Bill > LD515

This bill reverses recent changes to Maine's net energy billing and distributed generation laws, effectively rolling back regulations established in 2019. The bill directs the Public Utilities Commission to revert its net energy billing rules to those in effect on March 29, 2017, which means customers with solar or other renewable energy systems will likely see changes in how they are credited for excess energy they generate and send back to the electrical grid. Key provisions include repealing several sections of law related to net energy billing, redefining energy storage systems, and modifying interconnection rules for renewable energy resources. The bill removes specific provisions around distributed generation resources, particularly those between 1-2 megawatts in capacity, and changes how such resources can be interconnected with utility systems. Within 60 days of the act's effective date, the Public Utilities Commission must initiate rulemaking to substantially recreate the net energy billing regulations that were in place in March 2017, which could potentially impact the economic feasibility of future small-scale renewable energy projects in Maine.