Rebates

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission created the Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) in its final order of the PECO Energy electric utility restructuring proceeding. The Reinvestment Fund, Inc. (TRF), which was formed in 1985 to build wealth and opportunity for low-wealth communities and low- and moderate-income individuals, administers the SDF. The SDF later received additional funding and responsibilities as a result of the PECO Energy/Unicom merger settlement. That settlement added funding for new wind development, for solar photovoltaics and for renewable energy education, as well as a lump-sum payment and an increase in SDF's core fund. In total, the fund has

Montana generating plants producing one megawatt (MW) or more with an alternative renewable energy source* are eligible for the new or expanded industry property tax reduction. This incentive reduces the local mill levy during the first nine years of operation, subject to approval by the local government. If approved, the facility is taxed at 25% or 50% of its taxable value in the first five years following the issuance of the construction permit. Each year thereafter, the tax reduction decreases and the taxable value percentage is increased in equal increments until the full taxable value is attained in the tenth

Note: Iowa S.F. 583, enacted on March 12, 2020, makes substantial changes to net metering rules, which will go into effect by July 1, 2027 or when statewide distributed generation penetration reaches 5%, whichever is earlier; at that point value of solar methodologies will be developed. Utilities are allowed to file "inflow-outflow" tariffs in place of net metering before that date, but the compensation rate for outflow credits is equal to the volumetric retail rate until the value of solar is established. 

In May 2017, the Iowa Utilities Board approved new net metering pilot programs for MidAmerican Energy and

According to § 20 ILCS 687/6-4, the statute this trust is under will be repealed on December 31, 2021. 

Illinois's 1997 electric-industry restructuring legislation created separate public benefits funds that support renewable energy and residential energy efficiency. The Renewable Energy Resources Trust Fund (RERTF) supports renewables through grants, loans and other incentives administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). The funding mechanism was established for 10 years in January 1998. In August 2007, funding was extended through December 12, 2015.

Renewable-energy projects eligible for RERTF support include wind energy, solar-thermal energy, photovoltaics, dedicated crops

Note: Legislation (S.B. 2967) signed in November 2024 adds fusion energy to the state's RPS and sets Class II Waste Energy Minimum Standard to 3.7% in 2026 and all years thereafter.

Massachusetts' 1997 electric-utility restructuring legislation created the framework for a renewable portfolio standard (RPS). In April 2002, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) adopted RPS regulations. The RPS was significantly expanded by legislation enacted in July 2008 (Green Communities Act, S.B. 2768), which established two separate renewable standards -- a standard for “Class I” renewables, and a standard for “Class II” renewables -- as

In 1996, Ashland adopted a net metering program that includes simple interconnection guidelines. Generation and consumption are netted monthly and any excess generation is rolled over to the next month as a kWh credit. Any net excess generation remaining after the March 31 billing cycle every year is paid out at the wholesale rate.  

Rhode Island Renewable Energy Fund

Rhode Island's Public Utilities Restructuring Act of 1996 created the nation's first public benefits fund for renewable energy and demand-side management (DSM). The Rhode Island Renewable Energy Fund's renewable-energy component is administered by the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation (Commerce RI) formerly known as the Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC), and the fund's DSM programs are administered by the state's electric and gas distribution companies, subject to review by the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission (RIPUC).

Funding and Budget

CommerceRI’s Renewable Energy Fund is supported by a surcharge on electric and gas customers' bills. Initially, the surcharge

Montana established the Universal System Benefits Program (USBP) in 1997 as part of its restructuring legislation. The USBP supports cost-effective energy conservation, low-income customer weatherization, renewable-energy projects and applications, research and development programs related to energy conservation and renewables, market transformation designed to encourage competitive markets for public purpose programs, and low-income energy assistance.

Beginning January 1, 1999, all electric utilities -- including electric cooperatives -- were required to contribute revenue generated from a surcharge on customers' electricity use. In 1997, the surcharge was set through electricity restructuring legislation and was based on 2.4% of electric utilities' 1995 revenues. This

NOTE: In July 2020, the New York Public Service Commission adopted a net metering successor tariff for mass market net metering projects interconnected beginning on January 1, 2022. The successor tariff retains the same overall structure as the Phase One NEM tariff adopted in 2017, but adds a "Customer Benefit Contribution" (CBC) charge intended to cover the costs of state-funded programs. The CBC is based on installed DG capacity and differs by utility; it ranges from $0.69-$1.09 per kW per month. 

Introduction

New York's original net-metering law, enacted in 1997, applied only to residential photovoltaic (PV) systems up to 10

Maine's original Renewable Resource Portfolio Requirement was passed as part of the state's 1997 electric utility restructuring law. In 1999, Maine's Public Utility Commission (PUC) adopted rules requiring each electricity provider to supply at least 30% of their total electric sales using electricity generated from eligible renewable and certain energy efficiency resources. At the time of passage, the required percentage of renewable energy was actually lower than the existing percentage supplied. In 2019 Governor Mills signed legislation (L.D. 1494) that increased Maine’s renewable portfolio standard (RPS) to 80% by 2030 and set a goal of 100% by 2050