Rules, Regulations, and Policies
Interconnection
Benchmark: August 11, 2008
State: The Texas Public Utility Regulatory Act (PURA) of 1999 included a provision that "a customer is entitled to have access 'to on-site distributed generation'" [§39.101(b)(3)]. This provision led the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) to adopt interconnection standards (Substantive Rules §25.211 and §25.212) in 1999. The rules apply to electrical generating facilities (consisting of one or more on-site distributed-generation units) located at a customer's point of delivery, with a maximum capacity of 10 megawatts (MW) and connected at a voltage less than 60 kilovolts (kV). The total capacity of a facility's individual on-site distributed generation units may exceed 10 MW. However, no more than 10 MW of capacity will be interconnected at any point in time at the point of common coupling.
For more detailed information, visit: http://dsireusa.org/library/includes/incentive2.cfm?Incentive_Code=TX10R&state=TX&CurrentPageID=1&RE=1&EE=0.
State: The Texas Public Utility Regulatory Act (PURA) of 1999 included a provision that "a customer is entitled to have access 'to on-site distributed generation'" [§39.101(b)(3)]. This provision led the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) to adopt interconnection standards (Substantive Rules §25.211 and §25.212) in 1999. The rules apply to electrical generating facilities (consisting of one or more on-site distributed-generation units) located at a customer's point of delivery, with a maximum capacity of 10 megawatts (MW) and connected at a voltage less than 60 kilovolts (kV). The total capacity of a facility's individual on-site distributed generation units may exceed 10 MW. However, no more than 10 MW of capacity will be interconnected at any point in time at the point of common coupling.
For more detailed information, visit: http://dsireusa.org/library/includes/incentive2.cfm?Incentive_Code=TX10R&state=TX&CurrentPageID=1&RE=1&EE=0.
Net Metering
Benchmark: August 11, 2008
State: The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) has adopted limited net-metering rules. PUCT Substantive Rule § 25.242(h) requires any integrated investor-owned utility (IOU) that has not unbundled in accordance with § 39.051 of the federal Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act (PURPA) to provide specific net-metering options for customers that operate qualifying facilities (QFs) of 100 kilowatts (kW) or less that use non-renewable-energy resources, and to qualifying facilities of 50 kW or less that use renewable-energy resources. Less than 25% of Texas is currently served by integrated IOUs since deregulation. Customers should review § 25.242 to determine if their renewable-energy facility meets the criteria for net metering. For eligible facilities, there is no statewide limit on the number of customers who may net meter, and there is no statewide limit on the total aggregate net-metered capacity under the rules.
For more information, visit: http://www.puc.state.tx.us/rules/subrules/electric/25.242/25.242.cfm.
State: The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) has adopted limited net-metering rules. PUCT Substantive Rule § 25.242(h) requires any integrated investor-owned utility (IOU) that has not unbundled in accordance with § 39.051 of the federal Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act (PURPA) to provide specific net-metering options for customers that operate qualifying facilities (QFs) of 100 kilowatts (kW) or less that use non-renewable-energy resources, and to qualifying facilities of 50 kW or less that use renewable-energy resources. Less than 25% of Texas is currently served by integrated IOUs since deregulation. Customers should review § 25.242 to determine if their renewable-energy facility meets the criteria for net metering. For eligible facilities, there is no statewide limit on the number of customers who may net meter, and there is no statewide limit on the total aggregate net-metered capacity under the rules.
For more information, visit: http://www.puc.state.tx.us/rules/subrules/electric/25.242/25.242.cfm.
Solar Set-Aside in RPS
Benchmark: August 11, 2008
State: In 1999 the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) adopted rules for the state's Renewable Energy Mandate, establishing a renewable portfolio standard (RPS), a renewable-energy credit (REC) trading program, and renewable-energy purchase requirements for competitive retailers in Texas. The 1999 standard called for 2,000 megawatts (MW) of new renewables to be installed in Texas by 2009, in addition to the 880 MW of existing renewables generation at the time. In August 2005, S.B. 20 increased the renewable-energy mandate to 5,880 MW by 2015 (about 5% of the state's electricity demand), including a target of 500 MW of renewable-energy capacity from resources other than wind. Texas uses a credit multiplier (2x) to apply to all non-wind renewable generation. Credit multipliers support the solar industry in the same way as solar set asides by allowing greater PRS credit for solar energy generation technologies.
For more information, please see: http://www.dsireusa.org/library/includes/incentivesearch.cfm?Incentive_Code=TX03R&state=TX¤tpageid=2&search=State&EE=0&RE=1
State: In 1999 the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) adopted rules for the state's Renewable Energy Mandate, establishing a renewable portfolio standard (RPS), a renewable-energy credit (REC) trading program, and renewable-energy purchase requirements for competitive retailers in Texas. The 1999 standard called for 2,000 megawatts (MW) of new renewables to be installed in Texas by 2009, in addition to the 880 MW of existing renewables generation at the time. In August 2005, S.B. 20 increased the renewable-energy mandate to 5,880 MW by 2015 (about 5% of the state's electricity demand), including a target of 500 MW of renewable-energy capacity from resources other than wind. Texas uses a credit multiplier (2x) to apply to all non-wind renewable generation. Credit multipliers support the solar industry in the same way as solar set asides by allowing greater PRS credit for solar energy generation technologies.
For more information, please see: http://www.dsireusa.org/library/includes/incentivesearch.cfm?Incentive_Code=TX03R&state=TX¤tpageid=2&search=State&EE=0&RE=1