PUC recommends rulemaking and filing changes for nonwires alternative process; committee to consider statutory fixes
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Summary
The Public Utilities Commission presented a review of Maine'9s nonwires alternative process, recommending three targeted statutory changes and urging rulemaking to improve transparency, filings and procurement plans; the committee agreed to include the PUC'9s recommended language in an omnibus bill for debate.
The Public Utilities Commission told the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee it had completed an assessment of Maine'9s nonwires alternative (NWA) investigation and recommendation process and is proposing modest statutory changes and further work via an inquiry and rulemaking.
Commissioner Pat Scully and PUC attorney Paulina Collins described a process mandated by Public Law 2025, ch. 293. The commission recommended three primary statutory adjustments: give the PUC explicit rulemaking authority over the NWA process; require investor-owned transmission-and-distribution utilities to file five-year planning studies with the commission (in addition to the Office of the Public Advocate); and clarify the NWA coordinator'9s procurement-plan requirement so filings identify which elements are behind the meter and which are on the grid side.
Collins said the inquiry solicited input from multiple stakeholders including the Natural Resources Council of Maine, the Acadia Center, the Office of the Public Advocate and utilities. Those parties generally supported more transparency and standardized exchanges of information (including use of the commission'9s case management system for certain exchanges), but differed on complex topics such as whether to change the scope of projects that must get NWA reviews and the methodology for benefit-cost analysis.
The commission'9s report includes draft statutory language attached to the packet, and Commissioner Scully said the PUC intends to file the recommended language as part of an omnibus bill amendment. The committee recognized the proposals as targeted, and several members asked the PUC to pursue an inquiry and, if appropriate, rulemaking to work through contested issues such as standardizing benefit-cost methods and data flows.
Next steps: Senator Mark Lawrence indicated the commission'9s recommended language will be distributed to interested parties and offered as an amendment to LD 897 at the next hearing; the PUC may proceed with inquiry and rulemaking in coordination with stakeholders.