HB 1885 Summary

• Creates the Arkansas Distributed Generation Act of 2015 to promote renewable energy development and require electric utilities to include renewable energy resources in their energy portfolios.

• Establishes distributed generation contracts approved by the Arkansas Public Service Commission that govern the purchase of electric energy and capacity from renewable electric generation facilities with maximum capacity of 20 megawatts.

• Defines renewable electric generation facilities as state-located installations using solar, wind, water, geothermal, biomass, agricultural waste, or landfill waste resources connected to utility grids.

• Requires each electric utility to develop standardized distributed generation contracts and allows the Public Service Commission to approve non-standard contracts meeting specified requirements for interconnection, system reliability, and public safety.

• Requires utilities to file standard distributed generation contracts with the Public Service Commission within 90 days of the act's effective date for commission approval.