Source: http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2013_SESSIONS/RS/Bills/hb2323%20intr.htm
Timestamp: 2018-01-22 14:19:26
Document Index: 733794946

Matched Legal Cases: ['§24', '§24', '§24', '§24', '§24', '§24', '§24', '§24', '§24', '§24', '§24', '§24', '§24', '§24', '§24', '§24', '§24', '§24', '§24']

(By Delegates Fleischauer and Manypenny)
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §24-2G-1, §24-2G-2, §24-2G-3, §24-2G-4, §24-2G-5, §24-2G-6, §24-2G-7, §24-2G-8 and §24-2G-9, all relating to energy efficiency for electric and gas utilities and their customers; defining terms; establishing required energy efficiency programs and plans; setting forth time tables; establishing targets and goals; identifying certain metering and grid technologies; providing for revenue sharing; establishing penalties; and providing for $600,000 in special license fees for implementation purposes.
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new article, designated §24-2G-1, §24-2G-2, §24-2G-3, §24-2G-4, §24-2G-5, §24-2G-6, §24-2G-7, §24-2G-8 and §24-2G-9, all to read as follows:
__________(2) To provide affordable, reliable and clean energy for consumers of West Virginia, it is the goal of the state to, based on electricity consumption for calendar year 2011, achieve the following energy efficiency, conservation and demand response targets:
__________(A) Fifteen percent reduction in per capita electricity consumption by the end of 2018; and
__________(B) Fifteen percent reduction in per capita peak demand by the end of 2018.
__________(2) "Electricity consumption" and "electricity consumed" mean the sum of retail electricity sales to all customers and reported electricity losses within the electric distribution system.
__________(3) "Peak demand" means the highest level of electricity demand in the state measured in megawatts during the period from January 1 to December 31 of a year on a weather-normalized basis.
__________(4) "Per capita electricity consumption" means the resultant amount calculated by dividing the total gigawatt-hours of electricity consumed by electricity customers in the state as of December 31 for each year, as determined by the commission by the population of the state as of December 31 of that year.
__________(5) "Plan" means an electricity savings and demand reduction plan and cost recovery proposal.
__________(a) Beginning with the 2012 calendar year and each year thereafter, the commission shall calculate:
__________(1) The per capita electricity consumption for each year; and
__________(b) Subject to review and approval by the commission, each gas utility and electric utility shall develop and implement programs and services to encourage and promote the efficient use and conservation of energy by consumers, commercial and industrial end users, gas utilities, and electric utilities.
__________(1) Require each gas utility and electric utility to establish a program or service that the commission finds appropriate and cost-effective to encourage and promote the efficient use and conservation of energy; and
__________(2) Adopt rate-making policies that provide cost recovery and, in appropriate circumstances, reasonable financial incentives for gas utilities and electric utilities to establish programs and services that encourage and promote the efficient use and conservation of energy.
__________(1) To the extent the commission determines that cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation programs and services are available, for each affected class, require each electric utility to provide for its electricity customers cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation programs and services with projected and verifiable electricity savings that are designed to achieve, based on per capita electricity consumed in the electric utility's service territory during the year 2010, a targeted reduction, at a minimum, of:
__________(A) Five percent by the end of 2014;
__________(B) Ten percent by the end of 2016; and
__________(C) Fifteen percent by the end of 2018.
__________(2) Require each electric utility to implement a cost-effective demand response program in the electric utility's service territory that, based on per capita peak demand of electricity consumed in the electric utility's service territory during the year 2010, is designed to achieve, at a minimum, a targeted reduction of:
__________(A) Five percent by the end of 2013;
__________(B) Ten percent by the end of 2015; and
__________(C) Fifteen percent by the end of 2017.
__________(f) (1) By July 1, 2013, and every three years thereafter, an electric utility shall:
__________(A) Consult with the commission regarding the design and adequacy of its plan to achieve the electricity savings and demand reduction targets specified in subsection (e) of this section; and
__________(B) Provide the commission with any additional information regarding the plan that the commission requests.
__________(2) By September 1, 2013, and every three years thereafter, each electric utility shall submit its plan to the commission that details the electric utility's proposals for achieving the electricity savings and demand reduction targets specified in subsection (e) of this section for the three subsequent calendar years.
__________(3) Each electric utility shall provide annual updates to the commission on plan implementation and progress towards achieving the electricity savings and demand reduction targets specified in subsection (e) of this section.
__________(4) Each plan shall include:
__________(A) A description of the proposed energy efficiency and conservation programs and services and the proposed demand response program, anticipated costs, projected electricity savings and any other information requested by the commission.
__________(B) Each plan shall address residential, commercial and industrial sectors as appropriate, including low-income communities and low-to-moderate-income communities.
__________(5) The commission shall review each electric utility's plan to determine if the plan is adequate and cost-effective in achieving the electricity savings and demand reduction targets specified in subsection (e) of this section.
__________(6) The commission may request additional information from an electric utility regarding its plan.
__________(g) (1) In determining whether a program or service encourages and promotes the efficient use and conservation of energy, the commission shall consider its:
__________(A) Impact on jobs;
__________(B) Impact on the environment;
__________(C) Impact on rates of each ratepayer class; and
__________(D) Cost-effectiveness.
__________(2) The commission shall monitor and analyze the impact of each program and service to ensure that the outcome of each program or service provides the best possible results.
__________(3) In monitoring and analyzing the impact of a program or service under paragraph (2) of this subdivision, if the commission determines that the outcome of the program or services may not be providing the best possible results, the commission shall direct the electric utility to include in its annual update, under subdivision (3), subsection (f) of this section, specific measures to address the findings.
__________(h) (1) At least once each year, each electric utility and gas utility shall notify affected customers of the energy efficiency and conservation charges imposed and benefits conferred.
__________(2) The notice shall be posted on the utility's website and provided to its customers by including it with a customer's billing information, such as a bill insert or bill message.
__________(a) On or before January 1 of each year, the commission shall report to the Legislature on:
__________(1) The status of programs and services to encourage and promote the efficient use and conservation of energy, including an evaluation of the impact of programs and services that are directed to low-income communities, low-to-moderate-income communities to the extent possible, and other particular classes of ratepayers;
__________(2) A recommendation for the appropriate funding level to adequately fund these programs and services; and
__________(3) The per capita electricity consumption and the peak demand for the previous calendar year.
__________(b) By December 31, 2015, the commission shall:
__________(1) Review the anticipated achievement of the goals set forth in section two of this article for purposes of determining whether electricity consumption and peak demand reduction targets should be set beyond 2018; and
__________(2) After providing opportunity for public comment, report its findings to the Senate Finance Committee and the House of Delegates Finance Committee.
__________(c) By December 31, 2015, the commission shall:
__________(1) Study the feasibility of setting energy savings targets in 2017 and 2022 for natural gas companies; and
__________The commission shall evaluate whether advanced meter technology, commonly known as "smart meters," and digital automation of the components of the entire power supply system, commonly known as "smart grid," are cost-effective in reducing consumption and peak demand of electricity. If smart meter or smart grid technology are found to be cost-effective, the commission may require, by rule or order, each electric utility to implement, as appropriate, smart meter or smart grid technology in its service territory.
__________(a) If, after notice and opportunity for hearing and based upon its analysis of the annual plan updates required under subdivision (3), subsection (f), section four and subsection (g), section four of this article, the commission determines that an electric utility has failed to comply with an energy efficiency or peak demand reduction requirement of subsection (e), section four of this article, the commission shall determine the number of kilowatt hours of electricity savings by which the supplier has fallen short of the standards, and assess a forfeiture on the utility, in the amount equal to $0.04 per kilowatt hour for each such kilowatt hour. Any revenue from this forfeiture shall be deposited to the credit of the Low Income Weatherization Assistance Program in the Governors Office of Economic Opportunity.
__________(b) The commission may establish rules regarding the content of an application by an electric utility for commission approval of a revenue sharing mechanism under this article by which the utility and the customer share the economic benefits of energy conservation. That application shall not be considered an application to increase rates and may be included as part of a proposal to establish, continue or expand energy efficiency or conservation programs. The commission by order may approve an application under this subsection if it determines both that the revenue sharing mechanism provides for the recovery of revenue, as well as incentive rates of return, that otherwise may be foregone by the utility as a result of or in connection with the implementation by the electric utility of any energy efficiency or energy conservation programs and reasonably aligns the interests of the utility and its customers in favor of those programs: Provided, That the revenue sharing mechanism is structured to: (1) Prevent over-earning and provide an appropriate downward adjustment to a utility's return on equity in recognition of the significant reduction in risk associated with the use of the incentive mechanism; (2) ensure that the utility engages in incremental conservation efforts to meet and maintain energy efficiency requirements; and (3) require the utility to demonstrate that the reduced usage reflected in revenue sharing adjustments are specifically linked to the utility's promotion of energy efficiency programs.
__________(a) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, for fiscal year 2013 only, in addition to the amounts appropriated in the budget bill for fiscal year 2013, the commission may establish up to $600,000 as a special license fee for the commission and its Consumer Advocate Division to accomplish the requirements of this article.
__________(2) Of the $600,000 that may be collected under subdivision (1) of this subsection:
__________(A) Up to $500,000 may be expended in accordance with an approved budget amendment for consultants, personnel and related expenses of the commission as it determines is necessary to accomplish the requirements of this article; and
__________(B) Up to $100,000 may be expended in accordance with an approved budget amendment for consultants, personnel and related expenses of the Consumer Advocate Division as it determines is necessary to accomplish the requirements of this article.
__________(3) The special license fee shall be imposed only on those electric utilities otherwise subject to the license fees under section six, article three, chapter twenty-four of this code. The amounts collected shall be deposited in the Public Service Commission Fund.
__________(4) The amount of the bill sent to each electric utility subject to the special license fee shall be that amount resulting from multiplying:
__________(A) The amount authorized to be collected under this subsection; and
__________(B) The ratio of gross operating revenues of the entity subject to the special license fee to the total gross operating revenues for all entities subject to the special license fee.
__________(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that, beginning with fiscal year 2013, the annual state budget include amounts for the commission and the Consumer Advocate Division for the implementation of this article, including consultants, personnel and related expenses.
§24-2G-9. Severability. __________The provisions of this article are severable, and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision is declared to be invalid or is preempted by federal law or regulation, the validity of the remainder of this article is not affected.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide the Public Service Commission the authority to require electric and gas utilities to develop and implement plans for the efficient use, conservation and reduction of energy usage. The bill sets forth goals to reduce electricity usage by five percent by 2015, ten percent by 2017 and fifteen percent by 2019. The bill also requires electric utilities to submit plans for reaching those goals, provides for revenue sharing and the opportunity for financial incentives for gas and electric utilities to establish energy saving programs. Additionally, the bill authorizes a special license fee up to $600,000 to be collected from the affected utilities to implement the bill's requirements and establishes a penalty of $0.04 per kilowatt hour for those utilities that fail to comply with the commission's reduction requirements. Moreover, the bill requires the commission to file usage reports and the results of studies concerning the feasability of additional demand reduction targets beyond 2019 with the Legislature.