Senate panel hears plan to let gas utilities pilot shared thermal energy networks

Senate Bill 1143 would direct the Public Utility Commission to establish a pilot program allowing each natural gas company to develop utility-scale thermal energy network projects to provide heating and cooling services to customers, Senator Kate Lieber told the Senate Energy and Environment Committee on March 19.

The bill would set processes for filing and evaluating proposals and clarifies that prudently incurred costs could be eligible for regulatory recovery; a dash-1 amendment on file adds certain labor requirements.

The measure drew broadly aligned testimony from utilities, climate and labor groups and independent researchers. “One of the most efficient means of providing heating and cooling is through through what's called a thermal energy network or a TENS,” Senator Kate Lieber said, describing TENS as “a shared network of pipes that make use of local thermal resources…