A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "an act revising net metering rate laws; requiring rates be set at the supplier's rate or avoided cost rates; AMENDING SECTION 69-8-603, MCA; and PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE."
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Section 69-8-603, MCA, is amended to read:
"69-8-603. (Temporary) 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 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 exceeds the electricity generated by the customer-generator and fed back to the electricity supplier during the billing period, the customer-generator must be billed for the net electricity supplied by the electricity supplier, in accordance with normal metering practices.
(3) If electricity generated by the customer-generator exceeds the electricity supplied by the electricity supplier, 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 at the electricity supplier's standard offer or qualifying facility's avoided cost rate, 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, without any compensation to the customer-generator.
69-8-603. (Effective on occurrence of contingency) Net energy measurement calculation. Consistent with the other provisions of this part, and except as provided in 69-8-611(3), 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 public utility exceeds the electricity generated by the customer-generator and fed back to the public utility during the billing period, the customer-generator must be billed for the net electricity supplied by the public utility and billed at the appropriate rate pursuant to 69-3-306, in accordance with 69-8-602 and 69-8-610 through 69-8-612.
(3) Subject to 69-8-602 and 69-8-610 through 69-8-612, if electricity generated by the customer-generator exceeds the electricity supplied by the public utility, the customer-generator must be:
(a) billed at the appropriate rate pursuant to 69-3-306 for that billing period; and
(b) credited for the excess kilowatt hours generated during the billing period at the electricity supplier's standard offer or qualifying facility's avoided cost rate, 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 public utility, without any compensation to the customer-generator."
NEW SECTION. Section 2. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.