26-05-2020
OBJECTS AND REASONS
This Bill would amend the Utilities Regulation Act, Cap. 282 to make provision for renewable energy, to extend the functions of the Commission to include renewable energy producers and for related matters.
Arrangement of Sections
Short title
Amendment of section 2 of Cap. 282.
Amendment of section 3 of Cap. 282
Insertion of new Part IV A into Cap. 282
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BARBADOS
A Bill entitled
An Act to amend the Utilities Regulation Act, Cap. 282, to make provision for renewable energy, to extend the functions of the Commission to include renewable energy producers and for related matters.
ENACTED by the Parliament of Barbados as follows:
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Utilities Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2020.
Amendment of section 2 of Cap. 282.
Section 2 of the Utilities Regulation Act, Cap. 282 in this Act referred to as the principal Act, is amended by deleting the definition of “rates” and substituting the following:
“ “rates” include
every rate, fare, toll, charge, rental or other compensation of a service provider or renewable energy producer;
a rule, practice, measurement, classification or contract of a service provider or renewable energy producer relating to a rate; and
a schedule or tariff respecting a rate;”.
(a)
(b)
(c)
Amendment of section 3 of Cap. 282
Section 3 of the principal Act is amended by inserting the following new subsection immediately after subsection (2):
In performing its functions under subsection (1), the Commission may request a service provider to provide the Commission with information relating to its operations, finances or such other information as the Commission may consider necessary to perform its functions.”.
“(2A)
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Insertion of new Part IV A into Cap. 282
The principal Act is amended by inserting the following new Part immediately after Part IV:
“PART IV A
Renewable energy
Interpretation
For the purposes of this Part,
“interconnection agreement” means an agreement which establishes the terms and conditions under which a distributed generation system that produces or stores energy from a renewable energy resource connects to the public grid;
“public grid” means the grid to which the public has access for the supply of electricity;
“renewable energy producer” includes a generator, distributor or person who stores and supplies electricity generated from a renewable energy resource for sale to the public grid;
“renewable energy resource” means an energy resource other than fossil fuel that is naturally replenished on a human timescale and includes but is not limited to wave and ocean energy, wind, solar and biomass.
24A.
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Functions of the Commission in respect of renewable energy and energy storage
The functions of the Commission, in relation to a renewable energy producer entering into an interconnection agreement or other agreement to supply electricity to the public grid, are to
establish principles for arriving at the rates to be charged;
set the terms and conditions of the agreements;
set the maximum rates to be charged under the agreements; and
direct renewable energy producers to submit the proposals for the rates and terms and conditions relating to their agreements.
In performing its functions under subsection (1), the Commission shall consult with renewable energy producers, representatives of consumer interest groups and other interested parties and shall have regard to
the national energy policy;
the national environmental policy;
the requirement to promote renewable energy and to enhance the security, affordability, safety and reliability of the supply of electricity.
In establishing the principles referred to in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) the Commission shall have regard to
the promotion of efficiency on the part of renewable energy producers;
24B.(1)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(2)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(3)
(a)
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ensuring that an efficient renewable energy producer will be able to finance its functions by earning a reasonable return on capital;
such other matters as the Commission may consider appropriate.
The functions of the Commission, in relation to a renewable energy producer storing energy that is produced by its plant, are to
set the maximum rates to be charged; and
establish guidelines for interconnection.
In performing its functions under subsections (1) and (4), the Commission shall request a renewable energy producer to provide the Commission with information relating to its operations, finances or such other information as the Commission may consider necessary to perform its functions.”.
(b)
(c)
(4)
(a)
(b)
(5)
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Read three times and passed the House of Assembly this day of , 2020.
Speaker
Read three times and passed the Senate this day of , 2020.
President
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