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Senate advances bill allowing solar companies to sell power directly to residential customers under PPAs
Summary
House Bill 244 would let solar energy providers sell electricity directly to residential and other customers through power purchase agreements, require clear contract provisions to protect residential customers, and expand eligible customer categories; the Senate placed the bill on third reading after a favorable vote.
Senator Harper presented House Bill 244, described as an extensive package to allow independent solar providers to offer residential customers power through power purchase agreements (PPAs). The bill expands eligible buyers to include residential customers, charities, military installations and governments and requires that PPAs include specific provisions to inform and protect residential consumers before entering contracts.
Sponsor testimony emphasized competitive operation among solar providers, protections for customers, and examples of market design intended to avoid monopoly pricing. After discussion on the floor and adoption of an agreed amendment addressing a cross-reference error, the fourth substitute passed and was placed at the bottom of the third-reading calendar with a recorded vote showing majority support (24 yea in one recorded vote instance; later placement vote recorded as 21 yea, 0 nay, 8 absent for the third-reading placement).
