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Senators press finance on utility arrears, solar interconnection and CUC reconciliation
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Summary
Committee members questioned finance staff about outstanding government payables to CUC, the status of a net-metering moratorium, interconnection rules for government solar projects, and reconciliation figures the finance office provided.
Senators at the Sept. 16 committee hearing pressed finance officials for details about the government’s outstanding utility balances with the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation (CUC), the status of CUC’s net‑metering moratorium, and the interconnection arrangements for government solar projects.
Finance told senators the government completed a reconciliation with CUC and, excluding OPA negotiation items, reported a government-wide balance owed to CUC of $2,100,000 as of July 31, 2022. Finance later provided a further breakdown that, as of Sept. 30, 2024, the central government owed $887,000 and that fiscal‑year 2025 outstanding charges were approximately $1,200,000. A finance official said reconciliation had been completed and that the office can provide a department-by-department list of outstanding payables on request.
Senators pressed for accountability and timeliness: one senator said departments’ failure to enter invoices into Munis (the government financial system) was delaying payments and risking compliance with court-ordered undertakings related to CUC. The committee asked finance to provide a list of departments with outstanding CUC payables.
On solar and interconnection, finance staff described a recent government–CUC interconnection agreement and said the agreement allows government facilities to connect grid‑tied, non‑export systems that provide on-site generation without exporting power to the grid. A finance official said the interconnection agreement is “grid connected, non export,” and that government installs hybrid inverters so systems do not export power. The committee heard that some government solar projects are in procurement or construction phases — for example, an A&E bid for the Department of Corrections solar installation closes Sept. 29 and CHCC is on phase 3 of a planned seven‑phase solar offset program.
Committee members also asked whether residential or commercial customers remain covered by CUC’s net‑metering moratorium; finance said the moratorium on net metering remains in place, while noting that residential customers are still permitted to install behind‑the‑meter solar systems that do not export. Senators asked to invite CUC for further briefing about grid impacts and export policy.
No formal committee action was taken. Senators directed finance to provide department-level payable lists, documentation of the reconciliation with CUC, and additional written clarification on the interconnection policy and whether outstanding payables place the government in breach of any court orders.
