Arkansas 2023 Regular Session

Arkansas House Bill HB1370

Introduced
2/8/23  
Refer
2/8/23  
Report Pass
2/23/23  
Refer
2/28/23  
Report Pass
3/1/23  

Caption

To Amend The Arkansas Renewable Energy Development Act Of 2001; To Prevent Cost-shifting And Ensure Fairness To All Ratepayers; To Create The Customer Protections For Net-metering Customers Act; And To Declare An Emergency.

Impact

If passed, the legislation will create a more structured approach to net metering by requiring electric utilities to adopt specific rate structures and by expanding customer protections. This will include ensuring that net-metering customers are not unfairly charged or subjected to cost-shifting practices by the utility companies, thus aiming to support renewable energy growth while protecting current and future ratepayers. It introduces a mechanism whereby net-metering customers can maintain their rights when dealing with utilities and strengthens the regulatory oversight of utility practices.

Summary

House Bill 1370 aims to amend the Arkansas Renewable Energy Development Act of 2001, focusing on customer protections for net-metering customers. It seeks to prevent cost-shifting and ensure fairness to all utility ratepayers by modifying how electric utilities manage net-metering arrangements. The bill's provisions are intended to enhance consumer choice and promote the use of renewable resources, while establishing measures that help manage infrastructure costs associated with net-metering.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB 1370 appears supportive among proponents of renewable energy and consumer protection advocates, who view it as essential for promoting the adoption of sustainable energy practices while safeguarding consumer interests. However, there may be concern from utilities over the potential implications of the new regulations on their cost structures and operational processes, suggesting a divide between consumer-focused policies and utility profitability.

Contention

Notable points of contention may arise around the amendments regarding the specific rate structures for net-metering, the potential increase in administrative costs for utilities, and the implications of the bill on traditional energy markets. Some stakeholders could argue that by solidifying net metering rules, the bill could inadvertently impose greater financial burdens on all ratepayers if utilities are forced to restructure rates. The balance between fostering renewable energy adoption and maintaining equitable costs for all consumers is likely to be a significant focus of debate.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

AR SB79

To Amend The Arkansas Data Centers Act Of 2023; To Provide For The Regulation Of Digital Asset Mining Businesses; And To Declare An Emergency.

AR HR1020

To Authorize The Introduction Of A Nonappropriation Bill To Amend The Arkansas Data Centers Acts Of 2023, To Regulate Digital Asset Mining Businesses And Businesses Utilizing A Blockchain Network, And To Declare An Emergency.

AR SR17

To Authorize The Introduction Of A Nonappropriation Bill To Amend The Arkansas Data Centers Acts Of 2023, To Regulate Digital Asset Mining Businesses And Businesses Utilizing A Blockchain Network, And To Declare An Emergency.

AR SB78

To Amend The Arkansas Data Centers Act Of 2023; To Prohibit Foreign-party-controlled Ownership Of A Digital Asset Mining Business; And To Declare An Emergency.

AR SB77

To Amend The Uniform Classification And Compensation Act; And To Declare An Emergency.

AR HB1097

To Amend The Revenue Stabilization Law; To Create Funds, To Repeal Funds, And To Make Transfers To And From Funds And Fund Accounts; And To Declare An Emergency.

AR SB80

To Amend The Revenue Stabilization Law; To Create Funds, To Repeal Funds, And To Make Transfers To And From Funds And Fund Accounts; And To Declare An Emergency.

AR SR16

To Authorize The Introduction Of A Nonappropriation Bill To Amend The Arkansas Data Centers Act Of 2023 And To Amend The Requirements For A Digital Asset Mining Business Or Business Using A Blockchain Network.

AR HR1015

To Authorize The Introduction Of A Nonappropriation Bill To Amend The Arkansas Data Centers Act Of 2023 And To Amend The Requirements For A Digital Asset Mining Business Or Business Using A Blockchain Network.

AR SR14

To Authorize The Introduction Of A Nonappropriation Bill To Amend The Arkansas Data Centers Act Of 2023; And To Regulate The Impact On Water Usage And The Electric Grid By Blockchain Networks And Digital Asset Mining.

Similar Bills

AR SB295

To Amend The Arkansas Renewable Energy Development Act Of 2001; To Prevent Cost-shifting And Ensure Fairness To All Ratepayers; To Create The Customer Protections For Net-metering Customers Act; And To Declare An Emergency.

KS HB2149

Substitute for HB 2149 by Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications - Requiring distributed energy retailers to disclose certain information to residential customers who are offered or seeking to install a distributed energy system, requiring the attorney general to convene an advisory group to develop, approve and periodically revise a standard form for such disclosures and requiring publication thereof, establishing requirements for interconnection and operation of distributed energy systems, increasing the total capacity limitation for an electric public utility's provision of parallel generation service and a formula to determine appropriate system size.

MI SB0362

Energy: alternative sources; distributed generation program; eliminate modified net metering and cap on system capacity, increase cap on peak load, and provide for fair value tariffs and standard-offer contracts. Amends secs. 5, 7, 9, 13, 173, 175, 177 & 179 of 2008 PA 295 (MCL 460.1005 et seq.) & repeals sec. 183 of 2008 PA 295 (MCL 460.1183).

VA HB106

Shared solar programs; amends existing program provisions to apply to Dominion Energy Virginia.

VA HB108

Shared solar programs; SCC to establish by regulation, etc.

KS HB2527

Authorizing electric public utilities to recover certain depreciation and construction work in progress expenses and limiting the time that such recovery may be implemented, authorizing the provision of economic development electric rates for certain large electric customers and limiting the time that such rates may be implemented, extending the timeline for the state corporation commission to issue an order in ratemaking treatment proceedings, authorizing electric public utilities to retain certain generating facilities in the utilty's rate base, prohibiting the commission from authorizing the retirement of certain generating facilities unless certain requirements are met, increasing the capacity limitation for the total amount of net metering facilities that may operate in the service territory of an investor-owned electric public utility, requiring net metering facilities to be appropriately sized based on the customer's average load and establishing requirements for exporting power from a net metering system to a utility.

MN SF1142

Net energy metering provisions modification

MN SF1975

Various net metering governing provisions modifications