1. In adopting regulations for the Solar Program, the Commission shall adopt regulations establishing the incentives for participation in the Solar Program, shall consider whether such regulations ensure, to the extent practicable, the cost-effective use of such incentives and predictability for participants, rate payers and utilities and shall maximize to the extent practicable the number of customer categories participating in the Solar Program based on demographics and location, including, without limitation, categories for public entities, customers of lower socioeconomic status, nonprofit organizations and commercial, industrial and residential customers. The regulations must:
(a)For a solar energy system that has a generating capacity of not more than 25 kilowatts, provide for an in
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1. In adopting regulations for the Solar Program, the Commission shall adopt regulations establishing the incentives for participation in the Solar Program, shall consider whether such regulations ensure, to the extent practicable, the cost-effective use of such incentives and predictability for participants, rate payers and utilities and shall maximize to the extent practicable the number of customer categories participating in the Solar Program based on demographics and location, including, without limitation, categories for public entities, customers of lower socioeconomic status, nonprofit organizations and commercial, industrial and residential customers. The regulations must:
(a) For a solar energy system that has a generating capacity of not more than 25 kilowatts, provide for an incentive that must be paid in one installment to a participant for a solar energy system upon proof that the participant has installed and energized the solar energy system;
(b) For a solar energy system that has a generating capacity of more than 25 kilowatts, provide for an incentive that must be paid to a participant over time and be based on the performance of the solar energy system and the amount of electricity generated by the solar energy system;
(c) For a solar energy system that has a generating capacity of more than 25 kilowatts, provide for a contract to be entered into between a participant and a utility, which must include, without limitation, provisions specifying:
(1) The amount of the incentive the participant will receive from the utility;
(2) The period in which the participant will receive an incentive from the utility, which must not exceed 5 years;
(3) That the payments of an incentive to the participant must be made not more frequently than quarterly; and
(4) That a utility must not be required to issue any new incentive on or after January 1, 2021, or make an incentive payment after December 31, 2025;
(d) Establish reporting requirements for each utility that participates in the Solar Program, which must include, without limitation, periodic reports of the average installed cost of the systems, the cost to the utility of carrying out the Solar Program, the effect of the Solar Program on the rates paid by customers of the utility and the annual statistical data related to the amount of incentives granted and the number of participants;
(e) Provide for a decline over time in the amount of the incentives for participation in the Solar Program as the installed costs of solar energy systems decrease and as variables, including, without limitation, system size, installation costs, market conditions and access to federal, state and other financial incentives, may require;
(f) Provide that the rate at which incentives decline over time will be published by the Commission, including publication on the Internet website maintained by the Commission, annually or on such other schedule as necessary to reflect changes in the market; and
(g) Provide that incentives must be made available only to solar energy systems with a nameplate capacity of not more than 500 kilowatts.
2. The Commission shall review the incentives for participation in the Solar Program and may adjust the amount of the incentives not more frequently than annually, as determined necessary by the Commission to reflect changes in the market for solar energy systems and demand for incentives.
3. A contract that is executed between a utility and a participant on or before December 31, 2021, providing for the payment to the participant of an incentive pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection 1 may provide for the continued payment of such an incentive after December 31, 2021, in accordance with regulations adopted by the Commission.