The Public Utility Commission extended the period for interested parties and stakeholders to submit comments as part of the first phase of House Bill 2200 (George-D-Clearfield) implementationand added a reply comment period to a special hearing to discuss trends in wholesale electricity markets.

Energy Conservation

As mentioned in a secretarial letter issued Tuesday, comments are now due by November 3 and not October 31 as previously announced.

The Commission is seeking comments in order to initiate the first phase of the Commission's implementation plan for House Bill 2200, nowAct 129 of 2008. The Act expands the Commission's oversight responsibilities and imposes new requirements on electric distribution companies, with the overall goal of reducing energy consumption and demand, enhancing default service procurement and expanding alternative energy sources.

The Act adds several new sections to, and amends several existing sections of, the Public Utility Code. In order to comply with the Act in an orderly and efficient manner, the Commission will implement the Act in phases. The first phase will deal with the Commission's obligation to adopt an energy efficiency and conservation program by January 15, 2009.

According to a motion approved by the Commissioners at the Public Meeting of October 9 as soon as the Governor signed House Bill 2200 into law, the PUC Director of Operations convened an internal working group to develop the implementation plan. After reviewing these comments, the internal working group will develop a draft staff proposal for issuance to interested parties in late November and further plans to hold a stakeholder meeting in mid-December before submitting a draft implementation plan to the Commission for adoption in January.

Subsequent phases of the Commission's Act 129 implementation process will address EDC and default service provider responsibilities; conservation service providers; smart meter technology; time-of-use rates; real-time pricing plans; default service procurement; market misconduct; alternative energy sources; and cost recovery. The Commission will announce comment and input processes for these matters at a later date.

Wholesale Electricity Markets

The Public Utility Commission also added a reply comment period to the previously announced second special en banc hearing on November 6, to discuss trends in the wholesale electricity markets. The hearing will be on similar topics as those addressed during the en banc hearing on October 23, although different speakers and viewpoints will be represented.

The hearing will be held at 12:30 p.m. in Hearing Room 1 of the Commonwealth Keystone Building in Harrisburg. The public is welcome to attend. According to the Secretarial Letter issued Monday, written reply comments may be submitted by the presenters and by the public, and must be filed with the Commission's Secretary on or before November 17.

The final agenda for the November 6 hearing is online.

The five PUC Commissioners will conduct the en banc hearing to solicit comments from specific parties who are being invited. As part of the informal en banc hearing process, the Commissioners will pose questions to speakers after their testimony.

10/31/2008