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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to allowing a customer to interconnect a renewable energy |
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system to a utility's electric transmission and distribution |
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system. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 35, Utilities Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter E to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER E. INTERCONNECTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEM |
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Sec. 35.151. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Customer-generator" means an owner of a renewable |
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energy system that is interconnected to an electric utility's, |
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municipally owned utility's, or electric cooperative's electric |
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transmission and distribution system. |
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(2) "Net meter" means a meter that measures the |
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difference between the electricity supplied to the customer and the |
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electricity generated by a customer and fed back to the electric |
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utility, municipally owned utility, or electric cooperative. |
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(3) "Renewable energy system" means a device that |
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meets the standards established by rule under Section 35.154 and |
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that uses solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, or biomass |
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resources to generate electricity. |
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Sec. 35.152. INTERCONNECTION. An electric utility, |
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municipally owned utility, or electric cooperative shall allow a |
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renewable energy system to be interconnected using a net energy |
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meter. |
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Sec. 35.153. APPLICATION FOR INTERCONNECTION. A customer |
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may request interconnection by filing an application for |
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interconnection. An electric utility, municipally owned utility, |
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or electric cooperative shall prioritize and fulfill an |
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interconnection request before any other new load request. |
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Sec. 35.154. RULES. The commission by rule shall establish |
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safety, technical, and performance standards for renewable energy |
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systems and the interconnection of a renewable energy system to an |
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electric transmission and distribution system. |
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Sec. 35.155. PROHIBITION OF CERTAIN PREREQUISITES. An |
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electric utility, municipally owned utility, or electric |
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cooperative may not require a customer-generator whose renewable |
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energy system meets the standards established by rule adopted under |
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Section 35.154 to purchase additional liability insurance as a |
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prerequisite of interconnection. |
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Sec. 35.156. CREDIT FOR GENERATION. (a) An electric |
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utility, retail electric provider, municipally owned utility, or |
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electric cooperative may charge the customer-generator for the net |
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electricity supplied during the billing period only if the amount |
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of electricity supplied exceeds the amount of electricity provided |
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by the customer-generator. |
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(b) An electric utility, retail electric provider, |
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municipally owned utility, or electric cooperative shall apply a |
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credit at the avoided cost rate to the account of the |
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customer-generator if the amount of electricity provided by a |
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customer-generator during the billing period exceeds the amount of |
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electricity used. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |