S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         3544
                              2015-2016 Regular Sessions
                                   I N  S E N A T E
                                   February 12, 2015
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by  Sen.  GRIFFO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
         printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
       AN ACT to amend the executive law, the public service law and the public
         authorities law, in relation to shared renewable facilities
         THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section  1.  Subparagraph  (i)  of  paragraph  (b) of subdivision 4 of
    2  section 94-a of the executive law, as amended by section 12 of part A of
    3  chapter 173 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
    4    (i) on behalf of the secretary, initiate, intervene in, or participate
    5  in any proceedings before the public service commission or  the  depart-
    6  ment  of  public  service, to the extent authorized by sections three-b,
    7  twenty-four-a, SIXTY-SIX-O, seventy-one, eighty-four  or  ninety-six  of
    8  the  public  service law or any other applicable provision of law, where
    9  he or she deems such initiation, intervention  or  participation  to  be
   10  necessary or appropriate;
   11    S  2.  Section  2 of the public service law is amended by adding a new
   12  subdivision 2-e to read as follows:
   13    2-E. THE TERM "SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITY"  WHEN  USED  IN  THIS
   14  CHAPTER  MEANS  SOLAR  ELECTRIC  GENERATING  EQUIPMENT  AS  SUCH TERM IS
   15  DEFINED IN SECTION SIXTY-SIX-J OF THIS CHAPTER; AND WIND ELECTRIC GENER-
   16  ATING EQUIPMENT AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN SECTION SIXTY-SIX-L  OF  THIS
   17  CHAPTER.  SUCH  FACILITIES SHALL: (A) NOT EXCEED A NAMEPLATE CAPACITY OF
   18  GREATER THAN TWO MEGAWATTS, PROVIDED THAT FACILITIES LOCATED IN A POTEN-
   19  TIAL ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AREA, AS  DETERMINED  BY  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF
   20  ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AS SUCH AREAS WERE DEPICTED ON MAY FIFTH, TWO
   21  THOUSAND FOURTEEN, SHALL NOT EXCEED A NAMEPLATE CAPACITY OF GREATER THAN
   22  ONE  MEGAWATT;  (B)  BE LOCATED, CONSTRUCTED AND OPERATED, IN ACCORDANCE
   23  WITH ANY APPLICABLE LOCAL LAW, ORDINANCE OR REGULATION; (C)  BE  LOCATED
   24  IN  A  SHARED  RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITY COMPATIBILITY AND ACCOMMODATION
   25  ZONE AS PROVIDED FOR IN SUBDIVISION FOUR OF SECTION SIXTY-SIX-O OF  THIS
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD00892-02-5
       S. 3544                             2
    1  CHAPTER;  (D) BE MANUFACTURED, INSTALLED AND OPERATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
    2  APPLICABLE GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY STANDARDS, CONNECTED TO THE  ELECTRIC
    3  SYSTEM AND OPERATED IN CONJUNCTION WITH AN ELECTRIC CORPORATION'S TRANS-
    4  MISSION AND DISTRIBUTION FACILITIES; AND (E) SHALL HAVE NO LESS THAN TEN
    5  SUBSCRIBERS.
    6    S  3.  Subdivision 1 of section 5 of the public service law is amended
    7  by adding a new paragraph i to read as follows:
    8    I. TO THE DETERMINATION OF COMPATIBILITY, INTERCONNECTION  AND  OPERA-
    9  TION  OF  SHARED  RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITIES AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN
   10  PARAGRAPH (A) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION SIXTY-SIX-O OF THIS CHAPTER.
   11    S 4. The public service law is amended by adding a new section 66-o to
   12  read as follows:
   13    S 66-O. SHARED  RENEWABLE  ENERGY  FACILITIES.  1.  AS  USED  IN  THIS
   14  SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   15    (A) "SUBSCRIBER" MEANS A RESIDENTIAL OR NON-RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER OF AN
   16  ELECTRIC CORPORATION WHO HAS: (I) ENTERED INTO A POWER SUBSCRIBER AGREE-
   17  MENT  WITH  A SUBSCRIBER COMPANY; AND (II) IDENTIFIED ONE OR MORE METERS
   18  TO WHICH THE PRO-RATA SHARE OF THE ELECTRICAL OUTPUT OF A FACILITY SHALL
   19  BE ATTRIBUTED PURSUANT TO HIS OR HER POWER  SUBSCRIBER  AGREEMENT.  SUCH
   20  METERS  SHALL  BE  WITHIN EITHER THE SAME COUNTY AS THE SHARED RENEWABLE
   21  ENERGY FACILITY TO WHICH A SUBSCRIBER HAS ENTERED INTO A POWER SUBSCRIB-
   22  ER AGREEMENT, EXCEPT THAT IN THE CASE OF A SUBSCRIBER WHOSE  METERS  ARE
   23  LOCATED  IN  A  COUNTY OF TWENTY THOUSAND OR LESS, ACCORDING TO THE MOST
   24  RECENT CENSUS, THE SUBSCRIBER MAY ENTER INTO A POWER  SUBSCRIBER  AGREE-
   25  MENT WITH A SUBSCRIBER COMPANY WHOSE SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITY IS
   26  LOCATED IN AN ADJACENT COUNTY OF TWENTY THOUSAND OR LESS WITHIN THE SAME
   27  SERVICE  TERRITORY  OF  THE ELECTRIC CORPORATION OF WHICH HE OR SHE IS A
   28  CUSTOMER, AND IS LOCATED WITHIN THE SAME LOAD ZONE AS DETERMINED BY  THE
   29  LOCATION BASED MARGINAL PRICE AS OF THE DATE OF THE INITIAL REQUEST BY A
   30  SUBSCRIBER COMPANY TO INTERCONNECT A SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITY.
   31    (B)  "POWER  SUBSCRIBER  AGREEMENT" OR "SUBSCRIBER AGREEMENT" MEANS AN
   32  AGREEMENT BETWEEN A SUBSCRIBER AND A SUBSCRIBER COMPANY THAT MEETS STAN-
   33  DARDS PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (A) OF SUBDIVISION SIX OF THIS SECTION. SUCH
   34  AGREEMENT SHALL: (I) INCLUDE THE NAME, ADDRESS AND ELECTRIC  CORPORATION
   35  ACCOUNT NUMBER TO WHICH THE SUBSCRIPTION SHALL BE ATTRIBUTED; (II) ENTI-
   36  TLE  A SUBSCRIBER TO A PRO-RATA SHARE OF THE ACTUAL ELECTRICAL OUTPUT OF
   37  A SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITY; AND (III) PROVIDE THAT  A  SUBSCRIB-
   38  ER'S  PRO-RATA  SHARE  WILL  BE  REFLECTED  AS A BILL CREDIT AGAINST THE
   39  SUBSCRIBER'S MONTHLY ELECTRIC USAGE AS METERED BY HIS  OR  HER  ELECTRIC
   40  CORPORATION  AND  BILLED  BY SUCH ELECTRIC CORPORATION ON A PER KILOWATT
   41  HOUR BASIS.
   42    (C) "SUBSCRIPTION ROSTER" MEANS THE COMPILATION  OF  INFORMATION  FROM
   43  POWER  SUBSCRIBER  AGREEMENTS  FOR  A PARTICULAR SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY
   44  FACILITY WHICH IS COLLECTED BY THE SUBSCRIBER COMPANY OWNING SUCH FACIL-
   45  ITY FOR THE PURPOSES OF DIRECTING AN ELECTRIC CORPORATION TO APPLY  BILL
   46  CREDITS  AGAINST  SUBSCRIBERS'  MONTHLY  ELECTRIC  USAGE  AS METERED AND
   47  RECOVERED BY SUCH ELECTRIC CORPORATION THROUGH A MONTHLY BILL.
   48    (D) "SUBSCRIBER COMPANY" MEANS A GENERAL PARTNERSHIP, LIMITED PARTNER-
   49  SHIP, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, COOPERATIVE, S-CORPORATION,  C-CORPORA-
   50  TION OR NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO OWN AND OPERATE A
   51  SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITY.
   52    (E)   "SUBSCRIPTION"  MEANS  THE  RIGHTS  AND  RESPONSIBILITIES  OF  A
   53  SUBSCRIBER TO A PRO-RATA PORTION OF THE ACTUAL ELECTRICAL  OUTPUT  OF  A
   54  SHARED  RENEWABLE  ENERGY  FACILITY, AS SET FORTH IN A SUBSCRIBER AGREE-
   55  MENT.  A SUBSCRIPTION SHALL: (I) AT A MINIMUM, REPRESENT  AT  LEAST  ONE
   56  KILOWATT  OF  A  SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITY'S GENERATING CAPACITY;
       S. 3544                             3
    1  AND (II) NOT EXCEED ONE HUNDRED PERCENT  OF  A  SUBSCRIBER'S  ELECTRICAL
    2  CONSUMPTION  AS  MEASURED IN KILOWATT HOURS FROM THE TWELVE-MONTH PERIOD
    3  IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SUBSCRIBER AGREEMENT.
    4    (F) "BILL CREDIT" MEANS A CREDIT MEASURED ON A PER KILOWATT HOUR BASIS
    5  AND  APPLIED AGAINST A SUBSCRIBER'S NEXT MONTHLY BILL FOR SERVICE ISSUED
    6  BY HIS OR HER ELECTRIC CORPORATION BASED UPON THE PRO-RATA SHARE OF  THE
    7  ELECTRICAL  OUTPUT  OF THE SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITY TO WHICH THE
    8  CUSTOMER IS ENTITLED PURSUANT TO A SUBSCRIBER AGREEMENT.
    9    2. NO LATER THAN JULY THIRTY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND SIXTEEN, THE  COMMIS-
   10  SION  SHALL  COMMENCE  A  PROCEEDING  TO: (A) DEVELOP A STATEWIDE SHARED
   11  RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITY COMPATIBILITY AND ACCOMMODATION ZONE MAP;  (B)
   12  ESTABLISH  CRITERIA  FOR THE COMPATIBLE INTERCONNECTION AND OPERATION OF
   13  SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITIES AND SUBSCRIBER PROTECTIONS;  AND  (C)
   14  DEVELOP SUBSCRIBER PROTECTION STANDARDS.
   15    3.  IN  DEVELOPING  THE  ORDER  PURSUANT  TO  SUBDIVISION  TWO OF THIS
   16  SECTION, THE COMMISSION SHALL CONSULT WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVI-
   17  RONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND THE BULK SYSTEM  OPERATOR  SERVING  NEW  YORK
   18  STATE.  THE  COMMISSION  SHALL  ALSO  SOLICIT  PARTICIPATION  AND PUBLIC
   19  COMMENT FROM STAKEHOLDER ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
   20    (A) ORGANIZATIONS ADVOCATING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS;
   21    (B) ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTING RENEWABLE ENERGY INDUSTRIES;
   22    (C) ELECTRIC CORPORATIONS; AND
   23    (D) THE LONG ISLAND POWER AUTHORITY.
   24    4. THE COMMISSION MAP PURSUANT TO  SUBDIVISION  TWO  OF  THIS  SECTION
   25  SHALL  BE  DEVELOPED  ON  A COUNTY-BY-COUNTY BASIS. THE COMMISSION SHALL
   26  DETERMINE WHICH COUNTIES, IF  ANY,  WOULD  BENEFIT  FROM  THE  INTERCON-
   27  NECTION,  OPERATION  AND  ELECTRICAL  OUTPUT  OF SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY
   28  FACILITIES, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION FACTORS AFFECTING  THE  PRICE  AND
   29  DELIVERABILITY  OF  ELECTRICITY  IN  EACH  COUNTY.  THE COMMISSION SHALL
   30  PUBLISH SUCH MAP AND ACCOMMODATE THE INTERCONNECTION OF SHARED RENEWABLE
   31  ENERGY FACILITIES WHICH MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS  SECTION  AND  ANY
   32  RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSION PERTAINING THERETO NO LATER THAN
   33  JULY  THIRTY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND SEVENTEEN. SUCH MAP SHALL BE UPDATED NO
   34  LATER THAN JULY THIRTY-FIRST OF EACH SUCCEEDING YEAR. IN DEVELOPING  THE
   35  MAP  PURSUANT  TO  THIS  SUBDIVISION, THE COMMISSION SHALL CONSIDER ON A
   36  COUNTY-BY-COUNTY BASIS:
   37    (A) THE POTENTIAL NEED FOR ADDITIONAL ELECTRIC GENERATION AND/OR TRAN-
   38  SMISSION WITHIN THE PRECEDING TEN-YEAR PERIOD;
   39    (B) ELECTRIC CONGESTION ON THE HIGH VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION NETWORK WHICH
   40  HAS CREATED OR IS PROJECTED TO CREATE WITHIN TEN YEARS, A  SYSTEM  RELI-
   41  ABILITY PROBLEM, OR, AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSION, HAS CONTRIBUTED TO
   42  A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE WHOLESALE COST OF ELECTRICITY; AND
   43    (C)  THE  POTENTIAL FOR REDUCTION IN OVERALL EMISSIONS OF CARBON DIOX-
   44  IDE, SULFUR DIOXIDE, NITROGEN OXIDE AND PARTICULATE MATTER 2.5 (PM  2.5)
   45  THAT  WOULD  BE ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE OPERATION OF SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY
   46  FACILITIES.
   47    5. THE ORDER ESTABLISHED BY THE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO
   48  OF THIS SECTION SHALL INCLUDE  STANDARDS  FOR  THE  INTERCONNECTION  AND
   49  OPERATION  OF  SHARED  RENEWABLE  ENERGY  FACILITIES,  INCLUDING BUT NOT
   50  LIMITED TO REQUIREMENTS THAT:
   51    (A) SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITIES SHALL  BE  DESIGNED  TO  ENSURE
   52  SAFE AND ADEQUATE OPERATION AND THAT ANY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH EQUIPMENT
   53  AND  TECHNOLOGY THE COMMISSION DEEMS NECESSARY FOR SUCH PURPOSE SHALL BE
   54  THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A SUBSCRIBER COMPANY;
   55    (B) SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITIES ARE DESIGNED TO OPERATE (I)  IN
   56  THE  SAME  SERVICE  TERRITORY  OF THE ELECTRIC CORPORATION AND COUNTY OR
       S. 3544                             4
    1  COUNTIES AS AUTHORIZED BY THE COMMISSION TO WHICH  ITS  SUBSCRIBERS  ARE
    2  METERED  FOR ELECTRICAL USAGE; AND (II) ARE LOCATED WITHIN THE SAME LOAD
    3  ZONE AS DETERMINED BY THE LOCATION BASED MARGINAL PRICE AS OF  THE  DATE
    4  OF  THE INITIAL REQUEST BY A SUBSCRIBER COMPANY TO INTERCONNECT A SHARED
    5  RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITY;
    6    (C) A SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITY'S ELECTRICAL  OUTPUT  WILL  NOT
    7  RESULT  IN ELECTRICAL CONGESTION OR CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO ELECTRIC
    8  CONGESTION WITHIN THE SERVICE TERRITORY OF AN ELECTRIC CORPORATION;
    9    (D) A SUBSCRIBER COMPANY SHALL ONLY SELL TO SUBSCRIBERS AND SHALL  NOT
   10  SELL  OR OTHERWISE MARKET TO A THIRD-PARTY, ELECTRIC CORPORATION, PUBLIC
   11  POWER AUTHORITY, RURAL ELECTRIC CO-OPERATIVE, OR WHOLESALE BULK ELECTRIC
   12  SYSTEM OPERATOR, WHETHER OR NOT  SUCH  WHOLESALE  BULK  ELECTRIC  SYSTEM
   13  OPERATOR IS LOCATED IN NEW YORK; AND
   14    (E)  AN  ELECTRIC CORPORATION SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO PURCHASE ENERGY
   15  PRODUCED BY A SHARED RENEWABLE  ENERGY  FACILITY  BUT  WHICH  IS  UNSUB-
   16  SCRIBED.
   17    6.  THE  ORDER  ESTABLISHED BY THE COMMISSION SHALL INCLUDE SUBSCRIBER
   18  PROTECTION STANDARDS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE POWER  SUBSCRIBER  AGREEMENT,
   19  WHICH SHALL:
   20    (A) (I) ESTABLISH CLEAR AND CONSISTENT CHARGES BASED ON A SUBSCRIBER'S
   21  PRO-RATA  SHARE OF A SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITY'S OUTPUT EXPRESSED
   22  AS MONTHLY CHARGES BASED ON PER KILOWATT HOUR PRODUCTION; (II) GUARANTEE
   23  REFUNDS FROM THE SUBSCRIBER COMPANY TO THE SUBSCRIBER FOR ANY PORTION OF
   24  SUCH SHARE THAT SUCH SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITY DOES NOT  ACTUALLY
   25  PRODUCE;  AND  (III) GUARANTEE REFUNDS FROM A SUBSCRIBER COMPANY FOR ANY
   26  PORTION OF A SUBSCRIBER'S SHARE THAT WAS NOT ACTUALLY  CONSUMED  BY  THE
   27  SUBSCRIBER;
   28    (B)  LIMIT THE TERM OF A POWER SUBSCRIBER AGREEMENT: (I) FOR SUBSCRIB-
   29  ERS WHO ARE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS OF  AN  ELECTRIC  CORPORATION,  TO  NO
   30  GREATER  THAN  FIVE YEARS; AND (II) FOR SUBSCRIBERS WHO ARE NON-RESIDEN-
   31  TIAL CUSTOMERS OF AN ELECTRIC CORPORATION, TO NO GREATER THAN TEN YEARS,
   32  PROVIDED THAT A SUBSCRIBER MAY RENEW HIS OR HER  SUBSCRIPTION  UPON  ITS
   33  EXPIRATION FOR AN ADDITIONAL TERM;
   34    (C)  REQUIRE  THAT,  IN THE CASE OF A SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITY
   35  WHICH HAS NOT BEEN INTERCONNECTED UPON THE SIGNING OF A POWER SUBSCRIBER
   36  AGREEMENT,  THE  SUBSCRIBER  COMPANY  SHALL  IMMEDIATELY   NOTIFY   EACH
   37  SUBSCRIBER  UPON  THE  INTERCONNECTION  OF  SUCH SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY
   38  FACILITY THAT HE OR SHE HAS FORTY-FIVE DAYS  UPON  THE  RECEIPT  OF  THE
   39  NOTICE  REQUIRED  PURSUANT  TO  THIS  PARAGRAPH  TO  CANCEL  HIS  OR HER
   40  SUBSCRIPTION WITH NO CANCELLATION OR OTHER CHARGES ASSESSED  BY  HIS  OR
   41  HER  SUBSCRIBER  COMPANY,  PROVIDED  THAT  IF  A SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY
   42  FACILITY IS NOT INTERCONNECTED WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE  COMPLETION  OF  A
   43  POWER  SUBSCRIBER  AGREEMENT,  THE SUBSCRIBER AGREEMENT WILL BE NULL AND
   44  VOID;
   45    (D) REQUIRE THAT, IN THE CASE OF A SHARED  RENEWABLE  ENERGY  FACILITY
   46  WHICH  WAS  INTERCONNECTED  PRIOR  TO  THE SIGNING OF A POWER SUBSCRIBER
   47  AGREEMENT, THE SUBSCRIBER SHALL HAVE FORTY-FIVE DAYS UPON THE SIGNING OF
   48  A POWER SUBSCRIBER AGREEMENT TO CANCEL HIS OR HER SUBSCRIPTION  WITH  NO
   49  CANCELLATION OR OTHER CHARGES ASSESSED BY HIS OR HER SUBSCRIBER COMPANY;
   50    (E)  PROHIBIT  A  SUBSCRIBER  COMPANY FROM TRANSFERRING A SUBSCRIPTION
   51  FROM ONE SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY  FACILITY  TO  ANOTHER,  REGARDLESS  OF
   52  WHETHER THE SUBSCRIBER FACILITY TO WHICH A SUBSCRIBER AGREEMENT WOULD BE
   53  TRANSFERRED  IS  OWNED  OR  OPERATED  BY  THE  SAME  COMPANY,  WITHOUT A
   54  SUBSCRIBER'S CONSENT;
   55    (F) ESTABLISH THAT ANY COMPLAINTS BY A SUBSCRIBER  ABOUT  HIS  OR  HER
   56  SUBSCRIPTION  SHALL  BE NOT BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ELECTRIC CORPO-
       S. 3544                             5
    1  RATION BUT INSTEAD SHALL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SUBSCRIBER  COMPA-
    2  NY;
    3    (G)  REQUIRE  A SUBSCRIBER COMPANY SEEKING TO INTERCONNECT PURSUANT TO
    4  THIS SECTION TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A COMPLAINT HANDLING PROCESS;
    5    (H)  PROHIBIT  A  SUBSCRIBER  COMPANY   FROM   CHARGING   DIFFERENTIAL
    6  SUBSCRIPTION  FEES TO SUBSCRIBERS WHO ARE CUSTOMERS OF THE SAME CLASS OF
    7  ELECTRIC SERVICE WHOSE PRO-RATA  SHARE  OF  A  SHARED  RENEWABLE  ENERGY
    8  FACILITY'S OUTPUT IS THE SAME;
    9    (I)  DETERMINE  THE  APPROPRIATENESS OF A SUBSCRIBER COMPANY REQUIRING
   10  DEPOSITS FOR A SUBSCRIPTION IN A SHARED RENEWABLE FACILITY,  AND  IF  SO
   11  DETERMINED, THE ALLOWANCES AND/OR LIMITATIONS FOR SUCH DEPOSITS; AND
   12    (J)  INCLUDE  ANY ADDITIONAL CONSUMER PROTECTIONS THE COMMISSION DEEMS
   13  NECESSARY.
   14    7. IN DEVELOPING ITS ORDER, THE COMMISSION SHALL CONSIDER:
   15    (A) THE NECESSITY OF  ADDITIONAL  ELECTRIC  CAPACITY  IN  AN  ELECTRIC
   16  CORPORATION'S TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM TERRITORY;
   17    (B)  THE COST OF ELECTRIC SYSTEM UPGRADES NECESSARY TO ACCOMMODATE THE
   18  INTERCONNECTION AND OPERATION OF A  SHARED  RENEWABLE  ENERGY  FACILITY,
   19  INCLUDING  THE  IMPACT  OF  SUCH  UPGRADES ON LOW-INCOME CUSTOMERS OF AN
   20  ELECTRIC CORPORATION; AND
   21    (C) THE ABILITY OF A SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITY TO PRODUCE RELI-
   22  ABLE ELECTRICITY DURING TIMES OF PEAK ELECTRIC DEMAND AS  DETERMINED  BY
   23  THE COMMISSION.
   24    8.  INTERCONNECTION  OF  SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITIES AND CONDI-
   25  TIONS OF SERVICE. THE COMMISSION  SHALL  DEVELOP  A  MODEL  CONTRACT  TO
   26  GOVERN  THE  PROVISIONS  OF INTERCONNECTION BETWEEN A SUBSCRIBER COMPANY
   27  AND AN ELECTRIC CORPORATION. UPON THE COMPLETION OF THE  ORDER  REQUIRED
   28  PURSUANT  TO  SUBDIVISION  TWO  OF  THIS SECTION AN ELECTRIC CORPORATION
   29  SHALL PROVIDE FOR THE INTERCONNECTION OF SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILI-
   30  TIES PROVIDED THAT THE SUBSCRIBER COMPANY ENTERS INTO  A  CONTRACT  WITH
   31  THE  ELECTRIC  CORPORATION, AND COMPLIES WITH THE ELECTRIC CORPORATION'S
   32  SCHEDULE AND WITH STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION.  NO  ELEC-
   33  TRIC  CORPORATION SHALL PERMIT THE INTERCONNECTION OF A SHARED RENEWABLE
   34  ENERGY FACILITY NOR ACCEPT  A  SUBSCRIPTION  ROSTER  FROM  A  SUBSCRIBER
   35  COMPANY  FOR A SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITY UNLESS SUCH FACILITY (A)
   36  HAS AT LEAST TEN SUBSCRIBERS; AND (B) IS LOCATED IN A  SHARED  RENEWABLE
   37  ENERGY  FACILITY  COMPATIBILITY AND ACCOMMODATION ZONE AS REFLECTED ON A
   38  MAP PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION FOUR OF THIS SECTION. EACH  ELECTRIC  CORPO-
   39  RATION  SHALL  INTERCONNECT  SHARED  RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITIES LOCATED
   40  WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE SHARED RENEWABLE  ENERGY  FACILITY  COMPAT-
   41  IBILITY  AND ACCOMMODATION ZONE MAP PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION FOUR OF THIS
   42  SECTION ON A FIRST COME, FIRST  SERVED  BASIS,  UNTIL  THE  TOTAL  RATED
   43  GENERATING CAPACITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO SUCH FACILITIES IS EQUIVALENT TO ONE
   44  HALF  OF  ONE  PERCENT OF THE ELECTRIC CORPORATION'S ELECTRIC DEMAND FOR
   45  THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND FIVE, AS DETERMINED BY  THE  COMMISSION,  PROVIDED
   46  THAT  THE  COMMISSION SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY, AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO
   47  THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE, TO INCREASE THE PERCENT  LIMIT  IF  IT  DETERMINES
   48  THAT ADDITIONAL INTERCONNECTION OF SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITIES IS
   49  IN  THE  PUBLIC  INTEREST,  PROVIDED FURTHER THAT NO GREATER THAN TWENTY
   50  PERCENT OF THE COMBINED NAMEPLATE CAPACITY OF  SHARED  RENEWABLE  ENERGY
   51  FACILITIES  AUTHORIZED  PURSUANT  TO  THIS SECTION SHALL BE LOCATED IN A
   52  POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AREA AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT  OF
   53  ENVIRONMENTAL  CONSERVATION,  AS  SUCH AREAS WERE DEPICTED ON MAY FIFTH,
   54  TWO THOUSAND FOURTEEN. IN THE EVENT THAT THE ELECTRIC CORPORATION DETER-
   55  MINES THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO INSTALL A DEDICATED TRANSFORMER OR  TRANS-
   56  FORMERS,  OR OTHER EQUIPMENT TO PROTECT THE SAFETY AND ADEQUACY OF ELEC-
       S. 3544                             6
    1  TRIC SERVICE PROVIDED TO CUSTOMERS, THE SUBSCRIBER COMPANY SHALL PAY THE
    2  ELECTRIC CORPORATION'S ACTUAL COSTS OF  INSTALLING  THE  TRANSFORMER  OR
    3  TRANSFORMERS, OR OTHER EQUIPMENT.
    4    9.  (A)  FOR  A  SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITY, THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF
    5  ELECTRICAL OUTPUT AVAILABLE  FOR  ALLOCATION  TO  SUBSCRIBERS  SHALL  BE
    6  DETERMINED BY A PRODUCTION METER INSTALLED AT THE SHARED RENEWABLE ENER-
    7  GY  FACILITY  AND  PAID FOR BY THE SUBSCRIBER COMPANY OWNING SUCH SHARED
    8  RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITY. IT SHALL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF  THE  ELEC-
    9  TRIC  CORPORATION TO READ THE PRODUCTION METER AND APPLY BILL CREDITS TO
   10  SUBSCRIBERS OF SUCH FACILITIES AS DIRECTED UNDER A SUBSCRIPTION  ROSTER,
   11  PROVIDED THAT AN ELECTRIC CORPORATION MAY ASSESS A CHARGE TO A SUBSCRIB-
   12  ER  COMPANY  TO  RECOVER REASONABLE EXPENSES RELATED TO THE READING OF A
   13  PRODUCTION METER.
   14    (B) A SUBSCRIBER COMPANY SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE  FOR  PROVIDING  TO  THE
   15  ELECTRIC  CORPORATION,  AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH BILLING CYCLE, OR OTHER
   16  PERIOD AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSION, A SUBSCRIPTION ROSTER  IDENTIFY-
   17  ING  THE PRO-RATA SHARE OF ELECTRICAL OUTPUT ALLOCATED TO EACH SUBSCRIB-
   18  ER. A SUBSCRIBER COMPANY MAY ADD ADDITIONAL SUBSCRIBER AGREEMENTS  TO  A
   19  SUBSCRIPTION  ROSTER FOR THE PRECEDING BILLING CYCLE, OR OTHER PERIOD AS
   20  DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSION.
   21    (C) AT THE END OF EACH MONTH, THE ELECTRIC CORPORATION SHALL  APPLY  A
   22  CREDIT  TO  THE  NEXT  BILL FOR SERVICE TO EACH SUBSCRIBER BASED ON EACH
   23  SUBSCRIBER'S PRO-RATA SHARE OF THE  ACTUAL  ELECTRICAL  OUTPUT  OF  SUCH
   24  FACILITY  AT  THE  SAME  RATE  PER  KILOWATT  HOUR APPLICABLE TO SERVICE
   25  PROVIDED TO OTHER CUSTOMERS IN THE  SAME  SERVICE  CLASS  WHICH  DO  NOT
   26  SUBSCRIBE TO A SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITY.
   27    (D)  IN  THE  EVENT  THAT  THE  ELECTRICAL OUTPUT PRODUCED BY A SHARED
   28  RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITY AND ALLOCATED TO A SUBSCRIBER DURING A BILLING
   29  PERIOD EXCEEDS THE AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY USED BY A SUBSCRIBER, THE ELEC-
   30  TRIC CORPORATION SHALL APPLY A CREDIT FOR SUCH EXCESS OUTPUT TO THE NEXT
   31  BILL FOR SERVICE TO THE SUBSCRIBER FOR THE NET ELECTRICITY  PROVIDED  AT
   32  THE  SAME RATE PER KILOWATT HOUR APPLICABLE TO SERVICE PROVIDED TO OTHER
   33  CUSTOMERS IN THE SAME SERVICE CLASS WHICH DO NOT SUBSCRIBE TO  A  SHARED
   34  RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITY.
   35    (E)  IN  THE EVENT THAT THE ELECTRIC CORPORATION IMPOSES CHARGES BASED
   36  ON KILOWATT DEMAND ON CUSTOMERS WHO ARE IN THE SAME SERVICE CLASS  AS  A
   37  SUBSCRIBER  WHO  IS  ENTITLED TO THE OUTPUT OF A SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY
   38  FACILITY PURSUANT TO A SUBSCRIPTION IN A SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILI-
   39  TY BUT ARE NOT SUBSCRIBERS, THE ELECTRIC CORPORATION MAY IMPOSE THE SAME
   40  CHARGES AT THE SAME RATES TO THE SUBSCRIBER, PROVIDED HOWEVER, THAT  THE
   41  KILOWATT  DEMAND  FOR  SUCH  DEMAND CHARGES IS DETERMINED BY THE MAXIMUM
   42  MEASURED KILOWATT DEMAND ACTUALLY SUPPLIED BY THE  ELECTRIC  CORPORATION
   43  TO THE SUBSCRIBER DURING THE BILLING PERIOD.
   44    10.  (A)  ON  OR  BEFORE THREE MONTHS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
   45  SECTION, THE COMMISSION SHALL  ESTABLISH  STANDARDS  FOR  THE  SAFE  AND
   46  ADEQUATE  INTERCONNECTION  OF  SHARED  RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITIES. SUCH
   47  STANDARDS MAY INCLUDE, BUT SHALL NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   48    (I) EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO ISOLATE AUTOMATICALLY THE FACILITY FROM THE
   49  ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR VOLTAGE IN THE CASE OF
   50  VOLTAGE AND FREQUENCY DEVIATIONS, POWER OUTAGES  AND  OTHER  EVENTS  THE
   51  COMMISSION DEEMS NECESSARY; AND
   52    (II) A MANUAL LOCKABLE DISCONNECT SWITCH PAID FOR AND INSTALLED BY THE
   53  SUBSCRIBER COMPANY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ISOLATING THE FACILITY AND LOCATED
   54  IN  AN  EASILY  ACCESSIBLE AREA ON THE PREMISES OF SUCH SHARED RENEWABLE
   55  ENERGY FACILITY AND EXTERNALLY ACCESSIBLE FOR THE PURPOSE  OF  ISOLATING
   56  THE SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITY.
       S. 3544                             7
    1    (B)  IN THE EVENT THAT THE TOTAL RATED GENERATING CAPACITY OF A SHARED
    2  RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITY THAT  PROVIDES  ELECTRICITY  TO  THE  ELECTRIC
    3  CORPORATION THROUGH THE SAME LOCAL FEEDER LINE EXCEEDS TWENTY PERCENT OF
    4  THE  RATED  CAPACITY  OF THE LOCAL FEEDER LINE, THE ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    5  MAY  REQUIRE  THE SUBSCRIBER COMPANY OWNING SUCH SHARED RENEWABLE ENERGY
    6  FACILITY TO COMPLY WITH REASONABLE MEASURES TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF  THE
    7  LOCAL FEEDER LINE.
    8    (C)  UPON  ITS  OWN MOTION OR UPON A COMPLAINT, THE COMMISSION, OR ITS
    9  DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE, MAY INVESTIGATE AND MAKE A  DETERMINATION  AS
   10  TO  THE  REASONABLENESS AND NECESSITY OF THE STANDARDS OR RESPONSIBILITY
   11  FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE STANDARDS.
   12    S 5. Subdivision (h) of section 1020-g of the public authorities  law,
   13  as  amended  by  chapter  546 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as
   14  follows:
   15    (h) To implement programs and policies designed  to  provide  for  the
   16  interconnection of: (i) (A) solar electric generating equipment owned or
   17  operated  by  residential  customers, (B) farm waste electric generating
   18  equipment owned or operated by customer-generators, (C)  solar  electric
   19  generating equipment owned or operated by non-residential customers, (D)
   20  micro-combined  heat  and  power  generating  equipment owned, leased or
   21  operated by residential customers, (E)  fuel  cell  electric  generating
   22  equipment  owned,  leased  or operated by residential customers, and (F)
   23  micro-hydroelectric generating equipment owned, leased  or  operated  by
   24  customer-generators  and for net energy metering consistent with section
   25  sixty-six-j of the public service law, to  increase  the  efficiency  of
   26  energy  end  use, to shift demand from periods of high demand to periods
   27  of low demand and to facilitate the development of  cogeneration;  [and]
   28  (ii)  wind  electric generating equipment owned or operated by customer-
   29  generators and for net energy metering consistent  with  section  sixty-
   30  six-l  of  the  public  service law; AND (III) TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS AND
   31  POLICIES DESIGNED TO PROVIDE FOR THE INTERCONNECTION OF SHARED RENEWABLE
   32  ENERGY FACILITIES OWNED AND OPERATED BY  SUBSCRIBER  COMPANIES  FOR  THE
   33  BENEFIT  OF  RESIDENTIAL  AND  NON-RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS CONSISTENT WITH
   34  SECTION SIXTY-SIX-O OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE LAW.
   35    S 6. This act shall take effect immediately.