§ 248c. Fees; Department of Public Service and Public Utility Commission; participation in certification and siting proceedings

(a) Establishment. This section establishes fees for the purpose of supporting the role of the Department of Public Service (Department) and the Public Utility Commission (Commission) in reviewing applications for in-state facilities under section 248 of this title. Companies that pay the gross receipts tax as provided in section 22 of this title shall not be subject to the fees established in this section.

(b) Payment. The applicant shall pay the fee into the State Treasury at the time the application for a certificate of public good is filed with the Commission in an amount calculated in accordance with this section. The fee shall be deposited into the gross revenue fund. Of the fees deposited into the gross revenue fund, 60 percent shall be allocated to the Department and 40 percent shall be allocated to the Commission.

(c) Definitions. As used in this section, "kW" and "plant capacity" have the same meaning as in section 8002 of this title.

(d) Electric and natural gas facilities. This subsection sets fees for applications under section 248 of this title.

(1) There shall be a registration fee of $100.00 for each electric generation facility less than or equal to 50 kW in plant capacity, or for a rooftop project, or for a hydroelectric project filing a net metering registration, or for an application filed under subsection 248(n) of this title.

(2) There shall be a fee of $25.00 for modifications for each electric generation facility less than or equal to 50 kW in plant capacity, or for a rooftop project, or for a hydroelectric project filing a net metering registration, or for an application filed under subsection 248(n) of this title.

(3) There shall be a fee for electric generation facilities that do not qualify for the lower fees in subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, calculated as follows:

(A) $5.00 per kW; and

(B) $100.00 for modifications.

(e) Report. On or before the third Tuesday of each annual legislative session, the Department and Commission shall jointly submit a report to the General Assembly by electronic submission. The provisions of 2 V.S.A. § 20(d)(expiration of required reports) shall not apply to this report. The report shall list the fees collected and refunds approved, if any, under this section and under section 248d of this title during the preceding fiscal year. (Added 2019, No. 70, § 10.)