AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY SOLAR ACT OF 2026; TO DEFINE TERMS; TO REQUIRE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM THAT AFFORDS CONSUMERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY SOLAR PROJECTS; TO ESTABLISH GUIDELINES FOR SUCH PROGRAM; TO PRESCRIBE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF COMMUNITY SOLAR ORGANIZATIONS; TO ALLOW THE COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH CERTAIN RULES AND REGULATIONS CONCERNING COMMUNITY SOLAR FACILITIES; TO REQUIRE ELECTRIC UTILITIES TO ACCEPT INTERCONNECTION APPLICATIONS FOR COMMUNITY SOLAR FACILITIES; TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH AN INTERCONNECTION STUDY GROUP; TO REQUIRE EACH ELECTRIC UTILITY TO SUBMIT A STANDARD INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT FOR COMMUNITY SOLAR FACILITIES FOR COMMISSION REVIEW AND APPROVAL; TO ESTABLISH REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCH INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENT; TO REQUIRE EACH ELECTRIC UTILITY TO FILE A DATA ACCESS PROGRAM FOR COMMISSION REVIEW; TO PRESCRIBE REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCH PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
SB 2785 would create the Mississippi Community Solar Act of 2026 and direct the Public Service Commission to set up a statewide community solar program by January 1, 2028. The bill defines community solar facilities and related terms, then establishes a framework under which customers can subscribe to a shared solar project and receive bill credits on their utility bills based on the utility’s retail rate, subject to commission-approved distribution cost components. It also allows credits to roll over, requires utilities to provide hosting-capacity information, and permits long-term purchase agreements between utilities and community solar organizations.
The bill also sets operating rules for community solar organizations. It limits subscription sizing so estimated credits do not exceed 90% of a subscriber’s annual bill, bars credit checks and upfront or exit fees, allows unsubscribed energy to be banked for up to 24 months before being purchased by the utility at avoided cost, and authorizes the transfer or retirement of renewable energy credits on behalf of subscribers. The bill further clarifies that selling or transferring subscriptions is not considered retail electric service, which is intended to protect community solar organizations and subscribers from being treated as regulated electric suppliers.
A major part of the bill addresses interconnection and utility data access. Beginning July 1, 2026, electric utilities must accept interconnection applications for community solar facilities on a nondiscriminatory basis. The Public Service Commission must create an interconnection study group, utilities must submit standard interconnection agreements for approval, and utilities may recover direct interconnection and metering costs if approved by the commission. The bill also requires utilities to file data access programs that provide customers and authorized third parties with machine-readable meter data at 15-minute intervals, free of charge as part of basic service, along with at least 24 months of usage history.
The overall sentiment reflected in the bill text is strongly supportive of expanding community solar access, consumer choice, and clean-energy participation. Although there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, the structure of the bill suggests a policy goal of lowering barriers for subscribers and community solar developers while giving the Public Service Commission oversight over pricing, disclosures, interconnection, and data-sharing. The bill appears designed to balance market access with utility cost recovery and customer protections.
The main points of potential contention are likely to involve utility fees, interconnection requirements, and the scope of commission authority. Utilities may object to mandatory bill credits, hosting-capacity disclosures, limits on fees, and restrictions on additional interconnection standards or insurance requirements. Community solar developers and consumer advocates may focus on ensuring that the commission’s rules do not become overly restrictive, while utilities may seek broader cost recovery or stronger technical safeguards. Because no hearing record is included, these concerns are inferred from the bill’s regulatory structure rather than from stated debate.
The bill would add a new chapter of state policy governing community solar and would significantly expand the Public Service Commission’s authority over solar subscriptions, bill credits, interconnection standards, and customer data access. It would affect electric utilities regulated by the commission, community solar organizations, subscribers, and third-party service providers by creating new rights, duties, and procedural requirements. It also expressly limits the extent to which community solar subscriptions are treated as retail electric service, which could reduce regulatory uncertainty for project developers.
No committee discussion or vote history is provided, so there is no recorded public sentiment to summarize. Based on the bill’s text, the measure appears pro-solar and pro-consumer, with a policy emphasis on expanding access to community solar, improving transparency, and enabling customer participation in clean energy. At the same time, it preserves commission oversight and utility cost recovery, suggesting an attempt to balance expansion with regulation.
Likely areas of contention include whether utilities should be required to provide bill credits at retail rates, how much they may charge community solar organizations, and whether the commission should have broad authority to set rules on disclosures and customer protections. Utilities may also resist mandatory hosting-capacity tools, standardized interconnection agreements, and open data access requirements, while solar advocates may argue for stronger protections against delays, extra fees, or restrictive interconnection practices. The bill’s treatment of community solar subscriptions as not constituting retail electric service may also raise questions about market boundaries and exclusive service rights.