Protect community ownership of solar in Maine
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A wave of new bills opposing Net Energy Billing (NEB) is coming this legislative session. These bills are prompted by myths propagated by the utility about NEB. To read more about why the utilities are pushing this narrative, see our “Myth-Busting Utility Narratives about Solar and Net Energy Billing”. On February 6th, the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee of the Maine Legislature will have a hearing on two bills, LD 32 and LD 257, both of which have nearly identical language (varying in title alone) that would prohibit the Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) from requiring the monopoly utilities to allow customers to participate in net energy billing. This will, in turn, allow the utilities to eliminate the program, which they will almost certainly then do, even for folks that already have net energy billing contracts.
NEB was designed to accelerate Maine’s clean energy transition, incentivizing the development of small and large-scale distributed solar energy projects. NEB works by allowing the owners of solar projects to offset their electric bills using credits generated when their solar array produces excess power. The excess power generated is fed onto the grid and serves neighboring households and businesses.
The program has resulted in the rapid deployment of solar across the state and has opened up an avenue for low and moderate-income community members to receive the benefits of solar ownership (significantly reduced energy costs, a reliable source of power, decreased reliance on fossil fuels).
These bills, if enacted as written, would allow utilities to breach contracts with the thousands of Maine residents, schools, libraries, municipalities, and businesses who invested in solar generation systems based on the promise of the Maine State Legislature that even if changes to the net energy billing program were made, their benefits would be guaranteed. These bills prioritize utility revenue (see our “Myth Busting Utility Narratives about Solar and Net Energy Billing”) at the expense of all Maine ratepayers and punish early investors in solar projects that provide substantial grid and environmental benefits.
Below are bullet points folks can use to oppose the bills and support NEB when drafting testimony or reaching out to their legislators.
NEB Provides Cost Savings for All Ratepayers: In 2022 the Energy, Utilities and Technology committee tasked the MPUC with providing annual reports on the net energy billing program’s cost and the benefits of distributed generation. Last year’s report showed that, in 2023 alone, net energy billing provided nearly $30 million more in benefits than costs.
NEB Strengthens the Grid: NEB projects strengthen the distribution grid through upgrades paid for by the solar owner. Often, upgrades are required to interconnect solar installations with the distribution grid. These upgrades can deliver shared benefits to all ratepayers if they provide reliability benefits or accelerate upgrades that would have been required. Without NEB, project investments in modernizing energy infrastructure could slow down, leading to inefficiencies and higher long-term operational costs.
NEB Increases Equitable Access: NEB increases equitable access by allowing individuals who cannot install their own systems to participate and benefit, promoting equitable access to renewable energy savings. For example, renters or homeowners with non-ideal roof space can participate in true community solar arrays that offer ownership options. Additionally, NEB helps make solar ownership more affordable for lower income community members, as NEB can help to offset upfront cost, particularly when paired with low-interest loans.
NEB Reduces Peak Demand and Transmission Costs: By increasing local and distributed generation of renewable energy, net energy billing helps reduce peak demand pressures on the grid, which can lower electricity costs for all ratepayers by avoiding the need for additional generation capacity from peaker plants and expensive transmission line upgrades.
NEB Decreases Electricity Loss: Distributed solar reduces electricity losses that occur when transporting energy over long distance transmission and distribution lines.
NEB Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Improves Air Quality: Increased adoption of renewable energy through net energy billing contributes to reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality and supporting Maine's environmental goals. Distributed solar reduces the mining, processing, and burning of polluting fossil fuels for electricity generation on the grid. Reducing polluting fuels reduces exposure of the general population to gases and particles that cause morbidity, mortality, and health costs.
Eliminating NEB Increases Dependence on Expensive Imported Fuels: By cutting programs that support Maine-owned distributed energy production, this bill will increase Mainers’ dependence on expensive and volatile imported fuels that channel money out of the state.
Make sure your voice is heard! To submit testimony opposing these bills, follow the steps below by 3:00 p.m. on February 6:
Visit this site: https://www.mainelegislature.org/testimony/
Select “Public Hearing”
Select “Energy, Utilities and Technology”
Select Feb 6, 2025 1:00PM
Select “LD 32 An Act to Repeal the Laws Regarding Net Energy Billing”
Follow the steps outlined on the site.
You can submit oppose both bills with one piece of testimony. We recommend submitting your testimony under LD 32: An Act to Repeal the Laws Regarding Net Energy Billing
A template for formatting written testimony follows:
Testimony of YOUR NAME in Opposition of
LD 32: An Act to Repeal the Laws Regarding Net Energy Billing and LD 257: An Act to Eliminate the Practice of Net Energy Billing
Senator Lawrence, Representative Sachs, and honorable members of the Energy, Utilities, and Technology Committee. I am YOUR NAME, RESIDENT OF ____. Thank you for providing me with this opportunity to oppose LD 32: An Act to Repeal the Laws Regarding Net Energy Billing and LD 257: An Act to Eliminate the Practice of Net Energy Billing..
DESCRIBE WHY YOU ARE OPPOSING THE BILL AND WHY YOU WANT NET ENERGY BILLING IN MAINE TO CONTINUE.