Vetoed by Governor Jodi Rell

Full Bill Text
Veto Letter

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that reduces electricity costs and promotes renewable energy.

Highlights:

-Establishes a Division of Research, Energy, and Technology consisting of the bureaus of power procurement, conservation and renewal energy, and research (Sec. 1). -Requires the Division of Research, Energy, and Technology to (Sec. 3):

-Increase the state's energy independence and security by promoting conservation and efficiency and the use of diverse indigenous and regional electric resources; -Encourage the use of renewable energy resources an new electric technologies; -Minimize costs of electric services to state consumers while maintaining reliable service; -Discourage undue price instability of electric service; and -Encourage competition.

-Requires the bureau of power procurement to report quarterly to the authority commissioners on how current purchasing is meeting the established expectations and if any adjustments should be made (Sec. 3). -Establishes that the bureau of conservation and renewable energy is responsible for the overall implementation of the authority's conservation and renewable energy goals (Sec. 3). -Establishes that the Connecticut Energy Advisory Board's plan for the procurement of energy resources should seek to lower the cost of electricity by at least 15 percent to be maintained for at least 5 years (Sec. 9, Sec. 10). -Requires the Department of Public Utility Control to provide discounted rates for low-income customers with an annual income that does not exceed 60 percent of the median income (Sec. 11). -Authorizes renewable energy source projects to exceed the 150 megawatt limit if the contracts for wind generation, Class I renewable energy sources, and alternative renewable energy sources pursuant to this section and contracts committed as of the effective date of this section exceed the limit (Sec. 13). -Requires the electric supplier to provide each customer with a demand of less than 100 kilowatts (Sec. 17). -Requires electric generation services to (Sec. 17):

-Provide all terms of the agreement; -A clear and conspicuous statement explaining the rates the customer will be paying, including the circumstances under which the rates may change; and -A statement that provides specific directions to the customer as to how to compare the price term in the contract to the customer's existing electric generation service charge on the electric bill and how long those rates are guaranteed (Sec. 17).

-Prohibits electric suppliers from advertising or disclosing the price of electricity to mislead a reasonable person into believing that the electric generation services portion of the bill will be the total bill amount for the delivery of electricity to the customer's location (Sec. 17). -Requires each electric distribution company to propose a ten-year solar solicitation plan that shall include a timetable and methodology for soliciting proposals for long-term solar renewable energy credits or energy contracts from in-state generators by 180 days after the effective date of this section and that shall end in calendar year 2021 and is subject to approval and review of the department (Sec. 21). -Requires a noncompliance fee of $500 for each solar renewable energy credit shortfall in the initial year of the procurement to be paid to the distribution company and used to support the deployment of solar photovoltaic generating systems (Sec. 21). -Authorizes electric distribution companies to construct, own, and operate solar electric generating facilities up to one-third of their proportional share of the total cap amounts and must be located on brownfields or other locations in a targeted investment community (Sec. 23). -Requires the Department of Public Utility Control in consultation with the Renewable Energy Investment Fund and the Conservation and Load Management Fund to develop coordinated programs to create a self-sustaining market for solar thermal systems for electricity, natural gas, and fuel oil customers (Sec. 24). -Requires the Renewable Energy Investments Board to establish and administer a fuel cell pilot program to install fuel cells in state buildings using five million dollars in an effort to reduce total energy consumption with required energy efficiency upgrades (Sec. 27). -Authorizes the Renewable Energy Investments Board in consultation with the Department of Public Utility Control to establish a "condominium renewable energy grant program" in which the board may provide grants to residential condominium associations and owners for purchasing renewable energy sources (Sec. 29). -Requires the Department of Public Utility Control to establish an energy savings infrastructure pilot program consisting of financial incentives for the installation of combined heat and power systems, energy efficient heating oil burners, boilers, and furnaces and natural gas boilers and furnaces by eligible entities (Sec. 30). -Requires gas companies with excess revenue greater than ten million dollars to allocate the excess to the natural gas projects (Sec. 32). -Requires the Department of Public Utility Control to require the Energy Conservation Management Board, the Renewable Energy Investments Board and electric distribution companies to establish a program to provide financial assistance for energy conservation and load management projects to electric distribution company customers in underserved communities (Sec. 34).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that reduces electricity costs and promotes renewable energy.

Highlights:

-Establishes a Division of Research, Energy, and Technology consisting of the bureaus of power procurement, conservation and renewal energy, and research (Sec. 1). -Requires the Division of Research, Energy, and Technology to (Sec. 3):

-Increase the state's energy independence and security by promoting conservation and efficiency and the use of diverse indigenous and regional electric resources; -Encourage the use of renewable energy resources an new electric technologies; -Minimize costs of electric services to state consumers while maintaining reliable service; -Discourage undue price instability of electric service; and -Encourage competition.

-Requires the bureau of power procurement to report quarterly to the authority commissioners on how current purchasing is meeting the established expectations and if any adjustments should be made (Sec. 3). -Establishes that the bureau of conservation and renewable energy is responsible for the overall implementation of the authority's conservation and renewable energy goals (Sec. 3). -Establishes that the Connecticut Energy Advisory Board's plan for the procurement of energy resources should seek to lower the cost of electricity by at least 15 percent to be maintained for at least 5 years (Sec. 9, Sec. 10). -Requires the Department of Public Utility Control to provide discounted rates for low-income customers with an annual income that does not exceed 60 percent of the median income (Sec. 11). -Authorizes renewable energy source projects to exceed the 150 megawatt limit if the contracts for wind generation, Class I renewable energy sources, and alternative renewable energy sources pursuant to this section and contracts committed as of the effective date of this section exceed the limit (Sec. 13). -Requires the electric supplier to provide each customer with a demand of less than 100 kilowatts (Sec. 17). -Requires electric generation services to (Sec. 17):

-Provide all terms of the agreement; -A clear and conspicuous statement explaining the rates the customer will be paying, including the circumstances under which the rates may change; and -A statement that provides specific directions to the customer as to how to compare the price term in the contract to the customer's existing electric generation service charge on the electric bill and how long those rates are guaranteed (Sec. 17).

-Prohibits electric suppliers from advertising or disclosing the price of electricity to mislead a reasonable person into believing that the electric generation services portion of the bill will be the total bill amount for the delivery of electricity to the customer's location (Sec. 17). -Requires each electric distribution company to propose a ten-year solar solicitation plan that shall include a timetable and methodology for soliciting proposals for long-term solar renewable energy credits or energy contracts from in-state generators by 180 days after the effective date of this section and that shall end in calendar year 2021 and is subject to approval and review of the department (Sec. 21). -Requires a noncompliance fee of $500 for each solar renewable energy credit shortfall in the initial year of the procurement to be paid to the distribution company and used to support the deployment of solar photovoltaic generating systems (Sec. 21). -Authorizes electric distribution companies to construct, own, and operate solar electric generating facilities up to one-third of their proportional share of the total cap amounts and must be located on brownfields or other locations in a targeted investment community (Sec. 23). -Requires the Department of Public Utility Control in consultation with the Renewable Energy Investment Fund and the Conservation and Load Management Fund to develop coordinated programs to create a self-sustaining market for solar thermal systems for electricity, natural gas, and fuel oil customers (Sec. 24). -Requires the Renewable Energy Investments Board to establish and administer a fuel cell pilot program to install fuel cells in state buildings using five million dollars in an effort to reduce total energy consumption with required energy efficiency upgrades (Sec. 27). -Authorizes the Renewable Energy Investments Board in consultation with the Department of Public Utility Control to establish a "condominium renewable energy grant program" in which the board may provide grants to residential condominium associations and owners for purchasing renewable energy sources (Sec. 29). -Requires the Department of Public Utility Control to establish an energy savings infrastructure pilot program consisting of financial incentives for the installation of combined heat and power systems, energy efficient heating oil burners, boilers, and furnaces and natural gas boilers and furnaces by eligible entities (Sec. 30). -Requires gas companies with excess revenue greater than ten million dollars to allocate the excess to the natural gas projects (Sec. 32). -Requires the Department of Public Utility Control to require the Energy Conservation Management Board, the Renewable Energy Investments Board and electric distribution companies to establish a program to provide financial assistance for energy conservation and load management projects to electric distribution company customers in underserved communities (Sec. 34).

Full Bill Text