The Public Utility Commission this week solicited comments on the experience and qualification requirements the Commission must establish for conservation service providers as the Commission begins Phase II of its implementation of Act 129.

Commission staff will also convene an Act 129 Working Group meeting on December 10 at 10:00 a.m. in the Commission's Executive Chambers on the third floor of the Commonwealth Keystone Building in Harrisburg. The purpose of the working group meeting is to provide an informal forum for the discussion of the staff draft plan for the EE&C program and comments received on the plan. (Read the secretarial letter forming the work group.)

Several interested parties have filed comments on particular aspects of the EE&C program in response to the Commission's request in October. Staff will review these comments and release a draft proposal for the implementation of the EE&C program in late November. Parties are welcome to submit comments and reply comments on the draft plan.

Act 129 requires each electric distribution company to submit an energy efficiency and conservation plan to the Commission. Each plan must include a contract with one or more conservation service providers to implement the plan or a portion of the plan approved by the Commission.

As noted in another secretarial letter issued Friday, the Commission is seeking comments on questions about qualifications and standards for conservation service providers and other related topics. Comments are to be filed by Nov. 26, 2008. The Commission is required to have a registry of approved conservation service providers in place by March 2009.

House Bill2200 (George-D-Clearfield), signed into law as Act 129, 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.

Immediately after Act 129 was signed into law, the Commission initiated the first phase of the implementation plan, which deals with the Commission's obligation to adopt an energy efficiency and conservation program by January 15, 2009.

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

Visit the PUC's Act 129 webpage for more information.

11/14/2008