S. 989: Grid Access Act of 2009
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S. 989: Grid Access Act of 2009
111th Congress · introduced 2009-05-06 · Energy · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
federal
Follow this bill, step by step
- Where it came from: introduced 2009-05-06 · official record
- Who proposed it: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ] · what a sponsor is
- What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
- Where it stands now: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
- If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.
Official title
Grid Access Act of 2009
Plain summary
Grid Access Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) to add definitions of combined heat and power facility as well as net metering. Requires each state regulatory authority with ratemaking authority, and each nonregulated electric utility, to conduct a hearing and, on the basis of such hearing, adopt a net metering standard. Requires retail electric suppliers to offer to arrange to make net metering available to retail customers on a first-come-first-served basis. Prescribes implementation requirements regarding: (1) net energy measurement; (2) billing practices; (3) ownership of credits; (4) safety and performance standards; and (5) determination of compliance. Directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to publish model interconnection standards, according to specified requirements, for the physical connection between local distribution systems and qualified generation units and electric generation units that are either qualified generation units or combined heat and power facilities. Requires states to adopt such model standards, subject to FERC approval. Requires each electric utility to allow a combined heat and power facility to site distribution lines on and across public rights-of-way for the purpose of interconnecting with contiguous end use customers. Specifies time limitations for compliance with such siting for combined heat and power facilities. Requires each state or local electric utility regulatory entity to establish a tariff for electricity produced by clean distributed energy resources that provides for the efficient and effective use of clean distributed energy resources by covered facilities. Prescribes tariff requirements. Prohibits a state or nonregulated utility from adopting or enforcing any standard or requirement concerning net metering or interconnection that restricts access to the electric power transmission or local distribution system by qualified generators beyond those established under this Act.
Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.
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A “Yea” vote
If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.
A “Nay” vote
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What does this mean? (plain words)
Official text
Grid Access Act of 2009
Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)
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Alternatives
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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes
Officials and money
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ] · 2 cosponsors
Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.
Cosponsors on this site
Bernard Sanders (I-VT)
No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.
Sources
- Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)
- Congress.gov
- Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-111s989.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/111/s>
Record fed-us-cong111-s989 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong111 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong111