BILL NUMBER: S5627

SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the public service law, in relation to
the transfer of bill credits associated with the electricity produced by
community distributed generation facilities

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill would define "community distributed generation facility" in
public service law, and direct the Public Service Commission to create a
system of tariffs and accounting practices to provide for the transfer
of bill credits from community distributed generation projects in one
utility territory to the accounts of subscribers in another.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Amends the public service law by adding a new section 66-p
that defines the term "community distributed generation facility" and
establishes a system of credits that participating electric customers
shall receive. Additionally, this section specifies the process the
              

Public Service Commission shall follow to direct electric corporations
to file a model tariff to provide for the transfer of bill credits from
community distributed generation facilities in one electric corporation
territory to the accounts of subscribers in other electric corporation
territories, as well as the approval of such tariffs to enable such
transfer.

Section 2: The effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:  Despite the best intentions of the State's efforts to
achieve a goal of 3 GWs of solar-generated electricity, as well as
current efforts to at least double that total, there are pockets of the
state that have not been able to participate in these environmentally
and economically beneficial initiatives. Because of a lack of rooftop
access and/or sufficiently sized parcels, the benefits of participating
in local solar generation have not been available to those in more
densely-populated areas, including many lower-income communities.

Community distributed generation, the most common form of which is
community solar, is a form of renewable energy development designed to
expand the benefits to all.

Community solar refers to local solar facilities shared by multiple
community subscribers who receive credit on their electricity bills for
their share of the power produced. This model for solar is rapidly being
adopted nationwide.

According to the Coalition for Community Solar Access, "today, only a
small minority of American households and businesses have access to
solar because they rent, live in multi tenant buildings, have roofs that
are unable to host a solar system, are shaded by trees 'or experience
some other mitigating factor."

By enabling customers in one utility territory to participate in commu-
nity distributed generation projects located in another utility territo-
ry, the state can maximize efficient deployment of solar generation
resources while ensuring that all New Yorkers have an equitable opportu-
nity to participate in these projects.
In particular, customers living in areas with high population and build-
ing density would be better able to participate in solar energy
projects, while ensuring project siting is cost-effective and can
contribute to much-needed economic development initiatives in local
communities.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

None.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None. The Public Service Commission would need to authorize an account-
ing system to accommodate the transfer of bill credits between utili-
ties.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.