Bill Text: CT SB00009 | 2018 | General Assembly | Chaptered


Bill Title: An Act Concerning Connecticut's Energy Future.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Passed) 2018-05-24 - Signed by the Governor [SB00009 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2018-SB00009-Chaptered.html

Substitute Senate Bill No. 9

Public Act No. 18-50

AN ACT CONCERNING CONNECTICUT'S ENERGY FUTURE.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Subsection (a) of section 16-245a of the 2018 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) [An] Subject to any modifications required by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority for retiring renewable energy certificates on behalf of all electric ratepayers pursuant to subsection (h) of this section and sections 16a-3f, 16a-3g, 16a-3h, as amended by this act, 16a-3i, 16a-3j and 16a-3m, an electric supplier and an electric distribution company providing standard service or supplier of last resort service, pursuant to section 16-244c, as amended by this act, shall demonstrate:

(1) On and after January 1, 2006, that not less than two per cent of the total output or services of any such supplier or distribution company shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional three per cent of the total output or services shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources;

(2) On and after January 1, 2007, not less than three and one-half per cent of the total output or services of any such supplier or distribution company shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional three per cent of the total output or services shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources;

(3) On and after January 1, 2008, not less than five per cent of the total output or services of any such supplier or distribution company shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional three per cent of the total output or services shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources;

(4) On and after January 1, 2009, not less than six per cent of the total output or services of any such supplier or distribution company shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional three per cent of the total output or services shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources;

(5) On and after January 1, 2010, not less than seven per cent of the total output or services of any such supplier or distribution company shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional three per cent of the total output or services shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources;

(6) On and after January 1, 2011, not less than eight per cent of the total output or services of any such supplier or distribution company shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional three per cent of the total output or services shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources;

(7) On and after January 1, 2012, not less than nine per cent of the total output or services of any such supplier or distribution company shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional three per cent of the total output or services shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources;

(8) On and after January 1, 2013, not less than ten per cent of the total output or services of any such supplier or distribution company shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional three per cent of the total output or services shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources;

(9) On and after January 1, 2014, not less than eleven per cent of the total output or services of any such supplier or distribution company shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional three per cent of the total output or services shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources;

(10) On and after January 1, 2015, not less than twelve and one-half per cent of the total output or services of any such supplier or distribution company shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional three per cent of the total output or services shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources;

(11) On and after January 1, 2016, not less than fourteen per cent of the total output or services of any such supplier or distribution company shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional three per cent of the total output or services shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources;

(12) On and after January 1, 2017, not less than fifteen and one-half per cent of the total output or services of any such supplier or distribution company shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional three per cent of the total output or services shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources;

(13) On and after January 1, 2018, not less than seventeen per cent of the total output or services of any such supplier or distribution company shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional four per cent of the total output or services shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources;

(14) On and after January 1, 2019, not less than nineteen and one-half per cent of the total output or services of any such supplier or distribution company shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional four per cent of the total output or services shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources;

(15) On and after January 1, 2020, not less than [twenty] twenty-one per cent of the total output or services of any such supplier or distribution company shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional four per cent of the total output or services shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources, [.] except that for any electric supplier that has entered into or renewed a retail electric supply contract on or before the effective date of this section, on and after January 1, 2020, not less than twenty per cent of the total output or services of any such electric supplier shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources;

(16) On and after January 1, 2021, not less than twenty-two and one-half per cent of the total output or services of any such supplier or distribution company shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional four per cent of the total output or services shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources;

(17) On and after January 1, 2022, not less than twenty-four per cent of the total output or services of any such supplier or distribution company shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional four per cent of the total output or services shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources;

(18) On and after January 1, 2023, not less than twenty-six per cent of the total output or services of any such supplier or distribution company shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional four per cent of the total output or services shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources;

(19) On and after January 1, 2024, not less than twenty-eight per cent of the total output or services of any such supplier or distribution company shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional four per cent of the total output or services shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources;

(20) On and after January 1, 2025, not less than thirty per cent of the total output or services of any such supplier or distribution company shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional four per cent of the total output or services shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources;

(21) On and after January 1, 2026, not less than thirty-two per cent of the total output or services of any such supplier or distribution company shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional four per cent of the total output or services shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources;

(22) On and after January 1, 2027, not less than thirty-four per cent of the total output or services of any such supplier or distribution company shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional four per cent of the total output or services shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources;

(23) On and after January 1, 2028, not less than thirty-six per cent of the total output or services of any such supplier or distribution company shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional four per cent of the total output or services shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources;

(24) On and after January 1, 2029, not less than thirty-eight per cent of the total output or services of any such supplier or distribution company shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional four per cent of the total output or services shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources;

(25) On and after January 1, 2030, not less than forty per cent of the total output or services of any such supplier or distribution company shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional four per cent of the total output or services shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources.

Sec. 2. Section 16-245a of the 2018 supplement to the general statutes is amended by adding subsection (h) as follows (Effective from passage):

(NEW) (h) The authority shall establish procedures for the disposition of renewable energy certificates purchased pursuant to section 7 of this act, which may include procedures for selling renewable energy certificates consistent with section 7 of this act or, if renewable energy certificates procured pursuant to section 7 of this act are retired and never used for compliance in any other jurisdiction, reductions to the percentage of the total output or services of an electric supplier or an electric distribution company generated from Class I renewable energy sources required pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. Any such reduction shall be based on the energy production that the authority forecasts will be procured pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of section 7 of this act. The authority shall determine any such reduction of an annual renewable portfolio standard not later than one year prior to the effective date of such annual renewable portfolio standard. An electric distribution company shall not be responsible for any administrative or other costs or expenses associated with any difference between the number of renewable energy certificates planned to be retired pursuant to the authority's reduction and the actual number of renewable energy certificates retired.

Sec. 3. Subsection (h) of section 16-244c of the 2018 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(h) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section regarding an alternative standard service option, an electric distribution company providing standard service, supplier of last resort service or back-up electric generation service in accordance with this section shall contract with its wholesale suppliers to comply with the renewable portfolio standards. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall annually conduct an uncontested proceeding in order to determine whether the electric distribution company's wholesale suppliers met the renewable portfolio standards during the preceding year. On or before December 31, 2013, the authority shall issue a decision on any such proceeding for calendar years up to and including 2012, for which a decision has not already been issued. Not later than December 31, 2014, and annually thereafter, the authority shall, following such proceeding, issue a decision as to whether the electric distribution company's wholesale suppliers met the renewable portfolio standards during the preceding year. An electric distribution company shall include a provision in its contract with each wholesale supplier that requires the wholesale supplier to pay the electric distribution company an amount of: (A) For calendar years up to and including calendar year 2017, five and one-half cents per kilowatt hour if the wholesale supplier fails to comply with the renewable portfolio standards during the subject annual period, [and] (B) for calendar years commencing on [and after] January 1, 2018, up to and including the calendar year commencing on January 1, 2020, five and one-half cents per kilowatt hour if the wholesale supplier fails to comply with the renewable portfolio standards during the subject annual period for Class I renewable energy sources, and two and one-half cents per kilowatt hour if the wholesale supplier fails to comply with the renewable portfolio standards during the subject annual period for Class II renewable energy sources, and (C) for calendar years commencing on and after January 1, 2021, four cents per kilowatt hour if the wholesale supplier fails to comply with the renewable portfolio standards during the subject annual period for Class I renewable energy sources, and two and one-half cents per kilowatt hour if the wholesale supplier fails to comply with the renewable portfolio standards during the subject annual period for Class II renewable energy sources. The electric distribution company shall promptly transfer any payment received from the wholesale supplier for the failure to meet the renewable portfolio standards to the Clean Energy Fund for the development of Class I renewable energy sources, provided, on and after June 5, 2013, any such payment shall be refunded to ratepayers by using such payment to offset the costs to all customers of electric distribution companies of the costs of contracts and tariffs entered into pursuant to sections 16-244r, as amended by this act, [and] 16-244t and section 7 of this act. Any excess amount remaining from such payment shall be applied to reduce the costs of contracts entered into pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection, and if any excess amount remains, such amount shall be applied to reduce costs collected through nonbypassable, federally mandated congestion charges, as defined in section 16-1, as amended by this act.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section regarding an alternative standard service option, an electric distribution company providing transitional standard offer service, standard service, supplier of last resort service or back-up electric generation service in accordance with this section shall, not later than July 1, 2008, file with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority for its approval one or more long-term power purchase contracts from Class I renewable energy source projects with a preference for projects located in Connecticut that receive funding from the Clean Energy Fund and that are not less than one megawatt in size, at a price that is either, at the determination of the project owner, (A) not more than the total of the comparable wholesale market price for generation plus five and one-half cents per kilowatt hour, or (B) fifty per cent of the wholesale market electricity cost at the point at which transmission lines intersect with each other or interface with the distribution system, plus the project cost of fuel indexed to natural gas futures contracts on the New York Mercantile Exchange at the natural gas pipeline interchange located in Vermillion Parish, Louisiana that serves as the delivery point for such futures contracts, plus the fuel delivery charge for transporting fuel to the project, plus five and one-half cents per kilowatt hour. In its approval of such contracts, the authority shall give preference to purchase contracts from those projects that would provide a financial benefit to ratepayers and would enhance the reliability of the electric transmission system of the state. Such projects shall be located in this state. The owner of a fuel cell project principally manufactured in this state shall be allocated all available air emissions credits and tax credits attributable to the project and no less than fifty per cent of the energy credits in the Class I renewable energy credits program established in section 16-245a, as amended by this act, attributable to the project. On and after October 1, 2007, and until September 30, 2008, such contracts shall be comprised of not less than a total, apportioned among each electric distribution company, of one hundred twenty-five megawatts; and on and after October 1, 2008, such contracts shall be comprised of not less than a total, apportioned among each electrical distribution company, of one hundred fifty megawatts. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall not issue any order that results in the extension of any in-service date or contractual arrangement made as a part of Project 100 or Project 150 beyond the termination date previously approved by the authority established by the contract, provided any party to such contract may provide a notice of termination in accordance with the terms of, and to the extent permitted under, its contract, except the authority shall grant, upon request, an extension of the latest of any such in-service date by (i) twelve months for any project located in a distressed municipality, as defined in section 32-9p, with a population of more than one hundred twenty-five thousand, and (ii) not more than thirty-six months for any project having a capacity of less than five megawatts, provided any such project (I) commences construction by April 30, 2015, and (II) the authority has provided previous approval of such contract. The cost of such contracts and the administrative costs for the procurement of such contracts directly incurred shall be eligible for inclusion in the adjustment to any subsequent rates for standard service, provided such contracts are for a period of time sufficient to provide financing for such projects, but not less than ten years, and are for projects which began operation on or after July 1, 2003. Except as provided in this subdivision, the amount from Class I renewable energy sources contracted under such contracts shall be applied to reduce the applicable Class I renewable energy source portfolio standards. For purposes of this subdivision, the authority's determination of the comparable wholesale market price for generation shall be based upon a reasonable estimate. On or before September 1, 2011, the authority, in consultation with the Office of Consumer Counsel and the Connecticut Green Bank, shall study the operation of such renewable energy contracts and report its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to energy.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section regarding an alternative standard service option, an electric distribution company providing transitional standard offer service, standard service, supplier of last resort service or back-up electric generation service in accordance with this section that has within its service territory a biomass facility that is a Class I renewable energy source and began operation after December 1, 2013, shall, not later than July 1, 2018, file with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority for its approval a ten-year power purchase contract not to exceed nine cents per kilowatt hour for energy and renewable energy certificates with such facility for generation equivalent to seven and one-half megawatts of electric capacity. The costs incurred by an electric distribution company pursuant to this subdivision shall be recovered on a timely basis through a nonbypassable fully reconciling component of electric rates for all customers of such electric distribution company.

Sec. 4. Subsection (k) of section 16-245 of the 2018 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(k) Any licensee who fails to comply with a license condition or who violates any provision of this section, except for the renewable portfolio standards contained in subsection (g) of this section, shall be subject to civil penalties by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority in accordance with section 16-41, or the suspension or revocation of such license or a prohibition on accepting new customers following a hearing that is conducted as a contested case in accordance with chapter 54. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of section 16-244c regarding an alternative transitional standard offer option or an alternative standard service option, the authority shall require a payment by a licensee that fails to comply with the renewable portfolio standards in accordance with subdivision (4) of subsection (g) of this section in the amount of: (1) For calendar years up to and including calendar year 2017, five and one-half cents per kilowatt hour, [and] (2) for calendar years commencing on [and after] January 1, 2018, and up to and including the calendar year commencing on January 1, 2020, five and one-half cents per kilowatt hour if the licensee fails to comply with the renewable portfolio standards during the subject annual period for Class I renewable energy sources, and two and one-half cents per kilowatt hour if the licensee fails to comply with the renewable portfolio standards during the subject annual period for Class II renewable energy sources, and (3) for calendar years commencing on and after January 1, 2021, four cents per kilowatt hour if the licensee fails to comply with the renewable portfolio standards during the subject annual period for Class I renewable energy sources, and two and one-half cents per kilowatt hour if the licensee fails to comply with the renewable portfolio standards during the subject annual period for Class II renewable energy sources. On or before December 31, 2013, the authority shall issue a decision, following an uncontested proceeding, on whether any licensee has failed to comply with the renewable portfolio standards for calendar years up to and including 2012, for which a decision has not already been issued. On and after June 5, 2013, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall annually conduct an uncontested proceeding in order to determine whether any licensee has failed to comply with the renewable portfolio standards during the preceding year. Not later than December 31, 2014, and annually thereafter, the authority shall, following such proceeding, issue a decision as to whether the licensee has failed to comply with the renewable portfolio standards during the preceding year. The authority shall allocate such payment to the Clean Energy Fund for the development of Class I renewable energy sources, provided, on and after June 5, 2013, any such payment shall be refunded to ratepayers by using such payment to offset the costs to all customers of electric distribution companies of the costs of contracts and tariffs entered into pursuant to sections 16-244r, as amended by this act, [and] 16-244t and section 7 of this act. Any excess amount remaining from such payment shall be applied to reduce the costs of contracts entered into pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (j) of section 16-244c, and if any excess amount remains, such amount shall be applied to reduce costs collected through nonbypassable, federally mandated congestion charges, as defined in section 16-1, as amended by this act.

Sec. 5. Section 16-243h of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

On and after January 1, 2000, and until (1) for residential customers, the expiration of the residential solar investment program pursuant to subsection (b) of section 16-245ff, and (2) for all other customers not covered in subdivision (1) of this section, the date the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority approves the procurement plan pursuant to subsection (a) of section 7 of this act, each electric supplier or any electric distribution company providing standard offer, transitional standard offer, standard service or back-up electric generation service, pursuant to section 16-244c, as amended by this act, shall give a credit for any electricity generated by a customer from a Class I renewable energy source or a hydropower facility that has a nameplate capacity rating of two megawatts or less for a term ending on December 31, 2039. The electric distribution company providing electric distribution services to such a customer shall make such interconnections necessary to accomplish such purpose. An electric distribution company, at the request of any residential customer served by such company and if necessary to implement the provisions of this section, shall provide for the installation of metering equipment that [(1)] (A) measures electricity consumed by such customer from the facilities of the electric distribution company, [(2)] (B) deducts from the measurement the amount of electricity produced by the customer and not consumed by the customer, and [(3)] (C) registers, for each billing period, the net amount of electricity either [(A)] (i) consumed and produced by the customer, or [(B)] (ii) the net amount of electricity produced by the customer. If, in a given monthly billing period, a customer-generator supplies more electricity to the electric distribution system than the electric distribution company or electric supplier delivers to the customer-generator, the electric distribution company or electric supplier shall credit the customer-generator for the excess by reducing the customer-generator's bill for the next monthly billing period to compensate for the excess electricity from the customer-generator in the previous billing period at a rate of one kilowatt-hour for one kilowatt-hour produced. The electric distribution company or electric supplier shall carry over the credits earned from monthly billing period to monthly billing period, and the credits shall accumulate until the end of the annualized period. At the end of each annualized period, the electric distribution company or electric supplier shall compensate the customer-generator for any excess kilowatt-hours generated, at the avoided cost of wholesale power. A customer who generates electricity from a generating unit with a nameplate capacity of more than ten kilowatts of electricity pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be assessed for the competitive transition assessment, pursuant to section 16-245g and the systems benefits charge, pursuant to section 16-245l, based on the amount of electricity consumed by the customer from the facilities of the electric distribution company without netting any electricity produced by the customer. For purposes of this section, "residential customer" means a customer of a single-family dwelling or multifamily dwelling consisting of two to four units. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall establish a rate on a cents-per-kilowatt-hour basis for the electric distribution company to purchase the electricity generated by a customer pursuant to this section after December 31, 2039.

Sec. 6. Subsection (c) of section 16-244r of the 2018 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(c) (1) The aggregate procurement of renewable energy credits by electric distribution companies pursuant to this section shall (A) be eight million dollars in the first year, and (B) increase by an additional eight million dollars per year in years two to four, inclusive.

(2) After year four, the authority shall review contracts entered into pursuant to this section and if the cost of the technologies included in such contracts have been reduced, the authority shall seek to enter new contracts for the total of six years.

(3) After year six, the authority shall seek to enter new contracts for the total of [seven] eight years.

(A) The aggregate procurement of renewable energy credits by electric distribution companies pursuant to this subdivision shall (i) increase by an additional eight million dollars per year in years five [, six and seven] to eight, inclusive, (ii) be [fifty-six] sixty-four million dollars in years [eight] nine to fifteen, inclusive, and (iii) decline by eight million dollars per year in years sixteen to [twenty-two] twenty-three, inclusive, provided any money not allocated in any given year may roll into the next year's available funds. On the date of approval of the procurement plan by the authority pursuant to subsection (a) of section 7 of this act, any money not yet allocated pursuant to this section shall expire.

(B) For the sixth, [and] seventh and eighth year solicitations, each electric distribution company shall solicit and file with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority for its approval one or more long-term contracts with owners or developers of Class I generation projects that: (i) Emit no pollutants and that are less than one thousand kilowatts in size, located on the customer side of the revenue meter and serve the distribution system of the electric distribution company, provided such contracts do not exceed fifty per cent of the dollar amount established for years six, [and] seven and eight under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision; and (ii) are less than two megawatts in size, located on the customer side of the revenue meter, serve the distribution system of the electric distribution company, and use Class I technologies that have no emissions of no more than 0.07 pounds per megawatt-hour of nitrogen oxides, 0.10 pounds per megawatt-hour of carbon monoxide, 0.02 pounds per megawatt-hour of volatile organic compounds, and one grain per one hundred standard cubic feet, provided such contracts do not exceed fifty per cent of the dollar amount established for years six, [and] seven and eight under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision. The authority may give a preference to contracts for technologies manufactured, researched or developed in the state.

(4) The production of a megawatt hour of electricity from a Class I renewable energy source first placed in service on or after July 1, 2011, shall create one renewable energy credit. A renewable energy credit shall have an effective life covering the year in which the credit was created and the following calendar year. The obligation to purchase renewable energy credits shall be apportioned to electric distribution companies based on their respective distribution system loads at the commencement of the procurement period, as determined by the authority. For contracts entered into in calendar year 2012, an electric distribution company shall not be required to enter into a contract that provides a payment of more than three hundred fifty dollars, per renewable energy credit in any year over the term of the contract. For contracts entered into in calendar years 2013 to 2017, inclusive, at least ninety days before each annual electric distribution company solicitation, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority may lower the renewable energy credit price cap specified in this subsection by three to seven per cent annually, during each of the six years of the program over the term of the contract. For contracts entered into in calendar year 2018, at least ninety days before the electric distribution company solicitation, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority may lower the renewable energy credit price cap specified in this subsection by sixty-four per cent, during year seven of the program over the term of the contract. For contracts entered into in calendar year 2019, at least ninety days before the electric distribution company solicitation, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority may lower the renewable energy credit price cap specified in this subsection by sixty-four per cent, during year eight of the program over the term of the contract. In the course of lowering such price cap applicable to each annual solicitation, the authority shall, after notice and opportunity for public comment, consider such factors as the actual bid results from the most recent electric distribution company solicitation and reasonably foreseeable reductions in the cost of eligible technologies.

Sec. 7. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) (1) (A) On or before September 1, 2018, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall initiate a proceeding to establish a procurement plan for each electric distribution company pursuant to this subsection and may give a preference to technologies manufactured, researched or developed in the state, provided such procurement plan is consistent with and contributes to the requirements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with section 22a-200a of the general statutes. Each electric distribution company shall develop such procurement plan in consultation with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and shall submit such procurement plan to the authority not later than sixty days after the authority initiates the proceeding pursuant to this subdivision, provided the department shall submit the program requirements pursuant to subparagraph (C) of this subdivision on or before July 1, 2019. The authority may require such electric distribution companies to conduct separate solicitations pursuant to subdivision (4) of this subsection for the resources in subparagraphs (A), (B) and (C) of said subdivision, including separate solicitations based upon the size of such resources to allow for a diversity of selected projects.

(B) On or before September 1, 2018, the authority shall initiate a proceeding to establish tariffs that provide for twenty-year terms of service described in subdivision (3) of this subsection for each electric distribution company pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subdivision (2) of this subsection. In such proceeding, the authority shall establish the period of time that will be used for calculating the net amount of energy produced by a facility and not consumed, provided the authority shall assess whether to incorporate time-of-use rates or other dynamic pricing and such period of time shall be either (i) in real time, (ii) in one day, or (iii) in any fraction of a day not to exceed one day. The rate for such tariffs shall be established by the solicitation pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection.

(C) On or before September 1, 2018, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection shall (i) initiate a proceeding to develop program requirements and tariff proposals for shared clean energy facilities eligible pursuant to subparagraph (C) of subdivision (2) of this subsection, including, but not limited to, the requirements in subdivision (6) of this subsection, and (ii) establish either or both of the following tariff proposals: (I) A tariff proposal that includes a price cap on a cents-per-kilowatt-hour basis for any procurement for such resources based on the procurement results of any other procurement issued pursuant to this subsection, and (II) a tariff proposal that includes a tariff rate for customers eligible under subparagraph (C) of subdivision (2) of this subsection based on energy policy goals identified by the department in the Comprehensive Energy Strategy pursuant to section 16a-3d of the general statutes. On or before July 1, 2019, the department shall submit any such program requirements and tariff proposals to the authority for review and approval. On or before January 1, 2020, the authority shall approve or modify such program requirements and tariff proposals submitted by the department. If the authority approves two tariff proposals pursuant to this subparagraph, the authority shall determine how much of the total compensation authorized for customers eligible under this subparagraph pursuant to subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this section shall be available under each tariff.

(2) Not later than July 1, 2020, and annually thereafter, each electric distribution company shall solicit and file with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority for its approval one or more projects selected resulting from any procurement issued pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection that are consistent with the tariffs approved by the authority pursuant to subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subdivision (1) of this subsection and that are applicable to (A) customers that own or develop new generation projects on a customer's own premises that are less than two megawatts in size, serve the distribution system of the electric distribution company, are constructed after the solicitation conducted pursuant to subdivision (4) of this subsection to which the customer is responding, and use a Class I renewable energy source that either (i) uses anaerobic digestion, or (ii) has emissions of no more than 0.07 pounds per megawatt-hour of nitrogen oxides, 0.10 pounds per megawatt-hour of carbon monoxide, 0.02 pounds per megawatt-hour of volatile organic compounds and one grain per one hundred standard cubic feet, (B) customers that own or develop new generation projects on a customer's own premises that are less than two megawatts in size, serve the distribution system of the electric distribution company, are constructed after the solicitation conducted pursuant to subdivision (4) of this subsection to which the customer is responding, and use a Class I renewable energy source that emits no pollutants, and (C) customers that own or develop new generation projects that are a shared clean energy facility, as defined in section 16-244x of the general statutes, and subscriptions, as defined in such section, associated with such facility, consistent with the program requirements developed pursuant to subparagraph (C) of subdivision (1) of this subsection. Any project that is eligible pursuant to subparagraph (C) of this subdivision shall not be eligible pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) of this subdivision.

(3) A customer that is eligible pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) of subdivision (2) of this subsection may elect in any such solicitation to utilize either (A) a tariff for the purchase of all energy and renewable energy certificates on a cents-per-kilowatt-hour basis, or (B) a tariff for the purchase of any energy produced by a facility and not consumed in the period of time established by the authority pursuant to subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of this subsection and all renewable energy certificates generated by such facility on a cents-per-kilowatt-hour basis.

(4) Each electric distribution company shall conduct an annual solicitation or solicitations, as determined by the authority, for the purchase of energy and renewable energy certificates produced by eligible generation projects under this subsection over the duration of each applicable tariff. Generation projects eligible pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subdivision (2) of this subsection shall be sized so as not to exceed the load at the customer's individual electric meter or a set of electric meters, when such meters are combined for billing purposes, from the electric distribution company providing service to such customer, as determined by such electric distribution company, unless such customer is a state, municipal or agricultural customer, then such generation project shall be sized so as not to exceed the load at such customer's individual electric meter or a set of electric meters at the same customer premises, when such meters are combined for billing purposes, and the load of up to five state, municipal or agricultural beneficial accounts, as defined in section 16-244u of the general statutes, identified by such state, municipal or agricultural customer, and such state, municipal or agricultural customer may include the load of up to five additional nonstate or municipal beneficial accounts, as defined in section 16-244u of the general statutes, when sizing such generation project, provided such accounts are critical facilities, as defined in subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 16-243y of the general statutes, and are connected to a microgrid.

(5) The maximum selected purchase price of energy and renewable energy certificates on a cents-per-kilowatt-hour basis in any given solicitation shall not exceed such maximum selected purchase price for the same resources in the prior year's solicitation, unless the authority makes a determination that there are changed circumstances in any given year. For the first year solicitation issued pursuant to this subsection, the authority shall establish a cap for the selected purchase price for energy and renewable energy certificates on a cents-per-kilowatt-hour basis for any resources authorized under this subsection.

(6) The program requirements for shared clean energy facilities developed pursuant to subparagraph (C) of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(A) The department shall allow cost-effective projects of various nameplate capacities that may allow for the construction of multiple projects in the service area of each electric distribution company that operates within the state.

(B) The department shall determine the billing credit for any subscriber of a shared clean energy facility that may be issued through the electric distribution companies' monthly billing systems, and establish consumer protections for subscribers and potential subscribers of such a facility, including, but not limited to, disclosures to be made when selling or reselling a subscription.

(C) Such program shall utilize one or more tariff mechanisms with the electric distribution companies for a term not to exceed twenty years, subject to approval by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, to pay for the purchase of any energy products and renewable energy certificates produced by any eligible shared clean energy facility, or to deliver any billing credit of any such facility.

(D) The department shall limit subscribers to (i) low-income customers, (ii) moderate-income customers, (iii) small business customers, (iv) state or municipal customers, (v) commercial customers, and (vi) residential customers who can demonstrate, pursuant to criteria determined by the department in the program requirements recommended by the department and approved by the authority, that they are unable to utilize the tariffs offered pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.

(E) The department shall require that (i) not less than ten per cent of the total capacity of each shared clean energy facility is sold, given or provided to low-income customers, and (ii) in addition to the requirement of clause (i) of this subparagraph, not less than ten per cent of the total capacity of each shared clean energy facility is sold, given or provided to low-income customers, moderate-income customers or low-income service organizations.

(F) The department may allow preferences to projects that serve low-income customers and shared clean energy facilities that benefit customers who reside in environmental justice communities.

(G) The department may create incentives or other financing mechanisms to encourage participation by low-income customers.

(H) The department may require that not more than fifty per cent of the total capacity of each shared clean energy facility is sold to commercial customers.

(7) For purposes of this subsection:

(A) "Environmental justice community" has the same meaning as provided in subsection (a) of section 22a-20a of the general statutes;

(B) "Low-income customer" means an in-state retail end user of an electric distribution company (i) whose income does not exceed eighty per cent of the area median income as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, adjusted for family size, or (ii) that is an affordable housing facility as defined in section 8-39a of the general statutes;

(C) "Low-income service organization" means a for-profit or nonprofit organization that provides service or assistance to low-income individuals;

(D) "Moderate-income customer" means an in-state retail end user of an electric distribution company whose income is between eighty per cent and one hundred per cent of the area median income as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, adjusted for family size.

(b) (1) On or before September 1, 2019, the authority shall initiate a proceeding to establish (A) tariffs for each electric distribution company pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection, (B) a rate for such tariffs, which may be based upon the results of one or more competitive solicitations issued pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, or on the average cost of installing the generation project and a reasonable rate of return that is just, reasonable and adequate, as determined by the authority, and shall be guided by the Comprehensive Energy Strategy prepared pursuant to section 16a-3d of the general statutes, and (C) the period of time that will be used for calculating the net amount of energy produced by a facility and not consumed, provided the authority shall assess whether to incorporate time-of-use rates or other dynamic pricing and such period of time shall be either (i) in real time, (ii) in one day, or (iii) in any fraction of a day not to exceed one day. The authority may modify such rate for new customers under this subsection based on changed circumstances and may establish an interim tariff rate prior to the expiration of the residential solar investment program pursuant to subsection (b) of section 16-245ff of the general statutes as an alternative to such program, provided any residential customer utilizing a tariff pursuant to this subsection at such customer's electric meter shall not be eligible for any incentives offered pursuant to section 16-245ff of the general statutes at the same such electric meter and any residential customer utilizing any incentives offered pursuant to section 16-245ff of the general statutes at such customer's electric meter shall not be eligible for a tariff pursuant to this subsection at the same such electric meter.

(2) At the expiration of the residential solar investment program pursuant to subsection (b) of section 16-245ff of the general statutes, each electric distribution company shall offer the following options to residential customers for the purchase of products generated from a Class I renewable energy source that is located on a customer's own premises and has a nameplate capacity rating of twenty-five kilowatts or less for a term not to exceed twenty years: (A) A tariff for the purchase of all energy and renewable energy certificates on a cents-per-kilowatt-hour basis; and (B) a tariff for the purchase of any energy produced and not consumed in the period of time established by the authority pursuant to subparagraph (C) of subdivision (1) of this subsection and all renewable energy certificates generated by such facility on a cents-per-kilowatt-hour basis. A residential customer shall select either option authorized pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) of this subdivision, consistent with the requirements of this section. Such generation projects shall be sized so as not to exceed the load at the customer's individual electric meter from the electric distribution company providing service to such customer, as determined by such electric distribution company. For purposes of this section, "residential customer" means a customer of a single-family dwelling or a multifamily dwelling consisting of two to four units.

(c) (1) (A) The aggregate total megawatts available to all customers utilizing a procurement and tariff offered by electric distribution companies pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be up to eighty-five megawatts in year one and increase by up to an additional eighty-five megawatts per year in each of the years two through six of such a tariff, provided the total megawatts available to customers eligible under subparagraph (A) of subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section shall not exceed ten megawatts per year, the total megawatts available to customers eligible under subparagraph (B) of subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section shall not exceed fifty megawatts per year and the total megawatts available to customers eligible under subparagraph (C) of subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section shall not exceed twenty-five megawatts per year. The authority shall monitor the competitiveness of any procurements authorized pursuant to subsection (a) of this section and may adjust the annual purchase amount established in this subsection or other procurement parameters to maintain competitiveness. Any megawatts not allocated in any given year shall not roll into the next year's available megawatts. The obligation to purchase energy and renewable energy certificates shall be apportioned to electric distribution companies based on their respective distribution system loads, as determined by the authority.

(B) The electric distribution companies shall offer any tariffs developed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section for six years. At the end of the tariff term pursuant to subparagraph (B) of subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section, residential customers that elected the option pursuant to said subparagraph shall be credited all cents-per-kilowatt-hour charges pursuant to the tariff rate for such customer for energy produced by the Class I renewable energy source against any energy that is consumed in real time by such residential customer.

(C) The authority shall establish tariffs for the purchase of energy on a cents-per-kilowatt-hour basis at the expiration of any tariff terms authorized pursuant to this section.

(2) At the beginning of year six of the procurements authorized pursuant to this subsection, the department, in consultation with the authority, shall assess the tariff offerings pursuant to this section and determine if such offerings are competitive compared to the cost of the technologies. The department shall report, in accordance with section 11-4a of the general statutes, the results of such determination to the General Assembly.

(3) For any tariff established pursuant to this section, the authority shall examine how to incorporate the following energy system benefits into the rate established for any such tariff: (A) Energy storage systems that provide electric distribution benefits, (B) location of a facility on the distribution system, (C) time-of-use rates or other dynamic pricing, and (D) other energy policy benefits identified in the Comprehensive Energy Strategy prepared pursuant to section 16a-3d of the general statutes.

(d) In accordance with subsection (h) of section 16-245a of the general statutes, as amended by this act, the authority shall determine which of the following two options is in the best interest of ratepayers and shall direct each electric distribution company to either (1) retire the renewable energy certificates it purchases pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this section on behalf of all ratepayers to satisfy the obligations of all electric suppliers and electric distribution companies providing standard service or supplier of last resort service pursuant to section 16-245a of the general statutes, as amended by this act, or (2) sell such renewable energy certificates into the New England Power Pool Generation information system renewable energy credit market. The authority shall establish procedures for the retirement of such renewable energy certificates. Any net revenues from the sale of products purchased in accordance with this section shall be credited to customers through a nonbypassable fully reconciling component of electric rates for all customers of the electric distribution company.

(e) The costs incurred by an electric distribution company pursuant to this section shall be recovered on a timely basis through a nonbypassable fully reconciling component of electric rates for all customers of the electric distribution company. Any net revenues from the sale of products purchased in accordance with any tariff offered pursuant to this section shall be credited to customers through the same fully reconciling rate component for all customers of such electric distribution company.

Sec. 8. (NEW) (Effective from passage) It shall be the policy of the state to reduce energy consumption by not less than 1.6 million MMBtu, or the equivalent megawatts of electricity, as defined in subdivision (4) of section 22a-197 of the general statutes, annually each year for calendar years commencing on and after January 1, 2020, up to and including calendar year 2025.

Sec. 9. Subdivision (1) of subsection (d) of section 16-245m of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2020):

(d) (1) Not later than November 1, 2012, and every three years thereafter, electric distribution companies, as defined in section 16-1, as amended by this act, in coordination with the gas companies, as defined in section 16-1, as amended by this act, shall submit to the Energy Conservation Management Board a combined electric and gas Conservation and Load Management Plan, in accordance with the provisions of this section, to implement cost-effective energy conservation programs, demand management and market transformation initiatives. All supply and conservation and load management options shall be evaluated and selected within an integrated supply and demand planning framework. Services provided under the plan shall be available to all customers of electric distribution companies and gas companies, [. Each such company shall apply to the Energy Conservation Management Board for reimbursement for expenditures pursuant to the plan] provided a customer of an electric distribution company may not be denied such services based on the fuel such customer uses to heat such customer's home. The Energy Conservation Management Board shall advise and assist the electric distribution companies and gas companies in the development of such plan. The Energy Conservation Management Board shall approve the plan before transmitting it to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection for approval. The commissioner shall, in an uncontested proceeding during which the commissioner may hold a public meeting, approve, modify or reject said plan prepared pursuant to this subsection. Following approval by the commissioner, the board shall assist the companies in implementing the plan and collaborate with the Connecticut Green Bank to further the goals of the plan. Said plan shall include a detailed budget sufficient to fund all energy efficiency that is cost-effective or lower cost than acquisition of equivalent supply, and shall be reviewed and approved by the commissioner. [To the extent that the budget in the plan approved by the commissioner with regard to electric distribution companies exceeds the revenues collected pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section, the] The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall, not later than sixty days after the plan is approved by the commissioner, ensure that the balance of revenues required to fund such [budget] plan is provided through [a] fully reconciling conservation adjustment [mechanism of not more than three mills per kilowatt hour of electricity sold to each end use customer of an electric distribution company during the three years of any Conservation and Load Management Plan] mechanisms. Electric distribution companies shall collect a conservation adjustment mechanism that ensures the plan is fully funded by collecting an amount that is not more than the sum of six mills per kilowatt hour of electricity sold to each end use customer of an electric distribution company during the three years of any Conservation and Load Management Plan. The authority shall ensure that the revenues required to fund such [budget] plan with regard to gas companies are provided through a fully reconciling conservation adjustment mechanism for each gas company of not more than the equivalent of four and six-tenth cents per hundred cubic feet during the three years of any Conservation and Load Management Plan. Said plan shall include steps that would be needed to achieve the goal of weatherization of eighty per cent of the state's residential units by 2030 and to reduce energy consumption by 1.6 million MMBtu, or the equivalent megawatts of electricity, as defined in subdivision (4) of section 22a-197, annually each year for calendar years commencing on and after January 1, 2020, up to and including calendar year 2025. Each program contained in the plan shall be reviewed by such companies and accepted, modified or rejected by the Energy Conservation Management Board prior to submission to the commissioner for approval. The Energy Conservation Management Board shall, as part of its review, examine opportunities to offer joint programs providing similar efficiency measures that save more than one fuel resource or otherwise to coordinate programs targeted at saving more than one fuel resource. Any costs for joint programs shall be allocated equitably among the conservation programs. The Energy Conservation Management Board shall give preference to projects that maximize the reduction of federally mandated congestion charges.

Sec. 10. Subsection (h) of section 16-245n of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(h) (1) The state of Connecticut does hereby pledge to and agree with any person with whom the Connecticut Green Bank may enter into contracts pursuant to the provisions of this section that the state will not limit or alter the rights hereby vested in said bank until such contracts and the obligations thereunder are fully met and performed on the part of said bank, provided nothing herein contained shall preclude such limitation or alteration if adequate provision shall be made by law for the protection of such persons entering into contracts with said bank. The pledge provided by this subsection shall be interpreted and applied broadly to effectuate and maintain the bank's financial capacity to perform its essential public and governmental function.

(2) The contracts and obligations thereunder of said bank shall be obligatory upon the bank, and the bank may appropriate in each year during the term of such contracts an amount of money that, together with other funds of the bank available for such purposes, shall be sufficient to pay such contracts and obligations or meet any contractual covenants or warranties.

Sec. 11. Subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of section 12-264 of the 2018 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2020):

(2) For purposes of this subsection, gross earnings from providing electric transmission services or electric distribution services shall include (A) all income classified as income from providing electric transmission services or electric distribution services, as determined by the Commissioner of Revenue Services in consultation with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, and (B) the competitive transition assessment collected pursuant to section 16-245g, other than any component of such assessment that constitutes transition property as to which an electric distribution company has no right, title or interest pursuant to subsection (a) of section 16-245h, the systems benefits charge collected pursuant to section 16-245l, the conservation adjustment mechanisms charged under section 16-245m, as amended by this act, and the assessments charged under [sections 16-245m and] section 16-245n, as amended by this act. Such gross earnings shall not include income from providing electric transmission services or electric distribution services to a company described in subsection (c) of section 12-265.

Sec. 12. Subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of section 16-243q of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2020):

(b) Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall assess each electric supplier and each electric distribution company that fails to meet the percentage standards of subsection (a) of this section a charge of up to five and five-tenths cents for each kilowatt hour of electricity that such supplier or company is deficient in meeting such percentage standards. Seventy-five per cent of such assessed charges shall be [deposited in the Energy] used in furtherance of the Conservation and Load Management [Fund] Plan established in section 16-245m, as amended by this act, and twenty-five per cent shall be deposited in the Clean Energy Fund established in section 16-245n, as amended by this act, except that such seventy-five per cent of assessed charges with respect to an electric supplier shall be [divided] allocated among the [Energy] Conservation and Load Management [Funds] Plan of electric distribution companies in proportion to the amount of electricity such electric supplier provides to end use customers in the state using the facilities of each electric distribution company.

(c) An electric supplier or electric distribution company may satisfy the requirements of this section by participating in a conservation and distributed resources trading program approved by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. Credits created by conservation and customer-side distributed resources shall be allocated to the person that conserved the electricity or installed the project for customer-side distributed resources to which the credit is attributable and to the [Energy] Conservation and Load Management [Fund] Plan. Such credits shall be made in the following manner: A minimum of twenty-five per cent of the credits shall be allocated to the person that conserved the electricity or installed the project for customer-side distributed resources to which the energy credit is attributable and the remainder of the credits shall be [allocated to the Energy] used in furtherance of the Conservation and Load Management [Fund] Plan, based on a schedule created by the authority no later than January 1, 2007, and reviewed annually thereafter. The authority may, in a proceeding and for good cause shown, allocate a larger proportion of such credits to the person who conserved the electricity or installed the customer-side distributed resources. The authority shall consider the proportion of investment made by a ratepayer through various ratepayer-funded incentive programs and the resulting reduction in federally mandated congestion charges. The portion [allocated to the Energy] used in furtherance of the Conservation and Load Management [Fund] Plan shall be used for measures that respond to energy demand and for peak reduction programs.

(d) An electric distribution company providing standard service may contract with its wholesale suppliers to comply with the conservation and customer-side distributed resources standards set forth in subsection (a) of this section. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall annually conduct a contested case, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to determine whether the electric distribution company's wholesale suppliers met the conservation and distributed resources standards during the preceding year. Any such contract shall include a provision that requires such supplier to pay the electric distribution company in an amount of up to five and one-half cents per kilowatt hour if the wholesale supplier fails to comply with the conservation and distributed resources standards during the subject annual period. The electric distribution company shall immediately transfer seventy-five per cent of any payment received from the wholesale supplier for the failure to meet the conservation and distributed resources standards to the [Energy] Conservation and Load Management [Fund] Plan and twenty-five per cent to the Clean Energy Fund. Any payment made pursuant to this section shall not be considered revenue or income to the electric distribution company.

Sec. 13. Section 16-243t of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2020):

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of this title, a customer who implements energy conservation or customer-side distributed resources, as defined in section 16-1, as amended by this act, on or after January 1, 2008, shall be eligible for Class III credits, pursuant to section 16-243q, as amended by this act. The Class III credit shall be not less than one cent per kilowatt hour. For nonresidential projects receiving conservation and load management funding, twenty-five per cent of the financial value derived from the credits earned pursuant to this section shall be directed to the customer who implements energy conservation or customer-side distribution resources pursuant to this section with the remainder of the financial value directed [to] in furtherance of the Conservation and Load Management [Funds] Plan. For nonresidential projects not receiving conservation and load management funding submitted on or after March 9, 2007, seventy-five per cent of the financial value derived from the credits earned pursuant to this section shall be directed to the customer who implements energy conservation or customer-side distribution resources pursuant to this section with the remainder of the financial value directed [to] in furtherance of the Conservation and Load Management [Funds] Plan. Not later than July 1, 2007, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall initiate a contested case proceeding in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this section.

(b) In order to be eligible for ongoing Class III credits, the customer shall file an application that contains information necessary for the authority to determine that the resource qualifies for Class III status. Such application shall (1) certify that installation and metering requirements have been met where appropriate, (2) provide a detailed energy savings or energy output calculation for such time period as specified by the authority, and (3) include any other information that the authority deems appropriate.

(c) For conservation and load management projects that serve residential customers, seventy-five per cent of the financial value derived from the credits shall be directed [to] in furtherance of the Conservation and Load Management [Funds] Plan.

Sec. 14. Subsections (d) and (e) of section 16-243v of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2020):

(d) Commencing April 1, 2008, any person may apply to the authority for certification and funding as a Connecticut electric efficiency partner. Such application shall include the technologies that the applicant shall purchase or provide and that have been approved pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. In evaluating the application, the authority shall (1) consider the applicant's potential to reduce customers' electric demand, including peak electric demand, and associated electric charges tied to electric demand and peak electric demand growth, (2) determine the portion of the total cost of each project that shall be paid for by the customer participating in this program and the portion of the total cost of each project that shall be paid for by all electric ratepayers and collected pursuant to subsection (h) of this section. In making such determination, the authority shall ensure that all ratepayer investments maintain a minimum two-to-one payback ratio, and (3) specify that participating Connecticut electric efficiency partners shall maintain the technology for a period sufficient to achieve such investment payback ratio. The annual ratepayer contribution for projects approved pursuant to this section shall not exceed sixty million dollars. Not less than seventy-five per cent of such annual ratepayer investment shall be used for the technologies themselves. No person shall receive electric ratepayer funding pursuant to this subsection if such person has received or is receiving funding from the [Energy] Conservation and Load Management [Funds] Plan for the projects included in said person's application. No person shall receive electric ratepayer funding without receiving a certificate of public convenience and necessity as a Connecticut electric efficiency partner by the authority. The authority may grant an applicant a certificate of public convenience if it possesses and demonstrates adequate financial resources, managerial ability and technical competency. The authority may conduct additional requests for proposals from time to time as it deems appropriate. The authority shall specify the manner in which a Connecticut electric efficiency partner shall address measures of effectiveness and shall include performance milestones.

(e) Beginning February 1, 2010, a certified Connecticut electric efficiency partner may only receive funding if selected in a request for proposal developed, issued and evaluated by the authority. In evaluating a proposal, the authority shall take into consideration the potential to reduce customers' electric demand including peak electric demand, and associated electric charges tied to electric demand and peak electric demand growth, including, but not limited to, federally mandated congestion charges and other electric costs, and shall utilize a cost benefit test established pursuant to subsection (c) of this section to rank responses for selection. The authority shall determine the portion of the total cost of each project that shall be paid by the customer participating in this program and the portion of the total cost of each project that shall be paid by all electric ratepayers and collected pursuant to the provisions of this subsection. In making such determination, the authority shall (1) ensure that all ratepayer investments maintain a minimum two-to-one payback ratio, and (2) specify that participating Connecticut electric efficiency partners shall maintain the technology for a period sufficient to achieve such investment payback ratio. The annual ratepayer contribution shall not exceed sixty million dollars. Not less than seventy-five per cent of such annual ratepayer investment shall be used for the technologies themselves. No Connecticut electric efficiency partner shall receive funding pursuant to this subsection if such partner has received or is receiving funding from the [Energy] Conservation and Load Management [Funds] Plan for such technology. The authority may conduct additional requests for proposals from time to time as it deems appropriate. The authority shall specify the manner in which a Connecticut electric efficiency partner shall address measures of effectiveness and shall include performance milestones.

Sec. 15. Subsection (e) of section 16-245c of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2020):

(e) Any municipal electric utility created on or after July 1, 1998, pursuant to section 7-214 or a special act and any municipal electric utility that expands its service area on or after July 1, 1998, shall collect from its new customers the competitive transition assessment imposed pursuant to section 16-245g, the systems benefits charge imposed pursuant to section 16-245l, three mills per kilowatt hour of electricity sold for the conservation adjustment mechanisms described in section 16-245m, as amended by this act, and the assessments charged under [sections 16-245m and] section 16-245n, as amended by this act, in such manner and at such rate as the authority prescribes, provided the authority shall order the collection of said assessment and said charge in a manner and rate equal to that to which the customers would have been subject had the municipal electric utility not been created or expanded.

Sec. 16. Subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection (a) of section 16-245e of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2020):

(1) "Rate reduction bonds" means bonds, notes, certificates of participation or beneficial interest, or other evidences of indebtedness or ownership, issued pursuant to an executed indenture or other agreement of a financing entity, in accordance with this section and sections 16-245f to 16-245k, inclusive, as amended by this act, the proceeds of which are used, directly or indirectly, to provide, recover, finance, or refinance stranded costs or economic recovery transfer, or to sustain funding of conservation and load management and renewable energy investment programs by substituting for disbursements to the General Fund from the [Energy] Conservation and Load Management [Fund] Plan established by section 16-245m, as amended by this act, and from the Clean Energy Fund established by section 16-245n, as amended by this act, and which, directly or indirectly, are secured by, evidence ownership interests in, or are payable from, transition property;

(2) "Competitive transition assessment" means those nonbypassable rates and other charges, that are authorized by the authority (A) in a financing order in respect to the economic recovery transfer, or in a financing order, to sustain funding of conservation and load management and renewable energy investment programs by substituting disbursements to the General Fund from proceeds of rate reduction bonds for such disbursements from the [Energy] Conservation and Load Management [Fund] Plan established by section 16-245m, as amended by this act, and from the Clean Energy Fund established by section 16-245n, as amended by this act, or to recover those stranded costs that are eligible to be funded with the proceeds of rate reduction bonds pursuant to section 16-245f, as amended by this act, and the costs of providing, recovering, financing, or refinancing the economic recovery transfer or such substitution of disbursements to the General Fund or such stranded costs through a plan approved by the authority in the financing order, including the costs of issuing, servicing, and retiring rate reduction bonds, (B) to recover those stranded costs determined under this section but not eligible to be funded with the proceeds of rate reduction bonds pursuant to section 16-245f, as amended by this act, or (C) to recover costs determined under subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of section 16-244g. If requested by the electric distribution company, the authority shall include in the competitive transition assessment nonbypassable rates and other charges to recover federal and state taxes whose recovery period is modified by the transactions contemplated in this section and sections 16-245f to 16-245k, inclusive, as amended by this act;

Sec. 17. Subdivision (13) of subsection (a) of section 16-245e of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2020):

(13) "State rate reduction bonds" means the rate reduction bonds issued on June 23, 2004, by the state to sustain funding of conservation and load management and renewable energy investment programs by substituting for disbursements to the General Fund from the [Energy] Conservation and Load Management [Fund] Plan, established by section 16-245m, as amended by this act, and from the Clean Energy Fund, established by section 16-245n, as amended by this act. The state rate reduction bonds for the purposes of section 4-30a shall be deemed to be outstanding indebtedness of the state;

Sec. 18. Subsection (a) of section 16-245f of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2020):

(a) An electric distribution company shall submit to the authority an application for a financing order with respect to any proposal to sustain funding of conservation and load management and renewable energy investment programs by substituting disbursements to the General Fund from proceeds of rate reduction bonds for such disbursements from the [Energy] Conservation and Load Management [Fund] Plan established by section 16-245m, as amended by this act, and from the Clean Energy Fund established by section 16-245n, as amended by this act, and may submit to the authority an application for a financing order with respect to the following stranded costs: (1) The cost of mitigation efforts, as calculated pursuant to subsection (c) of section 16-245e; (2) generation-related regulatory assets, as calculated pursuant to subsection (e) of section 16-245e; and (3) those long-term contract costs that have been reduced to a fixed present value through the buyout, buydown, or renegotiation of such contracts, as calculated pursuant to subsection (f) of section 16-245e. No stranded costs shall be funded with the proceeds of rate reduction bonds unless (A) the electric distribution company proves to the satisfaction of the authority that the savings attributable to such funding will be directly passed on to customers through lower rates, and (B) the authority determines such funding will not result in giving the electric distribution company or any generation entities or affiliates an unfair competitive advantage. The authority shall hold a hearing for each such electric distribution company to determine the amount of disbursements to the General Fund from proceeds of rate reduction bonds that may be substituted for such disbursements from the [Energy] Conservation and Load Management [Fund] Plan established by section 16-245m, as amended by this act, and from the Clean Energy Fund established by section 16-245n, as amended by this act, and thereby constitute transition property and the portion of stranded costs that may be included in such funding and thereby constitute transition property. Any hearing shall be conducted as a contested case in accordance with chapter 54, except that any hearing with respect to a financing order or other order to sustain funding for conservation and load management and renewable energy investment programs by substituting the disbursement to the General Fund from the [Energy] Conservation and Load Management [Fund] Plan established by section 16-245m, as amended by this act, and from the Clean Energy Investment Fund established by section 16-245n, as amended by this act, shall not be a contested case, as defined in section 4-166. The authority shall not include any rate reduction bonds as debt of an electric distribution company in determining the capital structure of the company in a rate-making proceeding, for calculating the company's return on equity or in any manner that would impact the electric distribution company for rate-making purposes, and shall not approve such rate reduction bonds that include covenants that have provisions prohibiting any change to their appointment of an administrator of the [Energy] Conservation and Load Management [Fund. Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to affect the terms of subsection (b) of section 16-245m] Plan.

Sec. 19. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 16-245i of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2020):

(a) The authority may issue financing orders in accordance with sections 16-245e to 16-245k, inclusive, as amended by this act, to fund the economic recovery transfer, to sustain funding of conservation and load management and renewable energy investment programs by substituting disbursements to the General Fund from proceeds of rate reduction bonds for such disbursements [from the Energy] in furtherance of the Conservation and Load Management [Fund] Plan established by section 16-245m, as amended by this act, and from the Clean Energy Fund established by section 16-245n, as amended by this act, and to facilitate the provision, recovery, financing, or refinancing of stranded costs. Except for a financing order in respect to the economic recovery revenue bonds, a financing order may be adopted only upon the application of an electric distribution company, pursuant to section 16-245f, as amended by this act, and shall become effective in accordance with its terms only after the electric distribution company files with the authority the electric distribution company's written consent to all terms and conditions of the financing order. Any financing order in respect to the economic recovery revenue bonds shall be effective on issuance.

(b) (1) Notwithstanding any general or special law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, except as otherwise provided in this subsection with respect to transition property that has been made the basis for the issuance of rate reduction bonds, the financing orders and the competitive transition assessment shall be irrevocable and the authority shall not have authority either by rescinding, altering, or amending the financing order or otherwise, to revalue or revise for rate-making purposes the stranded costs, or the costs of providing, recovering, financing, or refinancing the stranded costs, the amount of the economic recovery transfer or the amount of disbursements to the General Fund from proceeds of rate reduction bonds substituted for such disbursements [from the Energy] in furtherance of the Conservation and Load Management [Fund] Plan established by section 16-245m, as amended by this act, and from the Clean Energy Fund established by section 16-245n, as amended by this act, determine that the competitive transition assessment is unjust or unreasonable, or in any way reduce or impair the value of transition property either directly or indirectly by taking the competitive transition assessment into account when setting other rates for the electric distribution company; nor shall the amount of revenues arising with respect thereto be subject to reduction, impairment, postponement, or termination.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the authority shall approve the adjustments to the competitive transition assessment as may be necessary to ensure timely recovery of all stranded costs that are the subject of the pertinent financing order, and the costs of capital associated with the provision, recovery, financing, or refinancing thereof, including the costs of issuing, servicing, and retiring the rate reduction bonds issued to recover stranded costs contemplated by the financing order and to ensure timely recovery of the costs of issuing, servicing, and retiring the rate reduction bonds issued to sustain funding of conservation and load management and renewable energy investment programs contemplated by the financing order, and to ensure timely recovery of the costs of issuing, servicing and retiring the economic recovery revenue bonds issued to fund the economic recovery transfer contemplated by the financing order.

(3) Notwithstanding any general or special law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, any requirement under sections 16-245e to 16-245k, inclusive, as amended by this act, or a financing order that the authority take action with respect to the subject matter of a financing order shall be binding upon the authority, as it may be constituted from time to time, and any successor agency exercising functions similar to the authority and the authority shall have no authority to rescind, alter, or amend that requirement in a financing order. Section 16-43 shall not apply to any sale, assignment, or other transfer of or grant of a security interest in any transition property or the issuance of rate reduction bonds under sections 16-245e to 16-245k, inclusive, as amended by this act.

Sec. 20. Subparagraph (A) of subdivision (4) of subsection (c) of section 16-245j of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2020):

(4) (A) The proceeds of any rate reduction bonds, other than economic recovery revenue bonds, shall be used for the purposes approved by the authority in the financing order, including, but not limited to, disbursements to the General Fund in substitution for such disbursements [from the Energy] in furtherance of the Conservation and Load Management [Fund] Plan established by section 16-245m, as amended by this act, and from the Clean Energy Fund established by section 16-245n, as amended by this act, the costs of refinancing or retiring of debt of the electric distribution company, and associated federal and state tax liabilities; provided such proceeds shall not be applied to purchase generation assets or to purchase or redeem stock or to pay dividends to shareholders or operating expenses other than taxes resulting from the receipt of such proceeds.

Sec. 21. Subdivision (3) of subsection (d) of section 16-245m of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2020):

(3) Programs included in the plan developed under subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be screened through cost-effectiveness testing that compares the value and payback period of program benefits for all energy savings to program costs to ensure that programs are designed to obtain energy savings and system benefits, including mitigation of federally mandated congestion charges, whose value is greater than the costs of the programs. Program cost-effectiveness shall be reviewed by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection annually, or otherwise as is practicable, and shall incorporate the results of the evaluation process set forth in subdivision (4) of this subsection. If a program is determined to fail the cost-effectiveness test as part of the review process, it shall either be modified to meet the test or shall be terminated, unless it is integral to other programs that in combination are cost-effective. On or before March 1, 2005, and on or before March first annually thereafter, the board shall provide a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to energy and the environment that documents (A) expenditures and fund balances and evaluates the cost-effectiveness of such programs conducted in the preceding year, and (B) the extent to and manner in which the programs of such board collaborated and cooperated with programs, established under section 7-233y, of municipal electric energy cooperatives. To maximize the reduction of federally mandated congestion charges, programs in the plan may allow for disproportionate allocations between the amount of contributions [to the Energy Conservation and Load Management Funds] pursuant to this section by a certain rate class and the programs that benefit such a rate class. Before conducting such evaluation, the board shall consult with the board of directors of the Connecticut Green Bank. The report shall include a description of the activities undertaken during the reporting period.

Sec. 22. Subdivision (1) of subsection (f) of section 16-245n of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2020):

(f) (1) The board shall issue annually a report to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection reviewing the activities of the Connecticut Green Bank in detail and shall provide a copy of such report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to energy and commerce. The report shall include a description of the programs and activities undertaken during the reporting period jointly or in collaboration with the [Energy] Conservation and Load Management [Funds] Plan established pursuant to section 16-245m, as amended by this act.

Sec. 23. Subsection (b) of section 16-245w of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2020):

(b) The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall design a process for determining a fee to be paid by customers who have installed self-generation facilities in order to offset any loss or potential loss in revenue from such facilities toward the competitive transition assessment, the systems benefits charge, [the conservation and load management assessment] the conservation adjustment mechanisms collected under section 16-245m, as amended by this act, and the Clean Energy Fund assessment collected under section 16-245n, as amended by this act. Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, such fee shall apply to customers who have installed self-generation facilities that begin operation on or after July 1, 1998.

Sec. 24. Subsection (d) of section 16-258d of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2020):

(d) The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall ensure that the revenues required to fund such incentive payments made pursuant to this section are provided through a fully reconciling conservation adjustment mechanism, which shall not exceed more than nine million dollars in total for the program established under this section, provided (1) such revenues shall be in addition to the revenues authorized to fund the [conservation and load management fund] Conservation and Load Management Plan pursuant to section 16-245m, as amended by this act, and (2) such revenues exceeding two million dollars required to fund such incentive payments shall be paid over a period of not less than two years. Such revenues shall only be collected from the gas customers of the company in whose service area such district heating system is located.

Sec. 25. Section 4-141 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

As used in this chapter:

(1) "Claim" means a petition for the payment or refund of money by the state or for permission to sue the state;

(2) "Just claim" means a claim which in equity and justice the state should pay, provided the state has caused damage or injury or has received a benefit;

(3) "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association or other group, including political subdivisions of the state;

(4) "State agency" includes every department, division, board, office, commission, arm, agency and institution of the state government, whatever its title or function; and

(5) "State officers and employees" includes (A) every person elected or appointed to or employed in any office, position or post in the state government, whatever such person's title, classification or function and whether such person serves with or without remuneration or compensation, including judges of probate courts, employees of such courts and special limited conservators appointed by such courts pursuant to section 17a-543a, and (B) attorneys appointed as victim compensation commissioners, attorneys appointed by the Public Defender Services Commission as public defenders, assistant public defenders or deputy assistant public defenders and attorneys appointed by the court as Division of Public Defender Services assigned counsel, individuals appointed by the Public Defender Services Commission, or by the court, as a guardian ad litem or attorney for a party in a neglect, abuse, termination of parental rights, delinquency or family with service needs proceeding, the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General and any associate attorney general or assistant attorney general, any other attorneys employed by any state agency, any commissioner of the Superior Court hearing small claims matters or acting as a fact-finder, arbitrator or magistrate or acting in any other quasi-judicial position, any person appointed to a committee established by law for the purpose of rendering services to the Judicial Department, including, but not limited to, the Legal Specialization Screening Committee, the State-Wide Grievance Committee, the Client Security Fund Committee, the advisory committee appointed pursuant to section 51-81d and the State Bar Examining Committee, any member of a multidisciplinary team established by the Commissioner of Children and Families pursuant to section 17a-106a, the Municipal Electric Consumer Advocate selected pursuant to section 7-121f, the Independent Consumer Advocate selected pursuant to section 7-334a, and any physicians or psychologists employed by any state agency. "State officers and employees" does not include any medical or dental intern, resident or fellow of The University of Connecticut when (i) the intern, resident or fellow is assigned to a hospital affiliated with the university through an integrated residency program, and (ii) such hospital provides protection against professional liability claims in an amount and manner equivalent to that provided by the hospital to its full-time physician employees.

Sec. 26. Subsection (h) of section 7-233c of the 2018 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(h) A municipal electric energy cooperative shall cause a forensic examination to be conducted by a certified forensic auditor which shall include a review of the revenue and expenditures of a municipal electric energy cooperative for the preceding five years. The auditor shall submit [(1) a report that includes an opinion regarding the financial statements and a management letter, and (2) a report that includes an opinion on conformance of the operating procedures of the municipal electric energy cooperative] a report that includes a review of whether such municipal electric energy cooperative's operating procedures conform with the provisions of chapter 101a and the bylaws of the municipal electric energy cooperative, and any recommendations for any corrective actions needed to ensure such conformance. The auditor shall not be required to perform a full financial audit of the five-year period or submit an opinion regarding the financial statements or a management letter. The municipal electric energy cooperative shall post on its Internet web site and provide to participants such reports not later than seven days after such reports are received by the municipal electric energy cooperative. Each participant shall post on its Internet web site and provide to the municipality in which it operates such reports not later than five days after such reports are received from the municipal electric energy cooperative. Each such municipality shall post on its Internet web site such reports not later than five days after such reports are received from the participant.

Sec. 27. Subdivision (20) of subsection (a) of section 16-1 of the 2018 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2018):

(20) "Class I renewable energy source" means (A) electricity derived from (i) solar power, (ii) wind power, (iii) a fuel cell, (iv) geothermal, (v) landfill methane gas, anaerobic digestion or other biogas derived from biological sources, (vi) thermal electric direct energy conversion from a certified Class I renewable energy source, (vii) ocean thermal power, (viii) wave or tidal power, (ix) low emission advanced renewable energy conversion technologies, including, but not limited to, zero emission low grade heat power generation systems based on organic oil free rankine, kalina or other similar nonsteam cycles that use waste heat from an industrial or commercial process that does not generate electricity, (x) (I) a run-of-the-river hydropower facility that began operation after July 1, 2003, and has a generating capacity of not more than thirty megawatts, or (II) a run-of-the-river hydropower facility that received a new license after January 1, 2018, under the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission rules pursuant to 18 CFR 16, as amended from time to time, and provided a facility that applies for certification under this clause after January 1, 2013, shall not be based on a new dam or a dam identified by the commissioner as a candidate for removal, and shall meet applicable state and federal requirements, including applicable site-specific standards for water quality and fish passage, or (xi) a biomass facility that uses sustainable biomass fuel and has an average emission rate of equal to or less than .075 pounds of nitrogen oxides per million BTU of heat input for the previous calendar quarter, except that energy derived from a biomass facility with a capacity of less than five hundred kilowatts that began construction before July 1, 2003, may be considered a Class I renewable energy source, or (B) any electrical generation, including distributed generation, generated from a Class I renewable energy source, provided, on and after January 1, 2014, any megawatt hours of electricity from a renewable energy source described under this subparagraph that are claimed or counted by a load-serving entity, province or state toward compliance with renewable portfolio standards or renewable energy policy goals in another province or state, other than the state of Connecticut, shall not be eligible for compliance with the renewable portfolio standards established pursuant to section 16-245a, as amended by this act;

Sec. 28. Subsection (b) of section 16-245a of the 2018 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2018):

(b) (1) An electric supplier or electric distribution company may satisfy the requirements of this section [(1)] (A) by purchasing certificates issued by the New England Power Pool Generation Information System, provided the certificates are for [(A)] (i) energy produced by a generating unit using Class I or Class II renewable energy sources and the generating unit is located in the jurisdiction of the regional independent system operator, or [(B)] (ii) energy imported into the control area of the regional independent system operator pursuant to New England Power Pool Generation Information System Rule 2.7(c), as in effect on January 1, 2006; [(2)] (B) for those renewable energy certificates under contract to serve end use customers in the state on or before October 1, 2006, by participating in a renewable energy trading program within said jurisdictions as approved by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority; or [(3)] (C) by purchasing eligible renewable electricity and associated attributes from residential customers who are net producers. (2) Not more than one per cent of the total output or services of an electric supplier or electric distribution company shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources eligible as described in subparagraph (A)(x)(II) of subdivision (20) of subsection (a) of section 16-1, as amended by this act.

Sec. 29. Subsection (e) of section 16a-3i of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2018):

(e) Notwithstanding subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 16-245a, as amended by this act, in the event that (1) for any calendar year commencing on or after January 1, 2014, there is such a presumption pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, (2) the commissioner finds material shortage of Class I renewable energy sources pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, (3) there is a determination of inadequacy pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, and (4) any contracts for Class I renewable energy sources approved by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority pursuant to subsection (d) of this section yield an amount of Class I renewable energy sources that is insufficient to rectify any projected shortage pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, then commencing on or after January 1, 2016, the commissioner may allow not more than one percentage point of the Class I renewable portfolio standards established pursuant to section 16-245a, as amended by this act, effective for the succeeding and subsequent calendar years to be satisfied by large-scale hydropower procured pursuant to section 16a-3g. The requirements applicable to electric suppliers and electric distribution companies pursuant to section 16-245a, as amended by this act, shall consequently be reduced by not more than one percentage point in proportion to the commissioner's action, provided (A) the commissioner shall not allow a total of more than five percentage points of the Class I renewable portfolio standard to be met by large-scale hydropower by December 31, 2020, and (B) no such large-scale hydropower shall be eligible to trade in the New England Power Pool Generation Information System renewable energy credit market.

Sec. 30. Subsection (c) of section 16-19f of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(c) Each municipal electric company shall (1) [within two years] not later than July 1, 2018, consider and determine whether it is appropriate to implement any of the following rate design standards: (A) Cost of service; (B) prohibition of declining block rates; (C) time of day rates; (D) seasonal rates; (E) interruptible rates; and (F) load management techniques, and (2) not later than June 1, 2017, consider and determine whether it is appropriate to implement electric vehicle time of day rates for residential and commercial customers. The consideration of said standards by each municipal electric company shall be made after public notice and hearing. Each municipal electric company shall make a determination on whether it is appropriate to implement any of said standards. Said determination shall be in writing, shall take into consideration the evidence presented at the hearing and shall be available to the public. A standard shall be deemed to be appropriate for implementation if such implementation would encourage energy conservation, optimal and efficient use of facilities and resources by a municipal electric company and equitable rates for electric consumers. No municipal electric company that completed such consideration and determination regarding any rate design standard or electric vehicle time of day rate before July 1, 2017, shall be required to conduct another consideration and determination regarding the same such rate design standard or electric vehicle time of day rate.

Sec. 31. Section 16a-3h of the 2018 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

On or after October 1, 2013, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in consultation with the procurement manager identified in subsection (l) of section 16-2, the Office of Consumer Counsel and the Attorney General, may solicit proposals, in one solicitation or multiple solicitations, from providers of the following resources or any combination of the following resources: Run-of-the-river hydropower, landfill methane gas, biomass, fuel cell, offshore wind or anaerobic digestion, provided such source meets the definition of a Class I renewable energy source pursuant to section 16-1, as amended by this act, or energy storage systems. In making any selection of such proposals, the commissioner shall consider factors, including, but not limited to (1) whether the proposal is in the interest of ratepayers, including, but not limited to, the delivered price of such sources, (2) the emissions profile of a relevant facility, (3) any investments made by a relevant facility to improve the emissions profile of such facility, (4) the length of time a relevant facility has received renewable energy credits, (5) any positive impacts on the state's economic development, (6) whether the proposal is consistent with requirements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with section 22a-200a, including, but not limited to, the development of combined heat and power systems, (7) whether the proposal is consistent with the policy goals outlined in the Comprehensive Energy Strategy adopted pursuant to section 16a-3d, (8) whether the proposal promotes electric distribution system reliability and other electric distribution system benefits, including, but not limited to, microgrids, (9) whether the proposal promotes the policy goals outlined in the state-wide solid waste management plan developed pursuant to section 22a-241a, and (10) the positive reuse of sites with limited development opportunities, including, but not limited to, brownfields or landfills, as identified by the commissioner in any solicitation issued pursuant to this section. The commissioner may select proposals from such resources to meet up to [four] six per cent of the load distributed by the state's electric distribution companies, provided the commissioner shall not select proposals for more than three per cent of the load distributed by the state's electric distribution companies from offshore wind resources. The commissioner may direct the electric distribution companies to enter into power purchase agreements for energy, capacity and environmental attributes, or any combination thereof, for periods of not more than twenty years on behalf of all customers of the state's electric distribution companies. Certificates issued by the New England Power Pool Generation Information System for any Class I renewable energy sources procured under this section may be: (A) Sold in the New England Power Pool Generation Information System renewable energy credit market to be used by any electric supplier or electric distribution company to meet the requirements of section 16-245a, as amended by this act, provided the revenues from such sale are credited to all customers of the contracting electric distribution company; or (B) retained by the electric distribution company to meet the requirements of section 16-245a, as amended by this act. In considering whether to sell or retain such certificates, the company shall select the option that is in the best interest of such company's ratepayers. Any such agreement shall be subject to review and approval by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, which review shall be completed not later than sixty days after the date on which such agreement is filed with the authority. The net costs of any such agreement, including costs incurred by the electric distribution companies under the agreement and reasonable costs incurred by the electric distribution companies in connection with the agreement, shall be recovered through a fully reconciling component of electric rates for all customers of electric distribution companies. All reasonable costs incurred by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection associated with the commissioner's solicitation and review of proposals pursuant to this section shall be recoverable through the nonbypassable federally mandated congestion charges, as defined in section 16-1, as amended by this act.

Sec. 32. Subdivision (1) of subsection (a) and subsection (b) of section 16-245m of the general statutes are repealed. (Effective January 1, 2020)

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