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Goodland tables solar interconnection ordinance, asks staff to refine low-income utility aid and business-incentive options
Summary
Commissioners postponed action on an updated 'parallel generation' ordinance after staff noted the ordinance text was missing from the packet; they asked staff to return with the ordinance. The commission also asked staff to draft options for updating low-income utility eligibility (currently $18,000) and to present firm utility-incentive alternatives for new businesses.
The commission on Monday heard three related utility items: a proposed update to the municipal parallel-generation policy, a discussion about low-income utility assistance, and a review of incentives for new businesses that rely on city utilities.
On the parallel-generation ordinance (Ordinance 17-81), staff explained the changes stem from a Kansas Municipal Utilities toolkit and state-level developments that affect interconnection standards, compensation and a prior 4% peak-load cap. Staff noted that the actual ordinance text was not included in the commission packet and recommended tabling the ordinance to allow commissioners time to review the proposed ordinance language. The commission unanimously moved to table the ordinance until the next meeting.
On the low-income utility program, commissioners discussed the ordinance’s current dollar threshold (noted in the packet as $18,000, adopted in 2015) and whether to base eligibility on a flexible metric tied to federal poverty guidelines (100–130% considered). Staff reported current enrollment at about 10 customers and noted many eligible households also receive assistance from programs such as LIHEAP or Harvest America. Commissioners asked staff to bring back several formal options with verification approaches (tax return first page, Social Security documentation, household-size questions) to reduce administrative burden while targeting assistance.
On utility incentives for new businesses, commissioners reviewed prior programs where extended periods of waived charges (such as 6 months free following 12 months of service) strained the utility fund. Alternative proposals discussed included one-time installation labor/equipment support rather than ongoing service discounts, or fixed limited discounts such as a six-month, percentage-based credit. Commissioners asked staff to draft concrete, fixed options and suggested any adopted program include firm eligibility rules and a time limit to avoid open-ended concessions.
Next steps: staff to add the missing ordinance text for 17-81 to the next packet, return formal low-income-program options with verification methods, and propose structured incentives for new businesses with clear eligibility and time limits.
