Section 386.885

Title XXV INCORPORATION AND REGULATION OF CERTAIN UTILITIES AND CARRIERS

Chapter 386

Effective - 28 Aug 2022   

  386.885.  Task force on distributed energy resources and net metering established — members — report — meetings — study — expiration. — 1.  There is hereby established the "Task Force on Distributed Energy Resources and Net Metering", which shall be composed of the following members:

  (1)  Two members of the senate, with one appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate and one appointed by the minority floor leader of the senate;

  (2)  Two members of the house of representatives, with one appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and one appointed by the minority floor leader of the house of representatives;

  (3)  The director of the division of energy, or his or her designee, to serve as a member and to provide technical assistance to the task force;

  (4)  The chair of the public service commission, or his or her designee, to serve as a member and to provide technical assistance;

  (5)  The director of the office of public counsel, or his or her designee, to serve as a member and to provide technical assistance;

  (6)  A representative from each of the three segments of the retail electric energy industry appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate from the respective nominees submitted by the statewide associations of the investor-owned electric utilities, rural electric cooperatives, and municipally owned electric utilities;

  (7)  One representative of the retail distributed energy resources industry appointed by the chair of the public service commission;

  (8)  One representative from an organization that advocates for policy supporting renewable energy development appointed by the chair of the public service commission; and

  (9)  One representative from an organization that advocates for the interests of low-income utility customers appointed by the chair of the public service commission.

  2.  The task force shall conduct public hearings and research, and shall compile a report for delivery to the general assembly by no later than December 31, 2023.  Such report shall include information on the following:

  (1)  A distributed energy resources study, which shall include a value of solar study along with the practical and economic benefits, challenges, and drawbacks of increased distributed energy generation in the state;

  (2)  Potential legislation regarding community solar as operated by nonutility entities and the fair and equitable setting of rates between distributed generation and nondistributed generation consumers; and

  (3)  Potential legislation, including but not limited to changes to the net metering and easy connection act, if any, that would promote the overall public interest.

  3.  The task force shall meet within thirty days after its creation and shall organize by selecting a chairperson and vice chairperson, one of whom shall be a member of the senate and the other a member of the house of representatives.  Thereafter, the task force may meet as often as necessary in order to accomplish the tasks assigned to it.  A majority of the task force shall constitute a quorum, and a majority vote of such quorum shall be required for any action.

  4.  The staff of house research and senate research shall provide necessary clerical, research, fiscal, and legal services to the task force, as the task force may request.

  5.  The division of energy shall oversee the distributed energy resources study to be selected and conducted by an independent and objective expert with input from the members of the task force.  The cost of such study shall be paid for through funds available from federal and state grants applied for by the division of energy.  The division of energy shall establish procedures for the submission and nonpublic disclosure of confidential and proprietary information.

  6.  The members of the task force shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for any actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of the task force's official duties.

  ^*7.  This section shall expire on December 31, 2023, or at the conclusion of the task force's work, whichever is sooner.

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(L. 2022 S.B. 745 merged with S.B. 820)

*Contingent expiration date.