Bill

Bill > LD1321


ME LD1321

ME LD1321
An Act to Reform Net Energy Billing by Establishing Limitations on the Programs' Duration and Compensation


summary

Introduced
03/27/2025
In Committee
03/27/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
06/13/2025

Introduced Session

132nd Legislature

Bill Summary

This bill does the following. 1. It amends the law governing the kilowatt-hour credit net energy billing program to provide that, unless a distributed generation resource has met the timing requirements established for participation in the program, only distributed generation resources with a nameplate capacity of 20 kilowatts or less may be used for net energy billing. For distributed generation resources participating pursuant to this provision, the number of shared financial interest customers or meters is limited to 10 and a customer may not, at one time, have a financial interest in more than 5 distributed generation resources that have net energy billing arrangements. The bill also provides that kilowatt-hour credits may be credited only to a customer's electricity supply charges. 2. It amends the law governing the tariff rate net energy billing program to limit the tariff rate to the supply rate of the standard-offer service rate. 3. It amends the laws governing the tariff rate and kilowatt-hour credit net energy billing programs to prohibit participation 20 years from the date a net energy billing agreement between the entity proposing the development of the distributed generation resource and the transmission and distribution utility was executed or on December 31, 2045, whichever occurs earlier. The bill also requires a distributed generation resource participating in net energy billing programs to sell in the State renewable energy credits generated by the resource.

AI Summary

This bill reforms net energy billing programs in Maine by implementing several key changes to existing energy regulations. The legislation limits net energy billing to distributed generation resources (small-scale renewable energy systems like solar panels) with a nameplate capacity of 20 kilowatts or less after November 1, 2025, unless granted a good-cause exemption. The bill restricts participation in these programs by capping the number of shared customers to 10 and preventing any single customer from having a financial interest in more than 5 distributed generation resources. It also establishes a termination date for net energy billing participation, which occurs either 20 years from the initial agreement or on December 31, 2045, whichever comes first. The bill modifies how kilowatt-hour credits are calculated, now applying credits only to electricity supply charges and setting the tariff rate to the standard-offer service supply rate. Additionally, the legislation requires that renewable energy credits generated by these distributed generation resources must be sold within the state and cannot be sold externally. These changes aim to provide more structured and controlled support for small-scale renewable energy development while managing the long-term financial implications of net energy billing programs.

Committee Categories

Transportation and Infrastructure

Sponsors (8)

Last Action

Placed in Legislative Files (DEAD) (on 06/13/2025)

bill text


bill summary

Loading...

bill summary

Loading...
Loading...