Florida Senate - 2008 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for SB 1544
820112
Senate
Comm: RCS
3/27/2008
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House
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The Committee on Communications and Public Utilities (Bennett)
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recommended the following amendment:
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Senate Amendment
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Delete line(s) 2599-2669
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and insert:
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377.921 Qualified solar energy system program.--The
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Legislature finds that qualified solar energy systems provide
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fuel savings and can help protect against future electricity and
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natural gas shortages, reduce the state's dependence on foreign
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sources of energy, and improve environmental conditions. The
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Legislature further finds that the deployment of qualified solar
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energy systems advances Florida's goals of promoting energy
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efficiency and the development of renewable energy resources.
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Therefore, the Legislature finds that it is in the public
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interest to encourage public utilities to develop and implement
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programs that promote the deployment and use of qualified solar
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energy systems.
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(2) As used in this section:
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(a) "Qualified solar energy system" means a solar thermal
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water heating system installed at a customer's premises by a
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public utility. Once installed, ownership of the qualified system
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may be retained by the public utility or granted to the customer.
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(b) "Public utility" or "utility" means a utility as defined
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in s. 366.02(1).
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(c) "Eligible program" means a program developed by a public
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utility and approved by the commission pursuant to subsection (5)
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under which the utility facilitates the installation of solar
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thermal water heating systems at a utility customer's premises.
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(d) "Program fuel cost savings" means the total fuel cost
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savings that a utility is projected to achieve from all solar
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thermal water heating systems installed at a customer's premises
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over the life of the qualified solar energy system.
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(e) "Program costs" means all costs incurred in implementing
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an eligible program, including, but not limited to:
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1. In service capital investments, including the utility's
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last authorized rate of return thereon; and
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2. Operating and maintenance expense, including, but not
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limited to, labor, overhead, materials, advertising, marketing,
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customer incentives, or rebates.
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(3) Notwithstanding any provision in chapter 366 or rule to
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the contrary, a public utility shall be allowed to recover
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through the energy conservation cost-recovery clause, either as
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period expenses or by capitalizing and amortizing, all prudent
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and reasonable program costs incurred in implementing an eligible
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program. With respect to any solar hot water heating system, the
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amortization period shall be 5 years.
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(4) Notwithstanding any provision in chapter 366 or rule to
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the contrary, and in addition to recovery under subsection (3), a
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utility shall be allowed to recover through the fuel cost-
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recovery clause beginning in the year each solar thermal water
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heating system begins operation 50 percent of any such program
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fuel cost savings for a period not to exceed five years from the
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installation date. The remaining 50 percent of fuel saving shall
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be returned to the utility's customers through the fuel cost-
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recovery clause.
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(5) Notwithstanding any provision in chapter 366 or rule to
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the contrary, the commission shall enter an order approving a
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public utility's qualified solar energy system program if the
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utility demonstrates in a petition that:
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(a) The qualified solar energy systems to be installed as
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part of the program at minimum meet applicable Solar Rating and
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Certification Corporation OG-30 certification requirements.
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(b) The qualified solar energy systems are constructed and
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installed in conformity with the manufacturer's specifications
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and all applicable codes and standards.
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(6) Within 60 days after receiving a petition to approve a
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qualified solar energy system program, the commission shall
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approve the petition or inform the utility of any deficiencies
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therein. If the commission informs the utility of deficiencies,
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the utility may correct those deficiencies and refile its
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petition to approve the qualified solar energy system program.
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(7) In order to encourage public utilities to promote the
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deployment and use of qualified solar energy systems, the public
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utility shall own the renewable attributes or benefits associated
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with the energy output of a qualified solar energy system
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installed pursuant to an eligible program, including any
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renewable energy credit or other instrument issued as a result of
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the utility's eligible program.
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(8) This section shall stand repealed on June 30, 2011,
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unless reenacted by the Legislature on or before that date.
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Utilities may not enroll new customers in the qualified solar
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energy program after June 30, 2011, unless this section is
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reenacted.
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3/26/2008 5:19:00 PM 579-05873-08
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.