MEEA Policy Insider - September 2021

The MEEA Policy Insider summarizes the latest state policy activity and provides new resources to aid members in their outreach, education and advocacy initiatives.

In this issue:

COVID-19

States and cities are in various stages of resuming economic activity and reopening businesses. There are ongoing cases in public service commissions to address or understand utility service impacts and most investor-owned utilities have implemented moratoria on shut-offs. All moratoria are set to expire by the end of the year. Debt repayment plans that are replacing the moratoriums vary by state. Details can be found on the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ website.

The efficiency workforce has not fully recovered from the economic slowdown and social distancing in late spring of 2020 that carried into the summer. However, most utility programs and state weatherization programs have resumed, some with alterations including virtual elements or limited direct customer interaction.

MEEA is tracking impacts, program responses and recovery from COVID-19 and sharing resources as the situation evolves. For consolidated information, see MEEA’s COVID-19 resources page. Members who are able to share information about utility program and energy service impacts or have any resource needs, please contact Policy Director Nick Dreher.

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Executive

Last fall, Governor Pritzker’s office announced Eight Principles for a Clean and Renewable Economy. The eighth principle is “Enhance Energy Efficiency in Illinois” and lays out numerous policy proposals the Governor would like to pursue. The Governor’s office held working groups focusing on the power sector, transportation, equity and commercial/industrial/buildings-related energy efficiency issues in October 2020. The Governor has since integrated information gathered through working groups and stakeholder into the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act.

Legislative

On September 15, Governor Pritzker signed the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, a bill that a establishes a power sector decarbonization target of 2045, creates clean energy workforce development pathways and expands commitments to energy efficiency. The bill’s energy efficiency pieces are listed below:

  • Extends cumulative energy savings targets for utilities beyond 2030;
  • Creates an energy efficiency program opt-out provision that replaces the former industrial / large energy-user exemption;
  • Reorganizes and establishes several utility commitments to low-income programming and health/safety improvement funding;
  • Enables electrification under electric energy efficiency programs and
  • Directs the Illinois Capital Development Board to create a residential and commercial energy stretch code for voluntary adoption by municipalities.

For an in-depth analysis of these key energy efficiency pieces of the bill, read MEEA’s blog post on CEJA and the energy stretch code.

Regulatory

On March 1, Illinois investor-owned utilities filed their energy efficiency programs. As of August 18, all IOU portfolio plans for program years 2022-2025 have been approved. The final orders are linked below.  

How to Get Involved

All Illinois EE Stakeholder Advisory Group (SAG) large group and working group meetings will be held via teleconference until further notice. SAG meeting information, COVID-19 updates and documents can be found on the SAG website.

For more information about Illinois or to get more involved, contact Nick Dreher.

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Legislative

The second iteration of the legislative 21st Century Energy Policy Development Task Force has continued meeting. The meeting originally scheduled for September 27 has been rescheduled, and there are two meetings now remaining in this round to be held on October 12 and October 26. The agendas, speaker lists and recordings are available for all past sessions on the Task Force page. Full agendas for upcoming meetings are usually posted a day or two in advance. The Task Force will schedule additional meetings next summer with its final report on the two-year process due in Fall 2022.

Regulatory

Integrated resource planning is ongoing for Indiana utilities.

  • Duke Energy Indiana is in its 2021 IRP stakeholder process.
  • Indiana Michigan Power is engaged in its 2021 IRP process.
    • The next workshop has been pushed back to October 14 because of modeling changes related to the utility’s acquisition of the Rockport 2 generating unit.
  • NIPSCO is also in its 2021 IRP process.
    • An October 12 meeting has been announced. Email NIPSCO to be added to the notification list for when registration opens or check back on the IRP page.

The utility filing deadline for 2021 IRPs are as follows:

  • Duke Energy Indiana: November 1, 2021
  • NIPSCO: November 1, 2021
  • Wabash Valley: November 1, 2021
  • Indiana Michigan Power: December 15, 2021

Utility stakeholder meetings will continue during the planning period. Updates from the Commission on IRPs in Indiana will be posted to the IURC’s IRP page.

How to Get Involved

While testimony to the Task Force is by invitation of the committee, members may have an opportunity to ask to be considered for the agenda for the upcoming meetings. If you would like to reach out to the Task Force, contact Jacob Carrico (legislative aide for Chairman Soliday), Luke Wilson (policy analyst for House Republicans) or Sarah Burkman (staff attorney for Task Force & House Utilities).

IRP meetings are all open to the public. Anyone interested is encouraged to attend. They are typically announced through utility mailing lists. For help finding the utility mailing list sign-up and IRP meeting registration, or for other questions about Indiana, contact Greg Ehrendreich.  

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Regulatory

On August 25, MidAmerican Energy held its second collaboration meeting. The meeting included discussion on fuel switching policies in peer states as well as elements of program design for air-source heat pump measures for potential inclusion in MidAmerican’s next portfolio.

On August 24, investor-owned utilities and energy efficiency stakeholders convened for an annual Energy Efficiency Portfolio meeting. The meeting featured presentations from Black Hills Energy, MidAmerican Energy and Alliant Energy on their 2020 Annual Reports and on their 2020 energy efficiency programs performance, as well as questions from stakeholders.

Iowa utilities filed their 2020 energy efficiency portfolio annual reports according to the May 1 deadline. Reports can be found here:

How to Get Involved

If you have any questions about Iowa or want to get more involved, contact Samarth Medakkar.

Regulatory

Evergy concluded its process of convening stakeholders to discuss development of their energy efficiency portfolio application. It is expected to file its application in the coming months.

In late winter, Evergy filed an application for a Transportation Electrification Portfolio (Docket No. 21-EKME-320-TAR) including rebate programs, rates for charging services and an associated education and program administration budget along with program cost recovery. Evidentiary hearings (Day 1) (Day 2) were held September 20-21. Post hearing briefs will be due on October 22.

On September 8, KCC Chairman Andrew French was named to FERC’s joint federal-state task force on electric transmission.

How to Get Involved

For more information about Kansas or to get more involved, contact Samarth Medakkar.

Regulatory

In recent weeks, Governor Beshear has made leadership appointments to the Public Service Commission. Marianne Butler, former Community Initiatives Manager for LG&E and KU Energy LLC and Louisville District 15 Councilwoman, was appointed for a four-year term to replace the vacancy left by Talina Mathews, who is now serving as director of state regulatory policy for Southwest Power Pool. Amy Cubbage, Gov. Beshear’s general counsel, was appointed to the PSC on August 3 and will serve as vice-chair through 2023 which is the rest of former chair Michael Schmitt’s term. Commissioner Kent Chandler, former executive director of the PSC who was appointed to the commission last July, was designated as Chairman on August 3 as well.

How to Get Involved

For more information about Kansas or to get more involved, contact Amanda Caloras.

Executive

Last fall, Governor Whitmer announced a goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 through an executive order and an executive directive. Through the order, Michigan will work towards carbon neutrality by reducing emissions from public buildings, emphasizing carbon neutrality in utility IRPs and adding renewable energy in state facilities and lands.

The executive order created the Council on Climate Solutions. The Council has created five workgroups: Buildings and Housing, Energy Intensive Industries, Energy Production, Transmission, Distribution and Storage, Natural Working Lands and Forest Products, and Transportation and Mobility. These workgroups will help the Council identify and recommend strategies to reduce the state’s emissions and help communities most impacted by climate change. More information on the Council and the workgroups can be found here. MEEA is participating on both the Buildings and Housing and Energy Intensive Industries working groups.

Regulatory

The Energy Affordability and Accessibility Collaborative has decided that the bulk of the collaborative’s work will take place in the group’s subcommittees: Affordability, Alignment, and Assistance; Outreach and Education; Data Analysis and Regulatory Review; and Definitions.

MI Power Grid workgroups continue to meet. The Customer Education Participation workgroup set two meetings to discuss the opportunities and barriers related to customer participation in utility programs. The first meeting was held on August 4 and focused on customer engagement in commission processes. The second was held on August 25 and focused on equitable outreach and access to utility programs and offerings. The Distributed Energy Resources Rate Design workgroup released its draft report in coordination with the Regulatory Assistance Project.

Additionally, Guidehouse completed and released the state’s Energy Waste Reduction Statewide Potential Study (2021-2040), which can be found here. More information on the potential study, including methodology and modeling results, can be found on the MPSC topic page. Guidehouse is wrapping up the state Demand Response Potential Study as well. The most recent draft can be found here.  

Energy Waste Reduction plans are actively being filed with the MPSC. Many utilities contract with the statewide administrator, Efficiency United, to run their programs. Thus, proceedings often focus more on overall budgets and energy savings goals as opposed to details of individual programs. The dockets for the EWR plans can be found here:

  • U-20874: Alpena Power Company
  • U-20875: Consumers Energy Company
  • U-20876: DTE- Electric
  • U-20877: Indiana Michigan Power Company
  • U-20878: Northern States Power Company
  • U-20879: Upper Peninsula Power Company (UPPCO)
  • U-20880: Upper Michigan Energy Resources Corporation (UMERC)
  • U-20881: DTE- Gas
  • U-20882: Michigan Gas Utilities Corporation
  • U-20883: SEMCO Energy Gas Company

How to Get Involved

For more information about Michigan or to get more involved, contact Maddie Wazowicz.

Legislative

Minnesota’s legislative session ended on May 17, but the legislature returned for a special session on June 14. Both the Senate Energy and Utilities and the House Climate and Energy committees released their committee omnibus bills in early April. Prior to the close of session, a conference committee formed to hammer out the differences on the combined omnibus commerce and energy bill, SF 972. After session closed, the conference committee continued to seek a compromise as a working group.

The working group did reach a compromise, HF 6/SF 19, which was signed into law by Governor Walz. The law will:

  • Establish a revolving loan account which would fund energy efficiency upgrades for state facilities;
  • Create the Energy Transition Office, which would help assist communities experiencing economic distress from power plant retirements;
  • Extend the Cold Weather Rule by banning disconnections for customers complying with a payment plan from October 1 to April 30 (previously October 15 to April 15);
  • Create the Minnesota Efficient Technology Accelerator, where a Minnesota nonprofit would collaborate with technology manufacturers to accelerate the deployment of energy efficient technologies;
  • Authorize natural gas utilities to file plans with the PUC outlining their usage of innovative resources that displace traditional natural gas;
  • Fund a pilot program to connect young adults in underserved communities with job training in clean energy and energy efficiency sectors and
  • Require the PUC to study the role of natural gas utilities in achieving the state’s carbon reduction goals.

Additional details on the compromise can be found here. Some energy efficiency-related provisions did not make it into the final bill, like the provision to strengthen the state’s commercial energy codes or funding for an innovative clean energy finance authority.

Prior to the close of session, the Energy Optimization and Conservation (ECO) Act passed after a conference committee reached a compromise on the remaining areas of disagreement between the two chambers. The Act was signed by Governor Walz. ECO will expand and modernize the state’s Conservation Improvement Program by increasing utilities’ energy savings goals, allowing beneficial electrification and expanding low-income energy efficiency, among other things. ECO was sponsored by Sen. Rarick and Rep. Stephenson, and the bill ultimately passed with bipartisan support in both chambers. To explain the details of the Conservation Improvement Planning overhaul, MEEA wrote a summary analysis of ECO.

Regulatory

The ECO Act tasks the Department of Commerce with forming several sets of guidance. DOC has initiated a stakeholder process to help determine energy efficiency program eligibility for low-income customers in multifamily buildings. Additionally, over the next year or so, DOC will need to engage stakeholders to determine guidance on allowable pre-weatherization measures, electric vehicle charging sales and cost-effectiveness. More information on the Department’s work can be found here.

The PUC has opened a few dockets to fulfill requirements in legislation that passed this session.

Additionally, CenterPoint Energy released its modified plan for an on-bill financing pilot in coordination with the city of Minneapolis. The pilot was originally proposed in a recent rate case docket. CenterPoint hosted stakeholder workshops this summer and released a new plan, which can be found in a new docket, 21-377.

  • Docket 21-565- The PUC will evaluate changes to natural gas utility regulatory and policy structures needed to meet or exceed Minnesota’s greenhouse gas emissions reductions goals.

  • Docket 21-566- Natural gas utilities will have the opportunity to present the commission with plans to study and utilize alternative and innovative energy resources, like renewable natural gas, biogas and hydrogen.

  • Docket 21-548- The Minnesota Efficient Technology Accelerator (META) program seeks nonprofits to apply to run the accelerator, which will accelerate the deployment and reduce cost of efficient technologies. CEE filed its intent to apply in this docket.

How to Get Involved

For more information about Minnesota or to get more involved, contact Maddie Wazowicz.

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Executive

Throughout September, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources – Division of Energy (MoDNR) convened its first round of regional State Energy Planning (MoSEP) meetings. Interested parties are encouraged to share regional energy initiatives that advance efficiency, economic opportunity and resilience. Upcoming meetings include the first Kansas City Region meeting (October 5) and the first Northern Region meeting (October 13).

See the plan page to join MoDNR’s mailing list, register for meetings, submit inquiries and receive recordings of meetings. The process began with a Virtual Energy Stakeholder Kickoff Workshop last fall. In May, MoDNR issued a Summary and Action Report summarizing next steps. Through the end of the year, MoDNR will hold three rounds of meetings for each of the 6 regions outlined in the Summary and Action Report.

Regulatory

On August 4, the PSC issued an order offering an opportunity to comment on the temporary ban on demand-side resource aggregators for commercial and industrial customers. The order was filed in a working docket opened for the PSC to consider the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Order 2222. Comments were due on September 1. For more details, see the full press release.

On April 30, Evergy filed its triennial integrated resource plan. The plan has a 20-year scope and restates their intent to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045, with an interim 70% emissions reduction target for 2030, consistent with their Sustainability Transformation Plan. A procedural schedule has not been filed by the Commission.

Comments on Ameren’s 2020 Integrated Resource Plan (EO-2021-0021) from intervening parties were filed on March 31. On June 18, intervening parties filed a joint filing, reaching an agreement on a pathway to addressing concerns raised. Unresolved issues were addressed in Ameren’s response, with interested parties responding to the response on July 19. The Commission has yet to issue an order on the process for proceeding forward in this case.

How to Get Involved

For more information about Missouri or to get more involved, contact Samarth Medakkar. 

Legislative

House Bill 389 (Leland, Seitz) was introduced on August 12. As we previously noted, the bill allows voluntary EE portfolios by the electric distribution utilities, allowing for cost recovery and for the proposal of incentives and lost revenues. It contains provisions for low-income program funding, has a 0.5% annual electric energy savings target, a cost cap and an all customer opt-out provision. The bill has been referred to the House Public Utilities committee.

The Ohio Energy Jobs & Justice Act was introduced on Sept. 21 on a Facebook-streamed press conference with co-sponsors Rep. Casey Weinstein and Rep. Stephanie Howse. The bill would renew the repealed EE standard as an Energy Waste Reduction (EWR) standard that ramps up to the previous target of 22% cumulative savings. It would also create a statewide collaborative to facilitate the EWR planning process, a cabinet-level Office of Energy Justice and a carbon reduction plan for the state, among other provisions.

Regulatory

PUCO has announced a series of energy efficiency workshops to “solicit the views of stakeholders on whether cost-effective energy efficiency programs are an appropriate tool to manage electric generation costs, and how those fit into Ohio’s competitive electric and natural gas marketplaces.” The five workshops will take place in March–April 2022 focusing on different customer segments for each workshop as noted below. In addition to speaking opportunities shown on the workshop site, there is also an opportunity to comment on a series of 14 questions that PUCO has posed on EE policy, portfolio and program design and other aspects of EE and DR delivery. Written responses to the PUCO questions are due by January 28, 2022. 

  • March 22 – electric & natural gas industries
  • March 9 – business sector, part 1
  • March 23 – consumer sector
  • March 30 – business sector, part 2 
  • April 6 – environmental sector

How to Get Involved

For more information about Ohio or to get more involved, contact Greg Ehrendreigh.

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Executive

The Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy is currently working on developing a clean energy plan which will help Wisconsin adapt to future changes in the climate as mandated by Governor Evers’ August executive order. Additionally, this plan will outline ways for the state to achieve its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. MEEA is participating on the plan’s advisory council.

Legislative

The legislature spent much of session working on the state’s budget, which was sent and signed by Governor Evers in early July. AB27 / SB47. The bill requires the state’s IOUs to fund a consumer advocate. Unlike many other Midwestern states, Wisconsin does not have a government agency dedicated to consumer protection in utility matters. This law will direct $900,000 of ratepayer dollars annually to the state’s Citizens Utility Board, enabling it to expand its staff and better represent the state’s customers in utility cases.

Regulatory

The Wisconsin PSC issued a Notice of Investigation in Docket 5-EI-158 to consider the commission’s role in the state’s transition to zero-carbon electricity generation. Comments were due May 14; MEEA’s response to this docket can be found here. PSC Staff released a memo that divided commenters’ recommendations into five categories: utility resource planning, performance-based regulation, utility pilot programs, energy efficiency and affordability. At the PSC’s September 2 meeting, the commissioners voted to consider some of the recommendations on resource planning and energy efficiency in the upcoming Strategic Energy Assessment and  Quadrennial Planning process. The commissioners also voted to hold a workshop on performance-based regulation, which will include discussions on energy affordability.

Additionally, Cadmus is expected to release its Focus on Energy potential study in October. More information on the potential study can be found here.

How to Get Involved

For more information about Wisconsin or to get more involved, contact Maddie Wazowicz.

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Executive

On August 18, DOE posted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the definitions for general service lamps and general service incandescent lamps. DOE proposes reverting the definitions back to those established by the Obama Administration in January 2017 after the Trump Administration withdrew these revised definitions. The revised definitions would no longer exempt five categories of specialty incandescent lamps from the Energy Independence and Security Act’s (2007) efficiency standards. DOE will hold a public meeting on September 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, and is accepting comments, data, and information on the NOPR no later than October 18.

On August 13, DOE announced awardees of its Building Energy Efficiency Frontiers & Innovation Technologies (BENEFIT) funding opportunity announcement - $82.6 million in funding for 44 projects in building materials, lighting and heating and cooling systems.

Regulatory

PJM Interconnection issued an initial proposal striking the expanded minimum offer price rule (MOPR), a ruling in late 2019 that would raise the price floor for state-subsidized energy resources, like new energy efficiency/demand-side management and renewables, in PJM’s wholesale capacity power auctions. Instead, PJM proposes that FERC determine whether MOPR should apply to certain resources in granting a 206 complaint. PJM’s final proposal was approved by the Board of Directors, though must be approved by FERC prior to its implementation. The proposal removes the expanded MOPR and “narrows the scope of the MOPR … aimed at mitigating buyer-side market power; to avoid harming state policies and power providers with self-supply business models and to make sure the market design is robust and could work well into future.”  FERC’s ruling on PJM’s proposal was due on September 28.

Legislative

On September 25, the Build Back Better Act passed the House Budget Committee and was reported to the house chamber. Energy Efficiency pieces include mobilization of funds for GHG reduction, a Clean Electricity Performance Program, residential efficiency rebates, weatherization and critical facility resilience. For a summary of key energy efficiency pieces of this package, see the Alliance to Save Energy’s Build Back Better Act Summary. Note that this summary includes provisions from the House Energy and Commerce Committee mark-up from earlier this month and may be subject to revision in pre-conference.

On August 10, the Senate passed a bipartisan infrastructure bill which includes substantial investment in energy efficiency across sectors of the economy, for example, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act. The bill also includes a grant for states to make energy sector cybersecurity improvements. The delay of the vote for the Senate bill is a result of garnering support for the separate House budget reconciliation bill.

How to Get Involved

For more information about Federal issues or to get more involved, contact Nick Dreher.

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