Bill Text - HB381 (2011)

Authorizing net metering for micro-combined heat and power systems.


Revision: June 15, 2011, midnight

CHAPTER 168

HB 381 – FINAL VERSION

15Mar2011… 0740h

05/04/11 1660s

1June2011… 2120EBA

2011 SESSION

11-0454

09/03

HOUSE BILL 381

AN ACT authorizing net metering for micro-combined heat and power systems.

SPONSORS: Rep. Introne, Rock 3; Rep. Kaen, Straf 7; Rep. Cataldo, Straf 3

COMMITTEE: Science, Technology and Energy

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill redefines “eligible customer-generator” in order to authorize net metering for micro-combined heat and power systems.

This bill limits the total rated generated capacity from combined heat and power systems for purposes of net energy metering.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

15Mar2011… 0740h

05/04/11 1660s

1June2011… 2120EBA

11-0454

09/03

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eleven

AN ACT authorizing net metering for micro-combined heat and power systems.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

168:1 New Paragraph; Definitions. Amend RSA 362-A:1-a by inserting after paragraph I-c the following new paragraph:

I-d. “Combined heat and power system” means a new system installed after July 1, 2011, that produces heat and electricity from one fuel input using an eligible fuel, without restriction to generating technology, has an electric generating capacity rating of at least one kilowatt and not more than 30 kilowatts and a fuel system efficiency of not less than 80 percent in the production of heat and electricity, or has an electric generating capacity greater than 30 kilowatts and not more than one megawatt and a fuel system efficiency of not less than 65 percent in the production of heat and electricity. Fuel system efficiency shall be measured as usable thermal and electrical output in BTUs divided by fuel input in BTUs.

168:2 Definitions. Amend RSA 362-A:1-a, II-b to read as follows:

II-b. “Eligible customer-generator” or “customer-generator” means an electric utility customer who owns or operates an electrical generating [facilities] facility either powered by renewable energy or which employs a heat led combined heat and power system, with a total peak generating capacity of not more than 100 kilowatts, or that first begins operation after July 1, 2010 and has a total peak generating capacity of 100 kilowatts or more up to one megawatt, that is located behind a retail meter on the customer’s premises, is interconnected and operates in parallel with the electric grid, and is used in the first instance to offset the customer’s own electricity requirements.

II-c. “Eligible fuel” means natural gas, propane, wood pellets, hydrogen, or heating oil when combusted with a burner, including air emission standards for the device using the approved fuel.

II-d. “Heat led” means that the combined heat and power system is operated in a manner to satisfy the heat usage needs of the customer-generator.

168:3 Net Energy Metering. Amend RSA 362-A:9, I to read as follows:

I. Standard tariffs providing for net energy metering shall be made available to eligible customer-generators by each electric distribution utility in conformance with net metering rules adopted and orders issued by the commission. Each net energy metering tariff shall be identical, with respect to rates, rate structure, and charges, to the tariff under which a customer-generator would otherwise take default generation supply service from the distribution utility. Such tariffs shall be available on a first-come, first-served basis within each electric utility service area under the jurisdiction of the commission until such time as the total rated generating capacity owned or operated by eligible customer-generators totals a number equal to 50 megawatts multiplied by each such utility's percentage share of the total 2010 annual coincident peak energy demand distributed by all such utilities as determined by the commission. No more than 2 megawatts of such total rated generating capacity shall be from a combined heat and power system as defined in RSA 362-A:1-a, I-d.

168:4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2011.

Approved: June 14, 2011

Effective Date: July 1, 2011