Report Title:
Photovoltaic Rebate Program; Renewable Energy
Description:
Authorizes the public utilities commission, after first assessing beneficial impacts, to establish a photovoltaic rebate program to all grid-connected residential, community-center, and small business utility customers within electric utility service areas. (HD1)
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
988 |
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TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007 |
S.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
H.D. 1 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to photovoltaic energy.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature is in support of renewable energy programs to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and to promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, while increasing energy security by minimizing the impacts of supply disruptions and pricing volatility.
The legislature finds that the initial high cost to purchase renewable energy systems is a barrier to the installation and utilization of these types of technologies. The legislature also finds that the renewable energy income tax credit, the high cost of electricity, and other market based incentives may not be sufficient to motivate, in particular, the usage of photovoltaic systems throughout Hawaii.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to authorize the public utilities commission to establish a ratepayer based photovoltaic rebate program after an assessment of the benefits of such a program in promoting the use of this renewable energy technology to utility customers within electric utility service areas.
SECTION 2. Chapter 269, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§269- Photovoltaic rebate program; establishment. (a) Upon assessing the beneficial impacts to the Hawaii ratepayers, a photovoltaic rebate program may be established by the public utilities commission. The commission shall coordinate with the Hawaiian Electric Company, Hawaii Electric Light Company, Maui Electric Company, and Kauai Island Utility Cooperative to offer a rebate to grid-connected customers within each respective utility service area.
(b) To qualify for the photovoltaic rebate program, applicants shall comply with the following requirements and any other additional requirements imposed by the public utilities commission:
(1) Electric service is provided to the applicant by Hawaiian Electric Company, Hawaii Electric Light Company, Maui Electric Company, or Kauai Island Utility Cooperative;
(2) The photovoltaic energy system shall be installed by an appropriately licensed contractor;
(3) The system being installed shall be new, unused, and meet hardware and installation standards defined by the commission;
(4) The system being installed shall have a five-year warranty provided by the system retailer, with system components meeting national standards; and
(5) The system shall be installed with a performance meter.
(c) The public utilities commission, by rule or order, shall carry out the purposes of this section and may adjust the rebate amount and caps specified in this section to effectuate the purposes of this section and chapter.
(d) Participants in the photovoltaic rebate program shall not be eligible for the renewable energy technologies income tax credit under section 235-12.5."
SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020, and shall be repealed on June 30, 2013.