Public Service urges committee not to reauthorize standard-offer now; urges PUC-designed community solar alternative

The Department of Public Service told the Senate Natural Resources & Energy Committee that it does not recommend reauthorizing the state's reverse-auction standard-offer program at this time, and asked lawmakers to consider a Public Utility Commission-designed Renewable Energy for Communities program instead.

The department's witness, TJ Ford, director of regulated utility planning at the Public Service Department, said the standard-offer approach has pros — predictable solicitations and a public price signal — but also cons including long development timelines, administrative costs and locational risks that can shift costs among utilities. "We just revised the renewable energy standard last year ... we should let that play out a little bit and see how this goes," Ford said.

Ford told the committee the state's last standard-offer solicitation produced…