summary
Introduced
12/10/2015
12/10/2015
In Committee
12/11/2015
12/11/2015
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/03/2017
01/03/2017
Introduced Session
114th Congress
Bill Summary
Ratepayer Fairness Act of 2015 This bill amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) to require a state regulatory authority and a nonregulated electric utility (entities), to the extent that they allow electric utility rates to include charges that subsidize customer-side technology, to consider whether that subsidy would: result in benefits predominately enjoyed by only the users of the customer-side technology; shift costs of a customer-side technology to electricity consumers that do not use it, particularly in cases in which disparate economic or resource conditions exist among the electricity consumers cross-subsidizing the customer-side technology; negatively affect resource utilization, fuel diversity, grid reliability, or grid security; give any unfair competitive advantage to market the customer-side technology, including an analysis of whether a state regulatory authority has uncovered fraudulent customer-side technology marketing practices; and be necessary to fulfill an obligation to serve electric consumers. The bill sets deadlines within which the entities must set a hearing date to consider and subsequently determine the subsidization of customer-side technology.
AI Summary
This bill, the Ratepayer Fairness Act of 2015, amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) to require state regulatory authorities and nonregulated electric utilities to carefully consider the impacts before allowing electricity rates to subsidize "customer-side technology," which refers to devices connected to the electricity grid at or on the customer's side of the meter. Specifically, these entities must evaluate whether such subsidies would primarily benefit only the users of the technology, unfairly shift costs to consumers who don't use it (especially if there are economic disparities among consumers), negatively affect the electricity grid's resource utilization, fuel diversity, reliability, or security, provide an unfair competitive advantage for marketing the technology (including looking for fraudulent marketing practices), or are truly necessary to meet an obligation to serve all electricity consumers. The bill also sets deadlines for these authorities and utilities to hold public hearings and make determinations on these subsidies, ensuring public notice of their evaluations at least 90 days before any proceeding.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry, Transportation and Infrastructure
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power. (on 12/11/2015)
Official Document
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