Distributed and renewable generation of electric energy; net energy metering. (HB1155)

Introduced By

Del. Marcus Simon (D-Falls Church)

Description

Distributed and renewable generation of electric energy; net energy metering and third party purchase agreements. Exempts generators that are not organized as a public service company and that provide electric energy from renewable energy to retail customers under certain power purchase agreements from being defined as a public utility or a supplier. The measure authorizes retail customers to purchase electric energy from such generators, provided that the renewable energy electricity generation source is located on property owned, leased, or otherwise controlled by the retail customer or any affiliated person. The net energy metering programs are amended to remove the one percent cap relative to total utility sales for net metered facilities. The State Corporation Commission is directed to establish separate net energy metering programs for eligible multi-meter customer-generators, who are customers that own or operate, or contract with another person to own or operate, or both, a renewable energy generating facility that (i) uses as its sole energy source solar power, wind power, or aerobic or anaerobic digester gas; (ii) does not have an aggregate generation capacity of more than one megawatt; and (iii) is used primarily to provide energy to metered accounts of the customer. The measure amends the Commonwealth's energy policy by adding the goals of encouraging private sector distributed renewable energy, increasing security of the electricity grid by supporting distributed renewable energy projects, and augmenting the exercise of private property rights by landowners desiring to generate their own energy from renewable energy sources on their lands. Read the Bill »

Outcome

History