House File 149 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 149 BY MASCHER A BILL FOR An Act requiring specified utilities to establish a solar 1 energy bank program for the benefit of qualifying low-income 2 customers. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 2123YH (2) 86 rn/nh

H.F. 149 Section 1. Section 476.6, subsection 15, Code 2015, is 1 amended by adding the following new paragraph: 2 NEW PARAGRAPH . i. (1) A rate-regulated utility required to 3 submit an energy efficiency plan under this subsection shall 4 include within that plan a solar energy bank program for the 5 benefit of customers who are eligible to participate in the 6 low income home energy assistance program or weatherization 7 assistance program administered by the division of community 8 action agencies of the department of human rights and who are 9 behind in their energy bill payments by an amount or duration 10 to be determined by the board by rule. 11 (2) The solar energy bank program shall consist of 12 allocations of excess energy generated by solar energy 13 production facilities beyond amounts necessary for the 14 facility’s own use, which have been purchased by the utility. 15 For the purposes of this paragraph “i” , a “solar energy 16 production facility” means a facility eligible for the renewable 17 energy tax credit pursuant to chapter 476C or the solar energy 18 system tax credit pursuant to section 422.11L. 19 (3) A utility shall utilize standard interconnection 20 agreements or a model interconnection agreement developed 21 by the board for utilization by the owner of a solar energy 22 production facility seeking to interconnect with an electric 23 utility at rates established pursuant to section 476.43. 24 Electricity purchased pursuant to the solar energy bank program 25 shall be allocated to the solar energy bank to be credited 26 on a pro rata or other basis as determined by the board by 27 rule against energy bills for customers qualifying pursuant to 28 subparagraph (1). 29 EXPLANATION 30 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 31 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 32 This bill requires a rate-regulated utility that is required 33 to submit an energy efficiency plan pursuant to Code section 34 476.6 to include within that plan a solar energy bank program 35 -1- LSB 2123YH (2) 86 rn/nh 1/ 2

H.F. 149 for the benefit of customers who are eligible to participate in 1 the low income home energy assistance program or weatherization 2 assistance program administered by the division of community 3 action agencies of the department of human rights and who are 4 behind in their energy bill payments by an amount or duration 5 to be determined by the board by rule. The bill provides that 6 the solar energy bank program shall consist of allocations of 7 excess energy generated by solar energy production facilities 8 beyond amounts necessary for the facility’s own use, which have 9 been purchased by the utility. The bill provides that a “solar 10 energy production facility” means a facility eligible for the 11 renewable energy tax credit pursuant to Code chapter 476C or 12 the solar energy system tax credit pursuant to Code section 13 422.11L. 14 The bill directs the utility to utilize standard 15 interconnection agreements or a model interconnection agreement 16 developed by the utilities board for utilization by the owner 17 of a solar energy production facility seeking to interconnect 18 with an electric utility at rates established pursuant to Code 19 section 476.43. Electricity purchased pursuant to the program 20 shall be allocated to the solar energy bank to be credited on 21 a pro rata or other basis as determined by the board by rule 22 against energy bills for qualifying low-income customers. 23 -2- LSB 2123YH (2) 86 rn/nh 2/ 2