2015 -- H 5904

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LC001763

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Handy, Ruggiero, Carson, Gallison, and McKiernan

     Date Introduced: March 13, 2015

     Referred To: House Corporations

     (Administration)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 39-1-27.7 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-1 entitled "Public

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Utilities Commission" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     39-1-27.7. System reliability and least-cost procurement. -- Least-cost procurement

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shall comprise system reliability and energy efficiency and conservation procurement as provided

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for in this section and supply procurement as provided for in § 39-1-27.8, as complementary but

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distinct activities that have as common purpose meeting electrical and natural gas energy needs in

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Rhode Island, in a manner that is optimally cost-effective, reliable, prudent and environmentally

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responsible.

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      (a) The commission shall establish not later than June 1, 2008, standards for system

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reliability and energy efficiency and conservation procurement, which shall include standards and

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guidelines for:

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      (1) System reliability procurement, including but not limited to:

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      (i) Procurement of energy supply from diverse sources, including, but not limited to,

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renewable energy resources as defined in chapter 26 of this title;

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      (ii) Distributed generation, including, but not limited to, renewable energy resources and

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thermally leading combined heat and power systems, which is reliable and is cost-effective, with

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measurable, net system benefits;

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      (iii) Demand response, including, but not limited to, distributed generation, back-up

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generation and on-demand usage reduction, which shall be designed to facilitate electric customer

 

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participation in regional demand response programs, including those administered by the

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independent service operator of New England ("ISO-NE") and/or are designed to provide local

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system reliability benefits through load control or using on-site generating capability;

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      (iv) To effectuate the purposes of this division, the commission may establish standards

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and/or rates (A) for qualifying distributed generation, demand response, and renewable energy

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resources; (B) for net-metering; (C) for back-up power and/or standby rates that reasonably

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facilitate the development of distributed generation; and (D) for such other matters as the

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commission may find necessary or appropriate.

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      (2) Least-cost procurement, which shall include procurement of energy efficiency and

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energy conservation measures that are prudent and reliable and when such measures are lower

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cost than acquisition of additional supply, including supply for periods of high demand.

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      (b) The standards and guidelines provided for by subsection (a) shall be subject to

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periodic review and as appropriate amendment by the commission, which review will be

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conducted not less frequently than every three (3) years after the adoption of the standards and

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guidelines.

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      (c) To implement the provisions of this section:

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      (1) The commissioner of the office of energy resources and the energy efficiency and

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resources management council, either or jointly or separately, shall provide the commission

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findings and recommendations with regard to system reliability and energy efficiency and

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conservation procurement on or before March 1, 2008, and triennially on or before March 1,

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thereafter through March 1, 2017 2029. The report shall be made public and be posted

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electronically on the website to the office of energy resources.

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      (2) The commission shall issue standards not later than June 1, 2008, with regard to

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plans for system reliability and energy efficiency and conservation procurement, which standards

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may be amended or revised by the commission as necessary and/or appropriate.

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      (3) The energy efficiency and resources management council shall prepare by July 15,

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2008, a reliability and efficiency procurement opportunity report which shall identify

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opportunities to procure efficiency, distributed generation, demand response and renewables,

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which report shall be submitted to the electrical distribution company, the commission, the office

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of energy resources and the joint committee on energy.

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      (4) Each electrical and natural gas distribution company shall submit to the commission

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on or before September 1, 2008, and triennially on or before September 1, thereafter through

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September 1, 2017 2029, a plan for system reliability and energy efficiency and conservation

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procurement. In developing the plan, the distribution company may seek the advice of the

 

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commissioner and the council. The plan shall include measurable goals and target percentages for

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each energy resource, pursuant to standards established by the commission, including efficiency,

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distributed generation, demand response, combined heat and power, and renewables. The plan

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shall be made public and be posted electronically on the website to the office of energy resources,

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and shall also be submitted to the general assembly.

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      (5) The commission shall issue an order approving all energy efficiency measures that

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are cost effective and lower cost than acquisition of additional supply, with regard to the plan

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from the electrical and natural gas distribution company, and reviewed and approved by the

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energy efficiency and resources management council, and any related annual plans, and shall

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approve a fully reconciling funding mechanism to fund investments in all efficiency measures

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that are cost effective and lower cost than acquisition of additional supply, not greater than sixty

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(60) days after it is filed with the commission.

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      (6) (i) Each electrical and natural gas distribution company shall provide a status report,

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which shall be public, on the implementation of least cost procurement on or before December

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15, 2008, and on or before February 1, 2009, to the commission, the division, the commissioner

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of the office of energy resources and the energy efficiency and resources management council

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which may provide the distribution company recommendations with regard to effective

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implementation of least cost procurement. The report shall include the targets for each energy

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resource included in the order approving the plan and the achieved percentage for energy

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resource, including the achieved percentages for efficiency, distributed generation, demand

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response, combined heat and power, and renewables as well as the current funding allocations for

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each eligible energy resource and the businesses and vendors in Rhode Island participating in the

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programs. The report shall be posted electronically on the website of the office of energy

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resources.

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      (ii) Beginning on November 1, 2012 or before, each electric distribution company shall

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support the installation and investment in clean and efficient combined heat and power

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installations at commercial, institutional, municipal, and industrial facilities. This support shall be

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documented annually in the electric distribution company's energy efficiency program plans. In

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order to effectuate this provision, the energy efficiency and resource management council shall

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seek input from the public, the gas and electric distribution company, the economic development

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corporation, and commercial and industrial users, and make recommendations regarding services

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to support the development of combined heat and power installations in the electric distribution

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company's annual and triennial energy efficiency program plans.

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      (iii) The energy efficiency annual plan shall include, but not be limited to, a plan for

 

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identifying and recruiting qualified combined heat and power projects, incentive levels, contract

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terms and guidelines, and achievable megawatt targets for investments in combined heat and

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power systems. In the development of the plan, the energy efficiency and resource management

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council and the electric distribution company shall factor into the combined heat and power plan

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and program, the following criteria: (A) Economic development benefits in Rhode Island,

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including direct and indirect job creation and retention from investments in combined heat and

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power systems; (B) Energy and cost savings for customers; (C) Energy supply costs; (D)

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Greenhouse gas emissions standards and air quality benefits; and (E) System reliability benefits.

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      (iv) The energy efficiency and resource management council shall conduct at least one

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public review meeting annually, to discuss and review the combined heat and power program,

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with at least seven (7) business day's notice, prior to the electric and gas distribution utility

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submitting the plan to the commission. The commission shall evaluate the submitted combined

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heat and power program as part of the annual energy efficiency plan. The commission shall issue

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an order approving the energy efficiency plan and programs within sixty (60) days of the filing.

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      (d) If the commission shall determine that the implementation of system reliability and

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energy efficiency and conservation procurement has caused or is likely to cause under or over-

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recovery of overhead and fixed costs of the company implementing said procurement, the

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commission may establish a mandatory rate adjustment clause for the company so affected in

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order to provide for full recovery of reasonable and prudent overhead and fixed costs.

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      (e) The commission shall conduct a contested case proceeding to establish a performance

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based incentive plan which allows for additional compensation for each electric distribution

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company and each company providing gas to end-users and/or retail customers based on the level

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of its success in mitigating the cost and variability of electric and gas services through

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procurement portfolios.

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     SECTION 2. Section 39-2-1.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-2 entitled "Duties of

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Utilities and Carriers" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     39-2-1.2. Utility base rate -- Advertising, demand side management and renewables.

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-- (a) In addition to costs prohibited in § 39-1-27.4(b), no public utility distributing or providing

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heat, electricity, or water to or for the public shall include as part of its base rate any expenses for

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advertising, either direct or indirect, which promotes the use of its product or service, or is

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designed to promote the public image of the industry. No public utility may furnish support of

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any kind, direct, or indirect, to any subsidiary, group, association, or individual for advertising

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and include the expense as part of its base rate. Nothing contained in this section shall be deemed

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as prohibiting the inclusion in the base rate of expenses incurred for advertising, informational or

 

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educational in nature, which is designed to promote public safety conservation of the public

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utility's product or service. The public utilities commission shall promulgate such rules and

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regulations as are necessary to require public disclosure of all advertising expenses of any kind,

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direct or indirect, and to otherwise effectuate the provisions of this section.

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      (b) Effective as of January 1, 2008, and for a period of ten (10) years thereafter, each

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electric distribution company shall include charges per kilowatt-hour delivered to fund demand

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side management programs and 0.3 mills per kilowatt-hour delivered to fund renewable energy

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programs. The electric distribution company shall establish and after July 1, 2007, maintain two

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(2) separate accounts, one for demand side management programs, which shall be administered

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and implemented by the distribution company, subject to the regulatory reviewing authority of the

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commission, and one for renewable energy programs, which shall be administered by the

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economic development corporation pursuant to § 42-64-13.2 and, shall be held and disbursed by

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the distribution company as directed by the economic development corporation for the purposes

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of developing, promoting and supporting renewable energy programs.

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      During the ten (10) year period the commission may, in its discretion, after notice and

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public hearing, increase the sums for demand side management and renewable resources;

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thereafter, the commission shall, after notice and public hearing, determine the appropriate charge

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for these programs. The office of energy resources and/or the administrator of the renewable

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energy programs may seek to secure for the state an equitable and reasonable portion of

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renewable energy credits or certificates created by private projects funded through those

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programs. As used in this section, "renewable energy resources" shall mean: (1) power generation

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technologies as defined in § 39-26-5, "eligible renewable energy resources", including off-grid

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and on-grid generating technologies located in Rhode Island as a priority; (2) research and

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development activities in Rhode Island pertaining to eligible renewable energy resources and to

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other renewable energy technologies for electrical generation; or (3) projects and activities

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directly related to implementing eligible renewable energy resources projects in Rhode Island.

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Technologies for converting solar energy for space heating or generating domestic hot water may

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also be funded through the renewable energy programs. Fuel cells may be considered an energy

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efficiency technology to be included in demand sided management programs. Special rates for

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low-income customers in effect as of August 7, 1996 shall be continued, and the costs of all of

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these discounts shall be included in the distribution rates charged to all other customers. Nothing

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in this section shall be construed as prohibiting an electric distribution company from offering

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any special rates or programs for low-income customers which are not in effect as of August 7,

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1996, subject to the approval by the commission.

 

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     Effective January 1, 2018, and for a period of twelve (12) years thereafter, each electric

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distribution company shall include charges per kilowatt-hour delivered to fund demand side

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management programs. The electric distribution company shall maintain an account for demand

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side management programs, which shall be administered and implemented by the distribution

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company, subject to the regulatory reviewing authority of the commission. Special rates for low-

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income customers in effect as of August 7, 1996, shall be continued, and the costs of all of these

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discounts shall be included in the distribution rates charged to all other customers. Nothing in

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this section shall be construed as prohibiting an electric distribution company from offering any

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special rates or programs for low-income customers which are not in effect as of August 7, 1996,

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subject to the approval by the commission.

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      (1) The renewable energy investment programs shall be administered pursuant to rules

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established by the economic development corporation. Said rules shall provide transparent criteria

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to rank qualified renewable energy projects, giving consideration to:

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      (i) the feasibility of project completion;

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      (ii) the anticipated amount of renewable energy the project will produce;

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      (iii) the potential of the project to mitigate energy costs over the life of the project; and

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      (iv) the estimated cost per kilo-watt hour (kwh) of the energy produced from the project.

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      (c) [Deleted by P.L. 2012, ch. 241, § 14].

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      (d) The executive director of the economic development corporation is authorized and

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may enter into a contract with a contractor for the cost effective administration of the renewable

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energy programs funded by this section. A competitive bid and contract award for administration

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of the renewable energy programs may occur every three (3) years and shall include as a

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condition that after July 1, 2008 the account for the renewable energy programs shall be

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maintained and administered by the economic development corporation as provided for in

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subdivision (b) above.

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      (e) Effective January 1, 2007, and for a period of eleven (11) years thereafter, each gas

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distribution company shall include, with the approval of the commission, a charge per deca therm

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delivered to demand side management programs, including, but not limited to, programs for cost-

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effective energy efficiency, energy conservation, combined heat and power systems, and

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weatherization services for low income households.

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     (f) Effective January 1, 2018, and for a period of twelve (12) years thereafter, each gas

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distribution company shall include, with the approval of the commission, a charge per deca therm

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delivered to demand side management programs, including, but not limited to, programs for cost-

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effective energy efficiency, energy conservation, combined heat and power systems, and

 

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weatherization services for low income households.

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      (f)(g) The gas company shall establish a separate account for demand side management

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programs, which shall be administered and implemented by the distribution company, subject to

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the regulatory reviewing authority of the commission. The commission may establish

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administrative mechanisms and procedures that are similar to those for electric demand side

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management programs administered under the jurisdiction of the commissions and that are

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designed to achieve cost-effectiveness and high life-time savings of efficiency measures

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supported by the program.

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      (g)(h) The commission may, if reasonable and feasible, except from this demand side

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management charge:

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      (i)(1) gas used for distribution generation; and

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      (ii)(2) gas used for the manufacturing processes, where the customer has established a

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self-directed program to invest in and achieve best effective energy efficiency in accordance with

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a plan approved by the commission and subject to periodic review and approval by the

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commission, which plan shall require annual reporting of the amount invested and the return on

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investments in terms of gas savings.

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      (h)(i) The commission may provide for the coordinated and/or integrated administration

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of electric and gas demand side management programs in order to enhance the effectiveness of

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the programs. Such coordinated and/or integrated administration may after March 1, 2009, upon

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the recommendation of the office of energy resources, be through one or more third-party entities

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designated by the commission pursuant to a competitive selection process.

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      (i)(j) Effective January 1, 2007, the commission shall allocate from demand-side

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management gas and electric funds authorized pursuant to this § 39-2-1.2, an amount not to

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exceed two percent (2%) of such funds on an annual basis for the retention of expert consultants,

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and reasonable administrations costs of the energy efficiency and resources management council

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associated with planning, management, and evaluation of energy efficiency programs, renewable

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energy programs, system reliability least-cost procurement, and with regulatory proceedings,

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contested cases, and other actions pertaining to the purposes, powers and duties of the council,

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which allocation may by mutual agreement, be used in coordination with the office of energy

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resources to support such activities.

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      (j)(k) Effective January 1, 2013 2016, the commission shall annually allocate from the

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administrative funding amount allocated in (i)(j) from the demand-side management program as

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described in subsection (i)(j) as follows: sixty percent (60%) fifty percent (50%) for the purposes

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identified in subsection (i)(j) and forty percent (40%) fifty percent (50%) annually to the office of

 

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energy resources for activities associated with planning management, and evaluation of energy

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efficiency programs, renewable energy programs, system reliability, least-cost procurement, and

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with regulatory proceedings, contested cases, and other actions pertaining to the purposes, powers

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and duties of the office of energy resources.

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      (k)(l) On April 15, of each year the office and the council shall submit to the governor,

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the president of the senate, and the speaker of the house of representatives, separate financial and

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performance reports regarding the demand-side management programs, including the specific

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level of funds that were contributed by the residential, municipal, and commercial and industrial

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sectors to the overall programs, the businesses, vendors, and institutions that received funding

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from demand-side management gas and electric funds used for the purposes in § 39-2-1.2; and the

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businesses, vendors, and institutions that received the administrative funds for the purposes in

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sections 39-2-1.2(i)(j) and 39-2-1.2(j)(k). These reports shall be posted electronically on the

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websites of the office of energy resources and the energy efficiency resources management

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council.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

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     This act would extend the least cost procurement and system reliability programs

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reporting requirements, regarding utility base rates and adds a charge per kilowatt to be charged

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to customers to fund demand like management programs.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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