommission, in the case of an electric utility, or by the appropriate governing body, in the
\n318\ncase of any other electric service provider or electric supplier.
\n319\n(c)  A distributed generation facility used by a customer generator shall include, at the
\n320\ncustomer’s own expense, all equipment necessary to meet applicable safety, power quality,
\n321\nand interconnection requirements established by the National Electrical Code, National
\n322\nElectrical Safety Code, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and
\n323\nUnderwriters Laboratories.
\n324\n(d)  The commission, in the case of an electric utility, or the appropriate governing body,
\n325\nin the case of other electric service providers or electric suppliers, after appropriate notice
\n326\nand opportunity for comment, may adopt by regulation additional safety, power quality,
\n327\nand interconnection requirements for a customer generator that the commission or
\n328\ngoverning body determines are necessary to protect public safety and system reliability.
\n329\n(e)  An electric service provider may<\/span>shall<\/span>not require a customer generator whose
\n330\ndistributed generation facility meets the standards in subsections (a) and (b) of this Code
\n331\nsection, to comply with additional safety or performance standards, perform or pay for
\n332\nadditional tests, or purchase additional liability insurance.
\n333\n(f)  No electric service provider or electric supplier shall be liable to any person, directly
\n334\nor indirectly, for loss of property, injury, or death resulting from the interconnection of a
\n335\ncogenerator or distributed generation facility to its electrical system.
\n<\/a>\n336\n(g) For any electric utility subject to Part 4 of this article, the community solar provider<\/span>
\n337\ncertified under Code Section 43-3-64 shall be deemed to be a customer generator for the<\/span>
\n338\npurposes of this part; provided, however, that nowithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this<\/span>
\n339\nCode section, an electric utility shall purchase energy from the community solar provider,<\/span>
\n340\nas defined in Code Section 46-3-62, at such rates and quantities in accordance with rates<\/span>
\n341\non file with the commission, or otherwise upon such terms as the commission may<\/span>
\n342\ndetermine.”<\/span>
\nH. B. 657
\n– 10 –
\n
\n<\/a>13
\nLC 36 2362ER
\n343\n

<\/a>\nSECTION 5.\n<\/h3>\n344\nThis Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law
\n345\nwithout such approval.
\n346\n

<\/a>\nSECTION 6.\n<\/h3>\n347\nAll laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
\nH. B. 657
\n– 11 –
\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The solar bill that’s been talked about for weeks has finally appeared in the Georgia legislature: HB 657. It’s better than I expected, because it’s about rural solar generation and distribution. However, there is a catch: a “community solar provider” must be certified by the Public Service Commission, instead of just setting up in business […]","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[97,40,14,17,8,2,20,21,22,23,24,3],"tags":[8736,8717,8704,8707,102,8701,101,8699,8702,8710,12,8711,8712,103,8713,98,99,8714,100,8700],"class_list":["post-14","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-activism","category-community","category-economy","category-ga-psc","category-georgia","category-government","category-law","category-planning","category-politics","category-renewable-energy","category-solar","category-transparency","tag-activism","tag-community","tag-economy","tag-ga-psc","tag-gasu","tag-georgia","tag-georgia-solar-utilities","tag-government","tag-lake","tag-law","tag-lowndes-area-knowledge-exchange","tag-planning","tag-politics","tag-public-service-commission","tag-renewable-energy","tag-robert-e-green","tag-shane-owl-greason","tag-solar","tag-ted-terry","tag-transparency"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p585fK-e","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}