§ 39-26.3-4. Study cost fees. (a) After thirty (30) days from the enactment of this chapter until the end of calendar year 2012, the feasibility study fee shall be in accordance with the schedule set forth below:

(1) Residential applicants for interconnections of UL 1741.1 approved renewable distributed generation that is twenty-five kilowatts (25 kw) or less: zero dollars ($0).

(2) Residential applicants for interconnections of UL 1741.1 approved renewable distributed generation that is greater than twenty-five kilowatts (25 kw): fifty dollars ($50.00).

(3) Non-residential applicants for interconnections of UL 1741.1 approved renewable distributed generation that is one hundred kilowatts (100 kw) or less: one hundred dollars ($100).

(4) Non-residential applicants for interconnections of UL 1741.1 approved renewable distributed generation that is two hundred fifty kilowatts (250 kw) or less: three hundred dollars ($300).

(5) Non-residential applicants for interconnections of renewable distributed generation that is greater than two hundred fifty kilowatts (250 kw), up to one megawatt: one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(6) Non-residential applicants for interconnections of renewable distributed generation greater than one megawatt: two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500).

Beginning January 1, 2013 and for every year thereafter, the commission shall set a new fee schedule that is no less than what is specified herein. The purpose of the fee schedule is to provide a disincentive to applicants contemplating a renewable distributed generation project from requesting order of magnitude estimates unless they are serious about pursuing such projects.

(b) After thirty (30) days from the enactment of this chapter until the end of calendar year 2012, the impact study fee shall be in accordance with the schedule set forth below:

(1) Residential applicants for interconnections of UL 1741.1 approved renewable distributed generation that is twenty-five kilowatts (25 kw) or less: zero dollars ($0).

(2) Residential applicants for interconnections of UL 1741.1 approved renewable distributed generation that is greater than twenty-five kilowatts (25 kw): one hundred dollars ($100).

(3) Non-residential applicants for interconnections of UL 1741.1 approved renewable distributed generation that is one hundred kilowatts (100 kw) or less: five hundred dollars ($500)

(4) Non-residential applicants for interconnections of UL 1741.1 approved renewable distributed generation that is two hundred fifty kilowatts (250 kw) or less: one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500).

(5) Non-residential applicants for interconnections of renewable distributed generation that is greater than two hundred fifty kilowatts (250 kw), up to one megawatt: five thousand dollars ($5,000).

(6) Non-residential applicants for interconnections of renewable distributed generation greater than one megawatt: ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Beginning January 1, 2013 and for every year thereafter, the commission shall set a new fee schedule that is no less than what is specified herein. The purpose of the impact study fee schedule is to assure that an applicant is responsible for paying a reasonable amount of the cost of the study in advance of installing the distributed generation, but that the advance cost is not so high as to discourage an applicant from pursuing a project.

(c) To the extent that an impact study fee established under this section does not cover the reasonable cost of an impact study for a given non-residential project that commences operation, the balance of such costs shall be recovered from such applicant through billings after the project is online. The electric distribution company may, at its sole election, offset net-metering credits or any standard contract payments until the full fee(s) is reimbursed, if it finds it administratively convenient to use that means of billing for the balance of the fee for a given project.

History of Section. (P.L. 2011, ch. 140, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 144, § 1.)