I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1624 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 15, 2011 Mr. Luján (for himself, Mr. Inslee, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Tonko, and Mr. Polis) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to establish uniform national standards for the interconnection of certain small power production facilities.

1.

Uniform national standards for interconnection of certain small power production facilities

(a)

Findings

Section 2 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2601) is amended— (1)in paragraph (5), by striking and at the end; (2)in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and inserting , and; and (3)by adding at the end the following: (7)uniform national standards for the interconnection of certain small power production facilities. . (b)

Standards for Interconnection

(1)

In general

Subtitle B of title I of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2621 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

118.

Interconnection of certain small power production facilities

(a)

Standard for Facilities That Have a Power Production Capacity of Not More Than 2 Megawatts

The Commission shall establish a standard by which each electric utility shall make available, on request, interconnection service to any electric consumer that the electric utility serves with respect to any facility on the premises of the electric consumer that has a power production capacity of not more than 2 megawatts. (b)

Enforcement

(1)

By the commission

(A)

In general

Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Commission may enforce the standard established under subsection (a) against any electric utility. (B)

Administration

The requirements of the standard established under subsection (a) shall be treated as a rule enforceable under the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 791a et seq.). (2)

By a state regulatory authority

The Commission may enter into an agreement with a State regulatory authority to discontinue the enforcement of this section in the State by the Commission if the Commission finds that the State or the State regulatory authority has adopted and is enforcing a standard for interconnection services that is consistent with or exceeds the standard established under subsection (a). (3)

Resumption of commission enforcement

The Commission may rescind an agreement under paragraph (2) and resume enforcement of the standard established under subsection (a) if, as determined by the Commission, the State or the State regulatory authority has failed to enforce a consistent State standard. (c)

Considerations

In establishing the standard under subsection (a), the Commission shall consider the standards developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers: IEEE Standard 1547 for Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric Power Systems, as they may be amended from time to time. The standard established under subsection (a) shall promote current best practices of interconnection for distributed generation, including practices stipulated in model codes from State best practices. The standard established under subsection (a) shall be just and reasonable, and not unduly discriminatory or preferential. (d)

Model Standard for Facilities of up to 20 Megawatts

The Commission shall establish a model standard for the interconnection of small power production facilities that have a power production capacity of more than 2 megawatts, but not more than 20 megawatts, for the consideration of State regulatory authorities under section 111(d)(15).

. (2)

Conforming amendment

The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. prec. 2601) is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to subtitle B of title I the following: Sec. 118. Interconnection of certain small power production facilities. .