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SENATE BILL NO. 7
INTRODUCED BY P. CONNELL
AN ACT REVISING NET METERING LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS; AMENDING SECTIONS 69-8-601, 69-8-602, AND 69-8-603, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Section 69-8-601, MCA, is amended to read:
"69-8-601. Legislative findings. (1) The legislature finds that it is in the public interest to promote net metering because it:
(1)(a) encourages private investment in renewable energy resources;
(2)(b) stimulates Montana's economic growth; and
(3)(c) enhances the continued diversification of the energy resources used in Montana.
(2) The legislature further finds that customers using net metering systems under this part may not be subsidized by other public utility customers who do not use net metering systems."
Section 2. Section 69-8-602, MCA, is amended to read:
"69-8-602. Utility Public utility net metering requirements. A public utility shall:
(1) allow net metering systems to be interconnected using a standard kilowatt-hour meter capable of registering the flow of electricity in two directions, unless the commission determines, after appropriate notice and opportunity for comment:
(a) that the use of additional metering equipment to monitor the flow of electricity in each direction is necessary and appropriate for the interconnection of net metering systems, after taking into account the benefits and costs of purchasing and installing additional metering equipment; and
(b) how the costs of net metering are to be allocated between the customer-generator and the public utility; and
(2) charge the customer-generator a minimum monthly fee that is the same as other customers of the electric public utility in the same rate class. The commission shall determine, in accordance with 69-8-601(2) and after appropriate notice and opportunity for comment, determine if:
(a) the public utility will incur direct costs associated with interconnecting or administering net metering systems that exceed any offsetting benefits associated with these net metering systems; and
(b) public policy is best served by imposing these costs on the customer-generator, rather than allocating these costs among the public utility's entire customer base."
Section 3. Section 69-8-603, MCA, is amended to read:
"69-8-603. Net energy measurement calculation. Consistent with the other provisions of this part, the net energy measurement must be calculated in the following manner:
(1) The public utility shall measure the net electricity produced or consumed during the billing period, in accordance with normal metering practices.
(2) If the electricity supplied by the electricity supplier public utility exceeds the electricity generated by the customer-generator and fed back to the electricity supplier public utility during the billing period, the customer-generator must be billed for the net electricity supplied by the electricity supplier public utility, in accordance with normal metering practices.
(3) If electricity generated by the customer-generator exceeds the electricity supplied by the electricity supplier public utility, the customer-generator must be:
(a) billed for the appropriate customer charges for that billing period, in accordance with 69-8-602; and
(b) credited for the excess kilowatt hours generated during the billing period, with this kilowatt-hour credit appearing on the bill for the following billing period.
(4) On January 1, April 1, July 1, or October 1 of each year, as designated by the customer-generator as the beginning date of a 12-month billing period, any remaining unused kilowatt-hour credit accumulated during the previous 12 months must be granted to the electricity supplier public utility, without any compensation to the customer-generator."
Section 4. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.
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