PUC, municipalities debate S.50 net‑metering threshold, setbacks, REC rules and application fees

MONTPELIER — Witnesses from the Vermont Public Utility Commission and the Vermont League of Cities and Towns told the House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee on March 26 that S.50’s proposal to raise the registration threshold for ground‑mounted net‑metering systems from 15 kilowatts to 25 kilowatts advances streamlined permitting, but a Senate floor amendment on municipal setbacks creates conflicts the legislature should resolve.

Jake Mayeron (appeared as Jake Merry in committee record), hearing officer and deputy general counsel for the Public Utility Commission, described the Section 248 permitting framework and the PUC’s tiered net‑metering review. He said registration for roof mounts and very small ground arrays currently uses a short, largely paperwork review (15 calendar days) and that the PUC processed more than 2,300 net‑metering registrations in fiscal 2024.

Mayeron told the committee the commission has no objection to raising the registration size if the Legislature wants that policy, but he cautioned that a Senate floor amendment — which would allow municipal setback rules that apply to other development to constrain small solar projects — could conflict with 30 V.S.A. § 248(s), which presently provides statewide uniform setbacks (including a 0‑foot requirement for systems at or below 15 kW).

“The issue with that is… it may be in conflict and it would complicate our streamlined registration process,” Mayeron said, adding that the commission would likely need more detailed site plans and municipal notice if the PUC were required to determine compliance with local setbacks.

Municipal perspective

Representatives of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns said municipalities support faster permitting for small systems but asked lawmakers to preserve local…