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An Act To Allow the Use of Net Metering for Energy Production by Consumers
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §3303, sub-§6-A  is enacted to read:
 
6-A.  Net metering.     "Net metering" means a service to a customer under which electric energy generated by that customer from an on-site generating facility and delivered to a local transmission and distribution utility may be used to offset electric energy provided by the transmission and distribution utility to the customer during the applicable billing period.
Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §3306, sub-§7  is enacted to read:
 
7.  Net metering.     A transmission and distribution utility shall provide net metering to a small power producer who produces alternative or renewable energy and is a customer to the transmission and distribution utility upon request of the small power producer. If the annual net electricity produced results in a credit for the small power producer, the transmission and distribution utility shall pay the small power producer for the electricity at the wholesale rate of the electricity as determined by the commission.
 
SUMMARY
This bill defines "net metering" as a service under which electricity produced by a customer is delivered to the customer's transmission and distribution utility and the transmission and distribution utility offsets the value of that electricity from the electricity provided to the customer by the transmission and distribution utility. This bill requires a transmission and distribution utility to offer this service to a customer who produces alternative or renewable energy and pay the customer the wholesale rate for electricity for any credit owed the customer from the net metering annually.