Utility Gas Energy Efficiency Programs, Targets, Budgets and Administration
NY-ADR
3/18/15 N.Y. St. Reg. PSC-11-15-00021-P
NEW YORK STATE REGISTER
VOLUME XXXVII, ISSUE 11
March 18, 2015
RULE MAKING ACTIVITIES
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
PROPOSED RULE MAKING
NO HEARING(S) SCHEDULED
I.D No. PSC-11-15-00021-P
Utility Gas Energy Efficiency Programs, Targets, Budgets and Administration
PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE State Administrative Procedure Act, NOTICE is hereby given of the following proposed rule:
Proposed Action:
The Commission is considering authorizing utility—administered gas energy efficiency programs for implementation beginning in 2016.
Statutory authority:
Public Service Law, sections 4(1), 5(2) and 66(1)
Subject:
Utility gas energy efficiency programs, targets, budgets and administration.
Purpose:
To encourage the conservation of natural gas.
Substance of proposed rule:
The Public Service Commission is considering whether to adopt, modify, or reject, in whole or in part, potential modifications to the provision of utility-administered gas energy efficiency programs for implementation beginning in 2016 for Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation (Central Hudson), Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (Con Edison), The Brooklyn Union Gas Company d/b/a National Grid (KEDNY), KeySpan Gas East Corporation d/b/a National Grid (KEDLI), National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation (NFG), New York State Electric & Gas Corporation (NYSEG), Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation d/b/a National Grid (Niagara Mohawk), Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. (O&R), and Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation (RG&E).
Among the matters being considered are:
1. The authorization of program renewal for the period beyond 2015.
2. For existing budgets and targets to be maintained for 2016, with utilities to annually propose budgets and metrics, as well as their program portfolio, on a three year rolling cycle, with approval of portfolio budgets and metrics as opposed to specific program by program approvals.
3. Designing new energy efficiency programs using market based approaches and market mechanisms that combine resource acquisition with third party activities to drive greater value for customers so that the utilities’ post-2016 portfolio of energy efficiency programs will gradually evolve to align with Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) approaches and the market transformation focus of New York State Energy Research and Development Agency (NYSERDA) programs, and to achieve greater market-wide efficiency savings with less need for direct ratepayer support.
4. Utility programs to become more oriented toward demand reduction and to pursue where possible efficiency measures that produce demand reduction less expensive than total gas cost.
5. Incentivizing utilities to pursue new methods of achieving efficiency outcomes, under an approach that integrates utilities, NYSERDA, and market participants into a coherent strategy to increase penetration of efficient technologies, such that utility outcomes will not be limited to (Dth) savings directly attributable to utility rebates, but rather will be measured with reference to the overall success of the strategy.
6. Encouraging utilities to engage and leverage the efforts of third party providers, community organizations, local governments, and employers to increase the reach of programs.
7. Encouraging utilities to develop more innovative approaches to efficiency programs which may include rebates, but with enhanced value either through targeting to specific system needs, coordination with a larger market transformation plan, or deployment of technology, tools and information that not only achieve energy efficiency but can also facilitate customer load management.
8. Integrating efficiency programs into utilities’ businesses with costs being recovered through rates like other ordinary components of the revenue requirement rather than funding programs through a surcharge.
9. Utilities, as a unified group, maintaining their own planning, evaluation, Technical Resource Manual, and benefit/cost analysis tools which should be uniform across the State to the extent possible.
10. While NYSERDA remains the default provider of low income programs, encouraging utilities to develop innovative programs to expand the reach of measures that include energy efficiency within low income communities, in concert with and not in competition with efforts of NYSERDA.
The Commission may adopt, reject or modify, in whole or in part, the relief proposed and may resolve related matters.
Text of proposed rule and any required statements and analyses may be obtained by filing a Document Request Form (F-96) located on our website http://www.dps.ny.gov/f96dir.htm. For questions, contact:
Elaine Agresta, Public Service Commission, 3 Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350, (518) 486-2660, email: [email protected]
Data, views or arguments may be submitted to:
Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary, Public Service Commission, 3 Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350, (518) 474-6530, email: [email protected]
Public comment will be received until:
45 days after publication of this notice.
Regulatory Impact Statement, Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, Rural Area Flexibility Analysis and Job Impact Statement
Statements and analyses are not submitted with this notice because the proposed rule is within the definition contained in section 102(2)(a)(ii) of the State Administrative Procedure Act.
(07-M-0548SP81)
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