I 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3852 

To direct the Secretary of Energy to conduct a study on the benefits of 

solar net energy metering, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 28, 2015 

Mr. HIGGINS (for himself and Mr. HANNA) introduced the following bill; which 

was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Energy to conduct a study on 

the benefits of solar net energy metering, and for other 

purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. STUDY AND REPORT ON BENEFITS OF SOLAR 

4 NET ENERGY METERING. 

5 (a) STUDY AND REPORT.— 

6 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Energy 

7 shall conduct a study on solar net energy metering. 

8 The study shall include an analysis of any benefits 

9 that may result from implementing solar net energy 

10 metering, including any resulting— 


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1 (A) reduction in demand on the grid dur2 ing peak hours; 

3 (B) increased grid security through local4 ized grid support; 

5 (C) creation of jobs related to solar energy, 

6 including jobs in production, construction, and 

7 installation, increasing the tax base for State 

8 and local governments; 

9 (D) avoidance of energy-related expendi10 tures by electric consumers that enables such 

11 electric consumers to increase discretionary 

12 spending and stimulate local economies; 

13 (E) reduction in air pollution and associ14 ated health risks; 

15 (F) reduction in greenhouse gas emissions 

16 and associated climate change impacts; 

17 (G) assistance to electric utilities in meet18 ing applicable renewable portfolio standards; 

19 (H) reduction in water usage as compared 

20 to the amount of water used in fossil-fuel-based 

21 electricity production; 

22 (I) reduction in electricity cost for electric 

23 consumers as a result of reduced demand for 

24 centrally supplied electricity; 


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1 (J) avoided cost in energy generation, de2 ferred capacity, and grid support services to 

3 electric utilities by or on behalf of an electric 

4 consumer; 

5 (K) avoided cost to electric utilities for fuel 

6 price hedging otherwise needed to guarantee 

7 that a portion of electricity supply costs are 

8 fixed; and 

9 (L) increase in the availability of private 

10 capital to individuals generating electricity 

11 through use of solar power based on the stable 

12 assumptions solar net energy metering provides 

13 for financial institutions. 

14 (2) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the 

15 date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of En16 ergy shall submit to Congress a report containing 

17 the results of the study required to be conducted 

18 under paragraph (1). 

19 (b) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this Act: 

20 (1) ELIGIBLE SOLAR GENERATING FACILITY.— 

21 The term ‘‘eligible solar generating facility’’ means 

22 a facility that produces electric energy solely by the 

23 use, as a primary energy source, of solar energy. 

24 (2) PRIMARY ENERGY SOURCE.—The term ‘‘pri25 mary energy source’’ has the meaning given such 


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1 term in section 3 of the Federal Power Act (16 

2 U.S.C. 796). 

3 (3) SOLAR NET ENERGY METERING.—The term 

4 ‘‘solar net energy metering’’ means service to an 

5 electric consumer under which electric energy gen6 erated by such electric consumer from an on-site eli7 gible solar generating facility and delivered to local 

8 distribution facilities may be used to offset electric 

9 energy provided by an electric utility to the electric 

10 consumer during the applicable billing period. 

11 (4) ELECTRIC UTILITY; ELECTRIC CON12 SUMER.—The terms ‘‘electric utility’’ and ‘‘electric 

13 consumer’’ have the meanings given such terms in 

14 section 3 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies 

15 Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2602). 

Æ 


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