§ 219b - Net metering program expansion - Vermont Statutes

§ 219b. Net metering program expansion

(a) The public service board shall expand the scope of the net metering program established in section 219a of this title, by rule or order, in accordance with the provisions of this section. As part of this expansion, the board shall consider:

(1) expanding the maximum kilowatt (AC) capacity of facilities that may participate in the program;

(2) allowing group net meter systems and defining membership in the group, which may be limited to, but need not be limited to, groups that consist of:

(A) physically contiguous customers; and

(B) a municipal customer for municipal and school uses, regardless of whether those uses are contiguous;

(3) providing compensation to the customer for any remaining unused kilowatt-hour credit accumulated during the previous 12 months;

(4) developing a system that allows the capture and sale of renewable energy credits (RECs) from net metering, including consideration of the need for electric companies to meet their infrastructure costs and the need to provide net metered energy producers with sufficient incentives to encourage substantial development of net metered sources of electricity; and

(5) allowing net metering systems to be considered SPEED resources.

(b) Among the factors the board shall consider in performing its functions under this section shall be the following: potential short- and long-term impacts on rates, distribution system costs and benefits, and reliability and diversification costs and benefits.

(c) Before December 15, 2006 the public service board shall file a report with the senate committees on finance and on natural resources and energy and the house committees on commerce and on natural resources and energy regarding the expansion of net metering. (Added 2005, No. 208 (Adj. Sess.), § 13.)