Senate Bill 392 Summary

• Adds Subchapter 8 to Arkansas Code Title 23, Chapter 3 to establish a regulatory framework for distributed generation of electricity (on-site generation equipment owned and operated by customers and interconnected with utility facilities)

• Allows electricity suppliers to petition the Arkansas Public Service Commission to establish fixed charges for customers with distributed generation equipment installed after December 31, 2014, to avoid subsidies to those customers

• Requires the Commission to approve tariffs providing bill credits to distributed generation customers equal to the electricity supplier's avoided cost, with unused credits carrying forward to subsequent billing cycles

• Prohibits the Commission from approving tariffs or rates that include subsidies for distributed generation customers and protects existing net metering agreements and tariffs approved before May 14, 2015

• Establishes customer rights to information about equipment costs, tax credits, lease terms, and insurance; prohibits municipalities from banning distributed generation equipment; and requires compliance with safety and interconnection standards established by the Commission and federal authorities