SC Energy Freedom Act

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 41 TO TITLE 58 ENTITLED "RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAMS" SO AS TO DEFINE RELEVANT TERMS, TO PROVIDE REVIEW AND APPROVAL PROCEEDINGS BY THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION FOR ELECTRICAL UTILITIES' AVOIDED COST METHODOLOGIES, STANDARD OFFERS, FORM CONTRACTS, AND COMMITMENT TO SELL FORMS, AND TO ESTABLISH VOLUNTARY RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAMS; BY ADDING SECTION 58-27-845 SO AS TO ENUMERATE SPECIFIC RIGHTS OWED TO EVERY ELECTRICAL UTILITY CUSTOMER IN SOUTH CAROLINA; TO AMEND SECTION 58-40-10, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS APPLICABLE TO NET ENERGY METERING, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF "CUSTOMER-GENERATOR", AND TO DEFINE "SOLAR CHOICE METERING MEASUREMENT"; TO AMEND SECTION 58-40-20, RELATING TO NET ENERGY METERING RATES, SO AS TO DECLARE THE INTENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, TO REQUIRE NET ENERGY METERING, AND TO ESTABLISH ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION; TO AMEND SECTION 58-27-2610, RELATING TO LEASES OF RENEWABLE ELECTRIC GENERATION FACILITIES, SO AS TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, REMOVE THE SOLAR LEASING CAP; TO AMEND SECTION 58-37-40, RELATING TO INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLANS, SO AS TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, ESTABLISH MANDATORY CONTENTS OF INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLANS AND PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; BY ADDING SECTION 58-37-60 SO AS TO AUTHORIZE AN INDEPENDENT STUDY TO EVALUATE THE INTEGRATION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY AND EMERGING ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES INTO THE ELECTRIC GRID; TO AMEND SECTION 58-33-110, RELATING TO REQUIRED PRECONSTRUCTION CERTIFICATIONS FOR MAJOR UTILITY FACILITIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON MAY NOT BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OF A MAJOR UTILITY FACILITY WITHOUT FIRST HAVING MADE A DEMONSTRATION THAT THE FACILITY TO BE BUILT HAS BEEN COMPARED TO OTHER GENERATION OPTIONS IN TERMS OF COST, RELIABILITY, AND OTHER REGULATORY IMPLICATIONS DEEMED LEGALLY OR REASONABLY NECESSARY FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE COMMISSION; TO AMEND SECTION 58-27-460, RELATING TO THE PROMULGATION OF STANDARDS FOR INTERCONNECTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY, SO AS TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, REQUIRE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO PERIODICALLY REVIEW THE STANDARDS FOR INTERCONNECTION AND PARALLEL OPERATION OF GENERATING FACILITIES TO AN ELECTRICAL UTILITY'S DISTRIBUTION AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM; BY ADDING SECTION 58-27-2660 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF AND THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO DEVELOP CONSUMER PROTECTION REGULATIONS REGARDING THE SALE OR LEASE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION FACILITIES; TO AMEND SECTION 58-4-10, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF MUST BE CONSIDERED A PARTY OF RECORD IN ALL FILINGS, APPLICATIONS, OR PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION; AND TO AMEND SECTION 58-4-100, RELATING TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF EXPERT WITNESSES, SO AS TO EXEMPT THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF FROM THE STATE PROCUREMENT CODE IN THE SELECTION AND EMPLOYMENT OF CERTAIN EXPERT WITNESSES AND THIRD-PARTY CONSULTANTS. - ratified title