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S.50 would raise expedited net‑metering registration to 25 kW, add setbacks and one‑time attribute change
Summary
Committee members reviewed S.50, a Senate bill that would raise the expedited net‑metering registration threshold for ground‑mounted systems from 15 kW to 25 kW and add zoning and attribution provisions.
Committee members reviewed S.50, a Senate bill that would raise the capacity threshold for expedited net‑metering registration for ground‑mounted systems from 15 kilowatts to 25 kilowatts and add related provisions about setbacks and customer choices.
Ellen Jachowsky, Office of Legislative Council, summarized the Senate amendments and the bill’s structure. She said the Senate Natural Resources Committee adopted sections 1 and 2 to increase the expedited registration cap and directed the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to update rule 5.1 to allow ground‑mounted photovoltaic net‑metering systems of 25 kW or less to qualify for expedited registration.
‘‘There’s already an expedited simplified registration process... this is bumping that up to 25 or under and putting it in statute,’’ Jachowsky said. The bill also includes an intent clause directing the PUC to allow systems of 25 kW or less to use the expedited registration procedure even before the PUC updates the rule.
The committee discussed scope questions. The change in the draft specifically applies to ground‑mounted systems; rooftop installations are handled under different numeric thresholds and must generally be mounted on an existing roof to qualify, committee members said. A committee member asked whether parking canopies or other new structures would count as roof‑mounted; speakers indicated those are excluded from the ‘‘existing roof’’ treatment.
Two floor amendments from Senator Perchlik were discussed as sections 3 and 4. Section 3 would require that, in municipalities that have adopted general development setback bylaws, those setback requirements apply to net‑metering systems 25 kW or less registered under expedited review — and that such setback rules not be more restrictive than those applied to other development. Jachowsky noted drafting complications: existing statute already requires setbacks for solar systems above 15 kW, so raising the expedited threshold would require harmonizing other statutory language.
Section 4 addresses the ownership or attribution of net‑metering credits. Under current practice a customer chooses at construction whether to retain or to transfer the attributes of a system (a choice that affects compensation). The draft would allow a customer to change that decision one time for a system 25 kW or less. Jachowsky summarized: the rules would ‘‘allow a customer to change their decision 1 time to retain or transfer the attributes of a new or existing system if the system is 25 kilowatt or less in size.’’
No formal action was taken on S.50 during the session. Committee members said they expect additional testimony from regulators and stakeholders; staff offered to schedule a session to walk members through the net‑metering statute and the PUC’s current registration practice.
Ending: The committee scheduled further review and testimony next week to resolve drafting overlaps with existing statutes, rooftop versus ground‑mounted distinctions, and municipal setback treatment.
