§ 39-26.6-4. Continuation of board. (a) The distributed generation standard contract board shall remain fully constituted and authorized as provided in chapter 26.2 of title 39; provided, however, that the name shall be changed to the "distributed-generation board". Additional purposes of the board shall be to:

(1) Evaluate and make recommendations to the commission regarding ceiling prices and annual targets, the make-up of renewable-energy classifications eligible under the distributed-generation growth program, the terms of the tariffs, and other duties as set forth in this chapter;

(2) Provide consistent, comprehensive, informed, and publicly accountable involvement by representatives of all interested stakeholders affected by, involved with, or knowledgeable about the development of distributed-generation projects that are eligible for performance-based incentives under the distributed-generation growth program; and

(3) Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the distributed-generation growth program.

(b) The office, in consultation with the board, shall be authorized to hire, or to request the electric-distribution company to hire, the services of qualified consultants to perform ceiling price studies subject to commission approval that shall be granted or denied within sixty (60) days of receipt of such request from the office. The cost of such studies shall be recoverable through the rate-reconciliation provisions of the electric-distribution company set forth in § 39-26.6-25, subject to commission approval. In addition, the office, in consultation with the board, may request the commission to approve other costs incurred by the board, office, or the electric-distribution company to utilize consultants for annual programmatic services or to perform any other studies and reports, subject to the review and approval of the commission, that shall be granted or denied within one hundred twenty (120) days of receipt of such request from the office, and that shall be recoverable through the same reconciliation provisions.

(c) Revenues generated through the rate reconciliation process to finance the expenses incurred as outlined in subsection (b) shall be transferred to the office and deposited in a restricted-receipt account within the general fund. The restricted-receipt account shall be exempt from the indirect cost recovery assessment under § 35-4-27.

History of Section. (P.L. 2014, ch. 200, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 216, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 149, § 4; P.L. 2016, ch. 163, § 4; P.L. 2017, ch. 302, art. 7, § 3.)