PRINTER'S NO. 1235
No. 1076 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY TULLI, BARD, RUBLEY, WOJNAROSKI, M. BAKER, BARRAR,
BASTIAN, BELFANTI, BROWNE, BUXTON, CAPPELLI, CLARK, M. COHEN,
J. EVANS, FAIRCHILD, FEESE, FICHTER, FRANKEL, GEIST, GEORGE,
HERSHEY, HORSEY, LAUGHLIN, LEH, LEVDANSKY, MANDERINO, MANN,
MARSICO, McCALL, MELIO, R. MILLER, ORIE, RAYMOND, READSHAW,
SAINATO, SAYLOR, SHANER, B. SMITH, STABACK, STEELMAN, STEIL,
STERN, STURLA, SURRA, E. Z. TAYLOR, TIGUE, WANSACZ, WATSON,
C. WILLIAMS, WILT, WRIGHT, YOUNGBLOOD AND VITALI,
MARCH 20, 2001
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS, MARCH 20, 2001
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, providing for authorization, promotion
3 and use of personal power generation sources.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Section 2803 of Title 66 of the Pennsylvania
7 Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a definition to read:
8 § 2803. Definitions.
9 The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
10 shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
11 context clearly indicates otherwise:
12 * * *
13 "Personal power generation systems." Small onsite power
14 generation units of a capacity of 50 kilowatts or less which are
15 designed for use by customers to supplement or replace reliance
1 upon commercial central power generation plants, including, but
2 not limited to, devices utilizing technologies such as fuel
3 cells, small wind turbines, microturbines and solar photovoltaic
4 panels.
5 * * *
6 Section 2. Section 2804(2) of Title 66 is amended to read:
7 § 2804. Standards for restructuring of electric industry.
8 The following interdependent standards shall govern the
9 commission's assessment and approval of each public utility's
10 restructuring plan, oversight of the transition process and
11 regulation of the restructured electric utility industry:
12 * * *
13 (2) Consistent with the time line set forth in section
14 2806 (relating to implementation, pilot programs and
15 performance-based rates), the commission shall authorize and
16 promote the use of personal power generation systems and
17 allow customers to choose among electric generation suppliers
18 in a competitive generation market through direct access.
19 Customers should be able to choose among alternatives such as
20 firm and interruptible service, flexible pricing and
21 alternate generation sources, including reasonable and fair
22 opportunities to self-generate and interconnect. These
23 alternatives may be provided by different electric generation
24 suppliers.
25 * * *
26 Section 3. Title 66 is amended by adding a section to read:
27 § 2813. Personal power generation systems.
28 (a) Authorization.--Within one year of the effective date of
29 this section, the commission shall approve for use by customers
30 at least two personal power generation systems in each of the
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1 following categories:
2 (1) Fuel cell.
3 (2) Small wind turbine.
4 (3) Microturbine.
5 (4) Solar photovoltaic panel.
6 (5) Any other category designated by the commission.
7 (b) Exemption from ordinances.--Installation and operation
8 of approved personal power generation systems shall be exempt
9 from the operation of local ordinances which would otherwise bar
10 such activities. The commission shall take and maintain any
11 legal action necessary to ensure full enforcement of this
12 subsection.
13 (c) Advanced metering.--Within two years of the effective
14 date of this section, the commission shall adopt and implement
15 policies and regulations which require electric distribution
16 companies to deploy advanced metering and appliance control
17 technologies in order to permit customers to monitor and modify
18 their electricity demand in response to changing market prices.
19 (d) Regulations.--Within three years of the effective date
20 of this section, the commission shall adopt and implement
21 policies and regulations necessary to assure that personal power
22 generation systems of up to 50 kilowatts may be safely and
23 reliably interconnected with existing residential power
24 services.
25 Section 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
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