Utah PSC admits stipulation to replace routine audits of Enbridge's RNG program with national verification standard

The Utah Public Service Commission on July 15, 2026 heard testimony and admitted into the record a joint stipulation that would remove an automatic annual audit requirement for Enbridge Gas Utah's voluntary renewable natural gas program and instead rely on a nationally recognized verification system, while preserving the ability of regulators to request audits.

The move was presented by Jennifer Clark, counsel for Enbridge Gas Utah, and explained on the record by Travis Willie, the company's supervisor of energy efficiency. Willie said the company adopted a national tracking and verification standard and ‘‘the Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System, a nationally recognized track[ing] and verification system that ensures transparency, chain of custody documentation, environmental attribute tracking, and retirement verification of RNG transactions.’’ He testified that five internal audits conducted under two companies produced compliance results with "0 findings." Willie described the requested change as aligning oversight with current industry practices and reducing routine administrative work while retaining oversight when circumstances warrant.

The Division of Public Utilities (DPU) and the Office of Consumer Services (OCS) both presented witnesses who supported the stipulation. Savannah Torman, a utility analyst for the Division of Public Utilities, said the Division reviewed the company's filings and noted Enbridge officially adopted the Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System verification standard in 2023; she told the Commission the Division views continuing separate annual internal audits as duplicative and therefore recommended approval of the stipulation. Bela Basteag, a utility technical consultant for the Office of Consumer Services, said OCS likewise believes the annual audit requirement is no longer necessary given the company's use of the tracking system and recommended the Commission approve the settlement stipulation.

Commissioner John Delaney, the presiding officer, asked witnesses to clarify several points on the record. Willie and the regulatory witnesses confirmed that an audit requested by the PSC, DPU or OCS would follow the company's prior audit timing and procedures: the audit itself typically takes about two months and the results would be reported with the company's annual report (filed by June 30). The witnesses also discussed a representation in the stipulation that the Utah Association of Energy Users (UAE) does not oppose the stipulation; the witnesses said they were not aware of UAE opposition but varied in whether they had received direct communications from UAE confirming that stance.

Procedurally, the company moved to admit the factual portions of its motion and attachment into the record; the presiding officer granted that motion without objection. Later in the proceeding a motion was made on the record to admit the stipulation in its entirety; counsel raised no objections and the presiding officer admitted the stipulation (attachment A) into the record.

The stipulation would not change customer participation provisions or the core structure of the Green Therm (also referenced in earlier filings as the Green Thumb) program; instead it would shift routine verification to the Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System and allow internal audits to be conducted only upon request by the PSC, DPU or OCS. The Commission did not take a final formal vote on an order during the hearing; the stipulation and related filings are now part of the docket record for further action.

The hearing was adjourned and the docket remains open for the Commission's subsequent order or further procedural steps.