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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the interconnection of a customer's 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. CUSTOMER-GENERATORS |
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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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transmission and distribution system. |
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(2) "Net energy meter" means a meter that measures the |
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difference between the electricity supplied to the |
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customer-generator and the electricity generated by a |
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customer-generator and fed back to the transmission and |
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distribution system. |
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(3) "Renewable energy system" means a device that uses |
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solar or wind resources to generate electricity. |
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Sec. 35.152. INTERCONNECTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEM. |
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(a) An electric utility shall allow a renewable energy system to be |
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interconnected with the utility's transmission and distribution |
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system using a net energy meter. |
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(b) A customer-generator shall grant surplus electricity |
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produced by the customer-generator's renewable energy system to the |
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electric utility. |
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Sec. 35.153. NET ENERGY METER. (a) An electric utility |
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shall supply and install, at no cost to the customer-generator, a |
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net energy meter that is capable of registering the flow of |
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electricity in two directions. |
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(b) The customer is responsible for the cost of any |
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subsequent meter changes. |
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Sec. 35.154. CREDIT FOR ELECTRICITY GENERATED BY RENEWABLE |
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ENERGY SYSTEM. (a) An electric utility may charge the |
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customer-generator for electricity supplied during the billing |
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period only if the amount of electricity supplied exceeds the |
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amount of electricity provided by the customer-generator. |
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(b) A transmission and distribution utility shall charge a |
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customer-generator for the net electricity supplied at the same |
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rate applicable to service provided to other customers in the same |
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service class. A utility may not charge a customer-generator a fee |
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or charge that would increase the customer-generator's minimum |
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monthly charge to an amount greater than that of other customers in |
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the same rate class. |
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(c) The electric utility shall provide to the |
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customer-generator a credit for any amount of electricity provided |
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by a customer-generator during the billing period that exceeds the |
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amount of electricity used. The amount of the credit must be equal |
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to the total amount the utility would have charged the customer if |
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the utility had provided the power. |
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(d) The electric utility shall pay the customer-generator |
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for a credit within 90 days by either applying the credit to the |
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customer-generator's utility bills or paying the |
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customer-generator an amount equal to the credit. |
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(e) An electric utility shall clearly state on a |
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customer-generator's bill: |
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(1) the kilowatt hours of electricity provided by the |
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utility to the customer-generator; |
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(2) the kilowatt hours of electricity provided to the |
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utility by the customer-generator; and |
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(3) the value of the electricity provided under |
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Subdivisions (1) and (2) as determined under Subsections (b) and |
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(c). |
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Sec. 35.155. ADMINISTRATIVE FEE. (a) An electric utility |
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may charge a customer-generator an administrative fee of not more |
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than $10 each calendar month for the cost of administering this |
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subchapter. |
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(b) An electric utility may charge the administrative fee |
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regardless of whether the customer-generator's electricity use |
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exceeds the amount of electricity provided by the |
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customer-generator. |
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Sec. 35.156. VIOLATIONS. (a) If the commission receives |
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notice of a suspected violation of this subchapter, the commission |
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shall notify the attorney general. |
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(b) The attorney general shall investigate any report of a |
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suspected violation of this subchapter. |
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(c) The attorney general may inspect an electric utility's |
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records and accounts at any time, with or without notice, to ensure |
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compliance with this subchapter. |
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(d) The attorney general may bring an action to enforce this |
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subchapter or to enjoin a violation of this subchapter. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |