HB 5427 Summary

• Establishes a two-year pilot program administered by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to support development of shared clean energy facilities, with a request for proposals deadline of July 1, 2016

• Defines shared clean energy facilities as Class I renewable energy sources with nameplate capacity of 4 megawatts or less, served by an electric distribution company, with at least two subscribers in the same service territory

• Limits total pilot program capacity to 6 megawatts in aggregate, with smaller distribution companies (17 or fewer cities and towns) limited to 2 megawatts and larger companies (18+ cities and towns) limited to 4 megawatts per service area

• Authorizes electric distribution companies to recover reasonable costs and expenses for implementing the pilot program through reconciling rate components approved by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, with recovery available for up to twenty years

• Requires program recipients to submit annual progress reports for two years and mandates a comprehensive program evaluation report by July 1, 2018, including recommendations on establishing a permanent statewide program