A bill to change Kentucky's net metering policy is back in committee.
House Bill 227 in early February cleared the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee. But lawmakers on Feb. 27 sent it back so the panel could address a number of proposed amendments. The committee met March 1, but the bill was not on the agenda or taken up, according to a committee staff member.
Sponsored by state Rep. Jim Gooch, H.B. 227 would cut credits to customers that own solar panels or other renewable energy resources for the extra electricity made by those systems. Solar advocates view the bill as one that will harm a small, but growing, industry. Utilities Kentucky Power Co., Kentucky Utilities Co. and Louisville Gas and Electric Co. argue the current policy benefits those that can afford solar panels at the expense of everyone else.
Since getting the recommendation of the committee, lawmakers have proposed amendments to the bill, including one to impose a $15 fee on new net metering customers starting Jan. 1, 2019. Other amendments call for the Public Service Commission to study whether net metering shifts costs to customers without solar panels and report their findings by Dec. 1, and seek to push the effective date of the bill to Jan. 1, 2019. The bill now takes effect July 15 of this year.
Tom FitzGerald, director of the Kentucky Resources Council, an environmental advocacy group that opposes the bill, on March 1 said even though the proposal was sent back to committee, it still has a chance of passing as long as lawmakers are in session. The legislature is in session for 60 business days but no later than April 15.
PPL Corp. subsidiaries Kentucky Utilities and Louisville Gas and Electric on March 1 said as the bill goes through the legislative process, they remain in favor of its goal of ensuring energy fairness and encouraging the growth of private solar energy in a sustainable way.
Kentucky Power is an American Electric Power Co. Inc. subsidiary.
