Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 301 - STANDARD OFFER SERVICE › Section 407-301-10 - consumer-owned utility load aggregation

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
Standard Offer Aggregation
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter, a
				  consumer-owned transmission and distribution utility may aggregate load within
				  its service territory for the purpose of providing standard offer service as
				  specified in this section. The standard offer load aggregation must contain
				  provisions for service to all customers within the service territory that are
				  not taking service from competitive electricity providers.
B.
Service Provider
The consumer-owned transmission and distribution utility may
				  arrange for a retail standard offer load aggregation provider or may be the
				  retail provider of the standard offer load aggregation service. The
				  consumer-owned transmission and distribution utility must choose either a
				  wholesale or retail provider through a competitive bid process. The
				  consumer-owned transmission and distribution utility may serve all or a portion
				  of the standard offer load aggregation service through its own generation
				  resources or through a purchase power contract with a generator without
				  conducting a competitive process.
C.
Establishment
A consumer-owned transmission and distribution utility may
				  establish a standard offer load aggregation only through a vote of its
				  governing board.
D.
Maximum Term
Unless otherwise authorized by order of the Commission, a
				  standard offer load aggregation may be no longer than five years.
E.
Customer Opt-Out
All customers shall have the opportunity to opt-out of the
				  standard offer load aggregation and take service from a competitive electricity
				  provider by providing notice to the consumer-owned transmission and
				  distribution utility at least 30 days prior to the initiation of load
				  aggregation service. The standard offer load aggregation must provide for
				  service to customers that have chosen to opt-out of the load aggregation and
				  have subsequently defaulted to standard offer service. The standard offer load
				  aggregation may contain alternative pricing for customers that have chosen to
				  opt-out of the load aggregation. The alternative pricing may be based on
				  current electricity market prices at the time the customer takes service as
				  part of the load aggregation.
F.
Migration Restriction
Customers that do not opt-out of the standard offer load
				  aggregation pursuant to subsection E may be required to take standard offer
				  service at specified load aggregation prices for a pre-specified term.
G.
Pre-Existing
				Contracts
Customers taking service from a competitive electricity
				  provider under a pre-existing contract that terminates after the initiation of
				  the standard offer load aggregation service and do not opt-out by providing
				  notice pursuant to subsection E will become part of the aggregation when the
				  contract expires. The standard offer load aggregation may contain alternative
				  pricing for customers who do not provide notice of the expiration of the
				  pre-existing contract pursuant to this subsection. The alternative pricing may
				  be based on current electricity market prices at the time the customer takes
				  service as part of the load aggregation.
H.
New Customers and Load
				Expansions
New customers in the utility service territory will become
				  part of the standard offer load aggregation unless the customer receives
				  service from a competitive electricity provider. The standard offer load
				  aggregation shall provide new residential and small non-residential customers
				  service at the predetermined load aggregation prices. The standard offer load
				  aggregation may contain alternative pricing for new load of medium and large
				  non-residential customers and for load expansions of existing customer above a
				  pre-specified demand level. The alternative pricing may be based on current
				  electricity market prices at the time the customer takes service as part of the
				  load aggregation.
I.
Customer Notification
The customer-owned transmission and distribution utility
				  shall provide its customers notification of the standard offer load aggregation
				  at least 90 days but no greater than 120 days before the initiation of service.
				  The notification shall be in writing and contain, at a minimum the following
				  information:
1. a description of the
				terms and conditions of the standard offer load aggregation including the
				initiation and termination dates, load aggregation prices are not required to
				be included in the notification;
2.
				a prominent statement that customers that do not opt-out of the load
				aggregation will be required to continue to take service from the load
				aggregation throughout the term;
3.
				the procedures for customers to opt-out of the load aggregation; and
4. the existence of alternative pricing for
				customers that opt-out pursuant to subsection E and subsequently default to
				standard offer service, customers with pre-existing contracts that do not
				provide notice of the expiration of the contract pursuant to subsection G, and
				new customers and load expansions pursuant to subsection H.