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Committee reviews cleanup bill clarifying storage, aggregation and VPP rules from DRIVE Act
Summary
HB 1419 amends the DRIVE Act provisions passed last year: it removes a proposed regulatory asset treatment, clarifies that behind-the-meter aggregators are not electric companies, directs PSC to evaluate storage practices in other states and permits use of telematics where utilities lack smart meters.
House Economic Matters Committee members reviewed House Bill 1419, presented as cleanup and clarification to the DRIVE Act passed last year. The bill removes language classifying certain costs as a regulatory asset (a change sponsors said eliminates the treatment and its associated recovery), clarifies that behind-the-meter aggregators are not electric companies, directs the Public Service Commission to review energy-storage systems enacted in other jurisdictions and permits use of telematics where utilities lack smart meters to enable participation in programs.
Supporters including Sunrun said the bill helps clarify regulatory treatment for distributed energy resource (DER) aggregators and virtual power plants (VPPs), enabling more customer participation in aggregated battery programs. Witnesses described case examples — including use of vehicle-to-grid-capable batteries for peak demand reduction — and urged passage to accelerate program launches.
Committee members had no extended objections during the hearing; sponsors characterized the bill as technical cleanup rather than a substantive policy change. No committee vote was recorded at the hearing.
