Bill Text: HI HB1541 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Net Energy Metering; Installation; Licensed Electrician
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-15 - Referred to EEP, CPC, referral sheet 1 [HB1541 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2014-HB1541-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1541 |
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TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to energy.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Hawaii has the most expensive electricity rates of all states in the nation. These high electrical rates are often attributed to Hawaii's reliance on imported oil and a doomed and obsolete electrical utilities business model that has not changed in over a century. Hawaii electrical utilities still follow an ancient business model requiring a central system operator to manage the power supply with fluctuating customer demand while maintaining the reliability of the power system. Electrical utility problems are further exacerbated by the fact that the aging analog controls used to manage the electrical supply have become increasingly unreliable and insecure.
To reduce both electricity prices and the State's dependence on imported oil, Hawaii must modernize the electrical grid to allow for competition in the production of electricity. An intelligent deregulated digital electrical grid control system will increase the reliability and security of the electrical grid, manage the power supply to meet electricity demands, help to increase electrical production competition, and help progress Hawaii toward the widespread use of renewable energy. To increase use of renewable energy, Hawaii must remove barriers preventing competition in the electricity production marketplace while ensuring the stability of the electrical grid.
The purpose of this Act is to clarify that an electrical customer-generator may install a net-energy meter at the customer-generator's own expense.
SECTION 2. Section 269-101, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the definition of "net energy metering" to read as follows:
""Net energy metering" means measuring the difference between the electricity supplied through the electric grid and the electricity generated by an eligible customer-generator and fed back to the electric grid over a monthly billing period; provided that:
(1) Net energy metering shall be accomplished using a single meter capable of registering the flow of electricity in two directions;
(2) An additional meter or meters to monitor the flow of electricity in each direction may be installed with the consent of the customer-generator, at the expense of the electric utility, and the additional metering shall be used only to provide the information necessary to accurately bill or credit the customer-generator, or to collect solar, wind turbine, biomass, or hydroelectric energy generating system performance information for research purposes;
(3) If the existing electrical meter of an eligible customer-generator is not capable of measuring the flow of electricity in two directions, the electric utility shall be responsible for all expenses involved in purchasing and installing a meter that is able to measure electricity flow in two directions;
(4) If an additional meter or meters are installed,
the net energy metering calculation shall yield a result identical to that of a
single meter; [and]
(5) An eligible customer-generator who already owns
an existing solar, wind turbine, biomass, or hydroelectric energy generating
facility, or a hybrid system consisting of two or more of these facilities, is
eligible to receive net energy metering service in accordance with this part[.];
and
(6) Nothing in this chapter shall prevent an eligible customer-generator from contracting with a licensed electrician to install an approved meter at the customer-generator's own expense."
SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Net Energy Metering; Installation; Licensed Electrician
Description:
Clarifies that the eligible customer-generators may contract with a licensed electrician to install net energy meters at the customer-generator's own expense.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
