This website will be unavailable from Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. through Monday, June 3, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. due to data center maintenance.

  2009S0105-1 01/20/09
 
  By: Fraser S.B. No. 545
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of a distributed solar generation
  incentive program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is
  amended by adding Section 39.9155 to read as follows:
         Sec. 39.9155.  DISTRIBUTED SOLAR GENERATION INCENTIVE
  PROGRAM. (a) It is the goal of the legislature that electric
  utilities administer incentive programs for residential and
  commercial customers to increase the amount of distributed solar
  generation installed within the state in a cost-effective,
  market-neutral, and nondiscriminatory manner.
         (b)  The commission by rule shall:
               (1)   establish a distributed solar generation
  incentive program, to be implemented by electric utilities;
               (2)  oversee the implementation of the program required
  by Subdivision (1); and
               (3)  establish procedures to achieve the goal described
  by Subsection (a).
         (c)  The rules adopted under Subsection (b) must include
  provisions for:
               (1)  a distributed solar generation cost recovery
  factor to ensure timely and reasonable cost recovery for electric
  utility expenditures under this section;
               (2)  recovery of the cost of electric utility programs
  through nonbypassable fees, which may not exceed:
                     (A)  10 cents per month for residential customers;
                     (B)  $1 per month for commercial customers; or
                     (C)  $10 per month for industrial customers; and
               (3)  adjusting or eliminating the incentives provided
  by electric utilities to the extent that the cost of energy from
  distributed solar generation becomes more competitive with the cost
  of grid-supplied energy.
         (d)  Electric utilities may not provide incentives under
  this section for distributed solar generation that is installed
  after the fifth anniversary of the date the program required by this
  section is established by commission rule.
         SECTION 2.  The Public Utility Commission of Texas shall
  adopt rules establishing the distributed solar generation
  incentive program required under Section 39.9155, Utilities Code,
  as added by this Act, as soon as practicable.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2009.