Bill > A585

Introduced Session

This bill would require the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to conduct a study for the purpose of identifying, researching, and quantifying the effects of short-term solutions that could open segments of the electrical transmission and distribution system that are currently closed to new distributed energy generation sources. The bill would require the BPU to consider the following potential solutions, as well as any additional potential solutions identified by the BPU: (1) permitting the flow of electricity, through an electrical substation, from the distribution system to the transmission system; (2) requiring solar inverters to include technology that allows the inverter to autonomously control the reactive power passing through the inverter; (3) requiring energy storage systems to include technology that allows the power input and output of the system to vary in relation to the demand for electric power in the transmission and distribution system at a given time; and (4) requiring solar photovoltaic systems to include technology that enables the power output of the system to autonomously respond to weather conditions. As defined by the bill, "reactive power" means the portion of alternating current electricity, measured in volt-amperes reactive, that cannot do useful work due to a misalignment of the current and voltage waveforms of the electricity. The bill would require the BPU to submit a final report on its study to the Governor and the Legislature within one year after the bill's effective date, which contains recommendations for legislative, regulatory, or local governmental action. The bill would also require the BPU to adopt rules and regulations to implement the recommended regulatory action, within one year after the final report is published. The bill would direct the BPU to initially apply the recommendations as a pilot program and then, if successful, provide for Statewide implementation of the rules and regulations.

Committee Categories

Reginald Atkins (D)*,  Robert Karabinchak (D)*,  Sterley Stanley (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document