OAR 860-088-0160: Community Solar Program Funding

(1) Start-up costs incurred during the development or modification of the Community Solar Program are recoverable in electric company rates. These costs, which must be reviewed and approved by Commission order, include: (a) Costs associated with the Program Administrator and Low-Income Facilitator; and (b) Each electric company’s prudently-incurred start-up costs associated with implementing the Community Solar Program. These costs include, but are not limited to, costs associated with customer account information transfer and on-bill crediting and payment, but exclude any costs associated with the electric company developing a project. (2) On-going costs of the Community Solar Program, including costs associated with the Program Administrator and the Low-Income Facilitator, are collected from participants. (a) Each project is responsible for its appropriate share of on-going costs, as allocated in the Program Implementation Manual or otherwise determined by Commission order. (b) If the Program Administrator or Low-Income Facilitator receives funds in excess of actual costs, the excess funds may be accrued and applied to offset future costs. (c) If the Program Administrator or Low-Income Facilitator receives inadequate funds to continue performing its duties, the Commission may suspend further pre-certification of projects until the funding shortfall is resolved.