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An Act To Expand Net Energy Billing
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  35-A MRSA §3209-A  is enacted to read:
§ 3209-A. Net energy billing
 
1.  Definitions.     As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
 
A.  "Eligible customer" means a customer of a transmission and distribution utility:
 
(1) Who owns or has legal rights to energy generated by an eligible generator; and
 
(2) Whose electric meter is located in the same transmission and distribution utility service territory as the eligible generator.
 
B.  "Eligible generator" means an electricity generator that meets size, fuel use or efficiency requirements established by the commission by rule.
 
C.  "Net energy billing" means a metering and billing practice under which an eligible customer is billed on the basis of net energy used by that eligible customer, taking into account electricity generated by the eligible customer from an eligible generator and electricity delivered to the eligible customer by the transmission and distribution utility.
 
2.  Net energy billing option.     The commission by rule shall permit eligible customers to elect net energy billing.
 
3.  Rules.     Rules adopted under this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
 
SUMMARY
Under current rules of the Public Utilities Commission, eligible customers who have certain interests in small renewable or highly efficient generators may elect net energy billing under which the eligible customer is billed on the basis of net energy used by that eligible customer, taking into account electricity generated by the eligible customer and electricity delivered to the eligible customer by the transmission and distribution utility.
This bill defines "eligible customer" for the purposes of net energy billing and requires the commission to permit net energy billing of any eligible customer that has legal rights to energy generated by an eligible generator located within the same transmission and distribution utility service territory as the eligible customer.