S2368

Sponsored by:

Senator JOHN F. MCKEON

District 27 (Essex and Passaic)

Senator BOB SMITH

District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)

Co-Sponsored by:

Senator Diegnan

SYNOPSIS

Exempts certain portable solar generation devices from interconnection, net metering, and other requirements.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

An Act concerning portable solar electric power generation systems and supplementing Title 48 of the Revised Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. As used in this section:

“Board” means the Board of Public Utilities.

“Electric public utility” means the same as the term is defined in section 3 of P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-51).

“Portable solar generation device” means a moveable photovoltaic generation device that: (1) has a maximum power output of not more than 1,200 watts; (2) is designed to be connected to a building's electrical system through a standard 120-volt alternating current outlet; (3) is intended primarily to offset part of the customer's electricity consumption; (4) meets the standards of the most recent version of the National Electrical Code; and (5) is certified by Underwriters Laboratories or an equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory.

b. Notwithstanding the provisions of P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-49 et al.), or any other law, rule, regulation, or board order to the contrary, a portable solar generation device shall be exempt from:

(1) any requirement to obtain or execute an interconnection agreement prior to operating the portable solar generation device under P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-49 et al.) or any other law, rule, or regulation; and

(2) net metering program requirements under P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-49 et al.) or any other law, rule, or regulation.

c. An electric public utility shall not require a customer using a portable solar generation device to:

(1) obtain the electric public utility's prior approval before installing or using the device;

(2) pay any fee or charge related to the device; or

(3) install any additional controls or equipment beyond what is integrated into the device.

d. An electric public utility shall not be held liable in a civil action for any damage or injury caused by a customer’s use of a portable solar generation device.

2. This act shall take effect six months after the date of enactment, except that the board may take any anticipatory action in advance of the effective date as is necessary for the implementation of this act.

STATEMENT

This bill would exempt portable solar generation devices from certain interconnection, net metering, and other requirements. The
bill would take effect six months after enactment.

The bill would define “portable solar generation device” to mean a device that has a maximum power output of not more than 1,200 watts, is designed to be connected to a building's electrical system through a standard 120-volt alternating current outlet, and meets additional requirements set forth in subsection a. of section 1 of the bill.

The bill would exempt portable solar generation devices from any requirement to obtain or execute interconnection agreement prior to operating the device pursuant to the “Energy Discount and Energy Competition Act,” P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-49 et al.) (EDECA) or any other law. The bill would also exempt devices from net metering program requirements under EDECA or any other law. In addition the bill would prohibit electric utilities from requiring a customer using a portable solar generation device to: (1) obtain the utility's approval before installing or using the device; (2) pay any fee or charge related to the device; or (3) install any additional controls or equipment beyond what is integrated into the device. Finally, the bill would provide that electric utilities could not be held liable for any damage or injury caused by a customer’s use of a portable solar generation device.