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Rhode IslandH55802025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- NET METERING .

Sponsored By: Brandon C. Potter (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 3 mixed.

Community solar shares target lower-income residents

Rhode Island’s energy office must redesign community solar to reserve 50% for lower-income residents or disadvantaged and environmental justice communities. A business anchor tenant may take up to 50%. The office must account for federal energy funding and tax credits when setting a cost-effective credit rate. Each proposal needs a benefit-cost analysis filed with the Public Utilities Commission. Commission approval limits the program to 20 megawatts yearly for two years, or 40 megawatts total. Projects must stay outside core forests unless they use preferred sites there.

Power customers gain credit cash-out options

Utilities may base monthly bills on 12-month estimates of power production and use, then reconcile them with actual amounts. They may adjust estimates after major changes and issue checks instead of bill credits. For residential-eligible or community remote systems of 25 kilowatts or less, utilities may carry unused credits forward monthly. Customers may choose cash for credits left after any required annual reconciliation. Payment equals the lower of the reconciled balance or the account balance when the utility processes payment.

Ground-mounted power projects face new limits

Covered ground-mounted net-metering projects face a combined 275-megawatt alternating-current cap, excluding offshore wind. The cap excludes projects with qualifying permit applications by April 15, 2023. It also excludes projects with qualifying interconnection applications or study requests by June 24, 2023. Covered projects can use core forests only at preferred sites and generally must start construction or operation by July 1, 2030. That deadline excludes systems behind the customer’s meter or serving the same owner’s accounts on the same or adjoining parcels.

Some public power credits shrink in 2060

Beginning January 1, 2060, credits from remote public-entity and multi-town net-metering systems exclude the distribution charge per kilowatt-hour. Systems with a paid interconnection-study request by December 31, 2018, keep that credit component. When no study was required, the exception requires a completed and paid interconnection application by that date.

Extra power earns credits with limits

Excess power credits use the ISO-New England wholesale energy clearing price, with the utility’s pricing method subject to commission approval. Systems of 25 kilowatts or less receive this price for all output above 100% of use. Larger systems generally receive excess credits only for output above 100% and up to 125% of use. That cap does not apply when the customer and utility agree to the law’s 12-month billing plan. For community systems, the comparison uses eligible credit recipients’ electricity use during the billing period.

Power system sizing rules favor smaller systems

Net-metering systems over 25 kilowatts must be sized so yearly production does not exceed the site’s three-year average yearly use. Projected use may count until three years of actual data are available. Systems of 25 kilowatts or less have no sizing limit based on prior use.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Brandon C. Potter

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Jennifer Boylan

    Democratic • House

  • Terri Cortvriend

    Democratic • House

  • Megan L. Cotter

    Democratic • House

  • John G. Edwards

    Democratic • House

  • Arthur Handy

    Democratic • House

  • Jason Knight

    Democratic • House

  • Michelle E. McGaw

    Democratic • House

  • Joseph J. Solomon, Jr.

    Democratic • House

  • June Speakman

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 101 • No: 5

Senate vote • 6/20/2025

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- NET METERING In Concurrence Passage

Yes: 29 • No: 5

House vote • 6/16/2025

NET METERING PASSAGE

Yes: 72 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor — Chapter 269

    6/27/2025Governor

  2. Transmitted to Governor

    6/23/2025Governor

  3. Senate passed in concurrence

    6/20/2025Senate

  4. Placed on Senate Calendar (06/20/2025)

    6/20/2025Senate

  5. House read and passed

    6/16/2025House

  6. Placed on House Calendar (06/16/2025)

    6/13/2025House

  7. Committee recommends passage

    6/10/2025

  8. Scheduled for consideration (06/10/2025)

    6/6/2025

  9. Committee recommended measure be held for further study

    4/24/2025

  10. Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/24/2025)

    4/18/2025

  11. Committee postponed at request of sponsor (04/01/2025)

    3/31/2025

  12. Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration

    3/28/2025

  13. Introduced, referred to House Corporations

    2/26/2025House

Bill Text

  • H5580 - As Introduced

    2/26/2025

    HTMLPDF

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