Indiana Senate Bill 196 establishes rules and electricity bill credits for community energy facilities

Requires the Indiana utility regulatory commission (commission) to adopt rules governing community energy facilities not later than July 1, 2028. Provides that, not later than 180 days after adoption of the rules, an electricity supplier shall begin: (1) allowing interconnection of the electricity supplier's facilities with community energy facilities with which at least three of the electricity supplier's customers have entered into a subscription; and (2) crediting the electricity supplier's subscribing customers for the amount of electricity from the community energy facility to which the customer subscribes. Requires the commission to: (1) establish an interconnection working group composed of representatives of electricity suppliers and other stakeholders with respect to electric utility service; and (2) implement the working group's recommendations regarding creation, revision, or elimination of policies, processes, tariffs, rules, or standards relating to the interconnection of community energy facilities and electricity suppliers as necessary for transparent, accurate, and efficient implementation of community energy facilities. Prohibits an investor owned utility from: (1) owning a community energy facility; or (2) offering incentive programs to community energy facilities.

Local electricity customers gain the option to subscribe to shared community energy facilities and receive direct credits on their utility bills for the electricity generated, while electricity suppliers must update their billing systems and interconnection processes to accommodate these projects.

• ›The Indiana General Assembly is the state legislature responsible for enacting statutory changes concerning public utilities and energy regulation. context
• ›The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission is a state agency that regulates electric, natural gas, steam, water, and sewer utilities. context