Docket No. 4600 - Investigation Into the Changing Electric Distribution System); and Docket No. 4600-A - PUC Guidance Document

I. Docket No. 4600-A PUC Guidance Document (initiated 8/3/17):

• Presentation of Workshop on PUC’s Docket No. 4600A Guidance Document held on November 1, 2018. A web view of the presentation can be viewed at https://www.ustream.tv/channel/WqQyXw296dg:
  • Presentation of Staff Workshop on PUC’s Docket No. 4600A Guidance Document (11/1/18)
    
     
• Division's Draft Proposed Methodologies for Developing Inputs for Distributed Energy Resources (10/31/18)
  
   
• PUC issues Notice to Accept Comments on Draft Guidance Document - Written comments no later than September 1, 2017
• Comments submitted by the following
  • Seth Handy (8/15/17)
  • Acadia Center (9/1/17)
  • Sunrun Inc. (9/1/17)
  • The Energy Council of Rhode Island (9/1/17)
  • RI Lieutenant Governor Daniel J. McKee (9/5/17)
  • The George Wiley Center (9/6/17)
  • RI Office of Energy Resources (9/6/17)
  • RI Division of Public Utilities and Carriers (9/6/17)
  • The Narragansett Electric d/b/a National Grid (9/6/17)
  • PUC Staff Memorandum - Finalization of Guidance Document. At an open meeting held on October 27, 2017, the PUC approved:
    • Final Redlined version of Gudance Document
    • Approved final clean version of Guidance Document (10/27/17)

II. Docket No. 4600 - Investigation Into the Changing Electric Distribution System (initiated 3/3/16):

• On February 5, 2016, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) issued a Memorandum to Stakeholders to solicit comments on a Docket to Investigate the Changing Distribution System. The PUC received the following comments from:
  • Wind Energy Develpoment (WED)
  • Acadia Center
  • Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP)
  • Northeast Clean Energy Council (NECEC)
  • People's Power & Light (PP&L)
  • RI Office of Energy Resources (OER)
  • RI Energy Efficiency & Resource Management Council (EERMC)
  • Heartwood Group, Inc.
  • The Narragansett Electric Co. d/b/a National Grid
• At the directive of the PUC, the PUC Staff issued a Memorandum providing recommendations regarding issues to consider in a docket to investigate the changing distribution system. The memorandum is organized into four sections: Background, Recommendations for the Docket, Stakeholder Feedback, and Process Outline.
• At the March 3, 2016 open meeting, the PUC opened Docket No. 4600 to Investigate the Changing Distribution System. The Staff's recommendation was accepted.
  
   
• PUC issues the attached Notice of Commencement of Docket and Invitation for Stakeholders Participation in Docket No. 4600. The deadline to apply for membership on the stakeholder’s committee or nominate a representative is April 1, 2016.  The notice provides details on scope of the docket and eligibility for membership on the stakeholder’s committee.
• Application for Membership was submitted by the following:
  • Lt.. Governor Daniel J. McKee
  • Conservation Law Foundation (CLF)
  • Acadia Center
  • New England Clean Energy Council (NECEC)
  • The Energy Council of Rhode Island(TECRI)
  • Rhode Island Manufacturers Association (RIMA)
  • Solar City Corporation
  • Energy Development Partners
  • New Energy, Inc.
  • RI Energy Efficiency & Resource Management Council (EERMC)
  • Utilidata, Inc.
  • The Narragansett Electric Co. d/b/a National Grid
  • Energy Consumers Alliance of New England d/b/a People’s Power & Light (PPL)
  • The George Wiley Center
  • Direct Energy Business, LLC, Direct Energy Services, LLC and Direct Energy Solar (Direct Energy)
    
     
• PUC's Consultant/Facilitator submits a Stakeholder Report to the PUC dated April 5, 2017. A Technical Session will be held April 28, 2017 @ 9:30 A.M.
  
   
• At an open meeting on May 4, 2017, the PUC reviewed the Stakeholder Report and the PUC Staff's Summary and Recommendation. The PUC unanimously accepted the Stakeholder Report and instructed further directives to National Grid and the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers.
  
   
• PUC Report and Order No. 22851 accepting the Stakeholder Report. Written Order issued July 31, 2017.

STAKEHOLDER'S WORKING GROUP ACTIVITIES:

The PUC has engaged Jonathan Raab and Paul Centolella (Consultant), to provide facilitation, mediation, and consulting services to this stakeholder group. The Consultant, going forward, will develop and provide detailed agenda on the stakeholder group meetings as they are scheduled and will be posted at the new WEBSITE that will serve as a repository for the stakeholder group documents going forward. 

• Meetings:
  • May 4, 2016 Meeting Notes
  • July 12, 2016 Meeting Notes
  • September 23, 2016
  • October 27, 2016
  • November 21, 2016
  • December 16, 2016
  • January 26, 2017
  • February 28, 2017
  • March 31, 2017
    
     
• Technical Session: Notice of Technical Session to be held on April 28, 2107 @ 9:30 A.M. to review the Stakeholder Report
  
   
• Suggested Reading for Upcoming Meetings:
  
   
  • July 2016 Suggested Reading
    
    https://dms.psc.sc.gov/Attachments/Matter/d0e0a657-e5a0-4554-b1a9-c330e62ff361
    
    Draft Cost Benefit Framework (excel spreadsheet)
    
     
• Comments:
  • Pace Energy and Climate Center, 8/5/16
  • People's Power & Light, 8/9/16
  • Paul Raducha, 7/1/316
  • George Wiley Center, updated Draft Cost Benefit Framework with added category under Customer Level (excel spreadsheet)
  • Governor Gina M. Raimondo
    
     
• Materials:
  
   
  • UTILITY RATE DESIGN INITIATIVE: A FRAMEWORK TO DRIVE ENERGY PRODUCTIVITY
  • A Troubling Trend in Rate Design
  • The Home Energy Affordability Gap 2015
  • RECOVERY OF UTILITY FIXED COSTS: UTILITY, CONSUMER, ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIST PERSPECTIVES - June 2016
  • Shinning Rewards Report
  • A Regulator's Guidebook: Calculating the Benefits and Costs of Distribured Solar Generation
  • State of Maine PUC Solar Report
  • Testimony on Access Fee of Abigail Anthony, Ph.D.
  • Democratizing the Electricity System - June 2011
  • An Outline of Rhode Island Energy Law
  • Full Value Tariff Design and Retail Rate Choices - Prepared for: New York State Energy
  • Driving Electrical Energy Generation into the Future - Providence Energy Group