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A404, R247, H3395

STATUS INFORMATION

Joint Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Funderburk, Toole, Stavrinakis and Sandifer
Document Path: l:\council\bills\gjk\20106sd07.doc
Companion/Similar bill(s): 684

Introduced in the House on January 31, 2007
Introduced in the Senate on March 5, 2008
Last Amended on March 4, 2008
Passed by the General Assembly on May 6, 2008
Governor's Action: May 13, 2008, Signed

Summary: Energy Office

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1/31/2007  House   Introduced and read first time HJ-14
   1/31/2007  House   Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry 
                        HJ-14
   2/14/2008  House   Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Toole
   2/28/2008  House   Committee report: Favorable with amendment Labor, 
                        Commerce and Industry HJ-1
    3/4/2008  House   Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Stavrinakis, 
                        Sandifer
    3/4/2008  House   Amended HJ-65
    3/4/2008  House   Read second time HJ-66
    3/5/2008  House   Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-13
    3/5/2008  Senate  Introduced and read first time SJ-6
    3/5/2008  Senate  Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-6
   3/17/2008  Senate  Referred to Subcommittee: Rankin (ch), Ford, Scott, 
                        Campbell
   4/30/2008  Senate  Committee report: Favorable Judiciary SJ-19
    5/1/2008  Senate  Read second time SJ-33
    5/6/2008  Senate  Read third time and enrolled SJ-7
    5/8/2008          Ratified R 247
   5/13/2008          Signed By Governor
   5/19/2008          Copies available
   5/19/2008          Effective date 05/13/08
    8/6/2008          Act No. 404

View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

1/31/2007
2/28/2008
3/4/2008
4/30/2008

(A404, R247, H3395)

A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE THAT THE SOUTH CAROLINA ENERGY OFFICE AND THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF SHALL PROVIDE A REPORT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY NOT LATER THAN JANUARY 1, 2009, THAT RECOMMENDS PROCESS AND PROCEDURES FOR ESTABLISHING NET METERING PROGRAMS AT ALL DISTRIBUTION ELECTRIC UTILITIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA, INCLUDING INVESTOR-OWNED ELECTRIC UTILITIES AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SERVICE AUTHORITY.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Findings

SECTION    1.    The General Assembly finds that:

(1)    the energy needs of South Carolina are growing at a rapid rate;

(2)    solar energy is clean and safe;

(3)    the federal Energy Policy Act provides substantial income tax benefits to homeowners and businesses using solar energy;

(4)    a major impediment to greater use of solar energy in South Carolina is the difficulty for homeowners to interconnect photovoltaic solar systems on their homes with the electricity grids of electric utilities; and

(5)    net metering programs and policies designed to facilitate use of photovoltaic solar energy are already in effect by law or regulation in thirty-nine states.

Net metering report

SECTION    2.    The South Carolina Energy Office and the Office of Regulatory Staff, not later than January 1, 2009, shall provide a report to the General Assembly that recommends process and procedures for establishing net metering programs at all distribution electric utilities in South Carolina, including investor-owned electric utilities and the South Carolina Public Service Authority. In order that this report may be as comprehensive as possible, the General Assembly requests that each electric cooperative and municipal-owned electric utility provide recommendations for process and procedures for establishing net metering programs to the South Carolina Energy Office and the Office of Regulatory Staff by December 1, 2008.

The report must consider net metering requirements of adjacent states, and make recommendations that facilitate interstate uniformity for utilities that serve both South Carolina and a neighboring state. The report also must consider requirements of the federal Energy Policy Act and make recommendations that are consistent with requirements of the federal Energy Policy Act. The report also must consider the need to facilitate consistency with Green Power electricity purchase programs operating in South Carolina.

In preparing the net metering report, the South Carolina Energy Office and the Office of Regulatory Staff shall consult with all affected electric utilities, the State Consumer Advocate, representatives of environmental interests, and the South Carolina Energy Advisory Committee.

Time effective

SECTION    3.    This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 8th day of May, 2008.

Approved the 13th day of May, 2008.

This web page was last updated on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at 3:38 P.M.