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Utilities urge clearer safety, compensation rules for portable solar bill
Summary
Utilities and utilities' trade groups told the Natural Resources & Energy committee on Jan. 15 that S.202, a bill to permit small portable solar devices, needs stronger worker‑safety verification, explicit language on compensation for exported energy, and clearer sizing and metering rules before lawmakers move ahead.
The Natural Resources & Energy committee heard from multiple Vermont utilities on Jan. 15 about S.202, a bill to allow small portable solar devices. Witnesses said they support broader access to renewables but urged the Legislature to tighten the bill on worker safety, metering and compensation.
Ken Nolan, general manager of GEBCO, told the committee the bill is a good starting point but flagged two critical weaknesses: he said UL certification or listing alone is unlikely to prove, in practice, that a device will reliably disconnect from the grid during outages, and he urged an enforceable verification mechanism to protect utility workers. “Without a specific enforcement mechanism, we’re very concerned that our workers’ safety will be an issue,” Nolan said.
Nolan and other utility witnesses also urged the bill to be explicit…
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