MEEA Policy Insider - August 2019

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

Ready to get involved? There are advocacy opportunities in Indiana and Iowa.

In this issue:

Policy Webinar: 2019 Legislative Wrap-Up

MEEA’s Policy Team recently hosted a webinar summarizing the Midwest’s major energy efficiency policy developments during the 2019 legislative sessions. The slides and recording are now available.  

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Legislative

The Illinois General Assembly is now adjourned, returning in the fall for veto session October 28-30 and November 12-14, when legislation can continue to advance, including a possible energy package.

How to Get Involved

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

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Legislative

The newly-formed 21st Century Energy Policy Development Task Force will be holding its first meeting at 10 a.m. on August 26 in House Chambers. The meeting is open to all.

Regulatory

IURC Study Stakeholder Meeting

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission will be conducting its statewide study of fuel source and generation resource transitions, as mandated by the legislature earlier this year in HEA 1278. The first stakeholder meeting—to discuss future modeling scenarios with the State Utility Forecasting Group—will be held on August 22, 1-3 p.m. at IURC Room 222 in the PNC Center. The meeting will be livestreamed as well. RSVP to URCComments@urc.in.gov, especially if you plan to attend in person.

IRPs

Duke and Indiana Michigan Power filed their 2018 IRPs on July 1. Integrated resource planning is ongoing for Indiana utilities. Current deadlines for the next IRPs are:

  • IPL (2019 IRP): Dec 16, 2019 (originally Nov 1, 2019)
  • NIPSCO (2019 IRP): Nov 1, 2021 (originally Nov 1, 2019)
  • Vectren (2019 IRP): May 1, 2020 (originally Nov 1, 2019)

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

How to Get Involved

The Task Force, Commission and IRP meetings are all open to anyone interested in attending.

If you have any questions about Indiana or want to get more involved, contact Greg Ehrendreich.

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Regulatory

On July 3, the Iowa Utility Board (IUB) submitted an order requesting additional comments in ongoing docket RMU-2016-0018, a rulemaking docket intended to implement changes made to state law by SF 2311 (2018) and SF 638 (2019). Specifically, the board seeks to clarify how the new energy efficiency budget provisions impact a utility’s energy efficiency plan cost recovery. The order includes the board’s proposed changes to the Iowa Code.

How to Get Involved

IUB hearings are open to the public. If you wish to submit comments in docket RMU-2016-0018, comments can be submitted through the IUB electronic filing system here.

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

Executive

On August 8, Governor Whitmer directed state departments to reduce energy use in state facilities. The directive builds on existing state efforts and will include  improving energy efficient practices and a pilot program that begins with comprehensive audits to identify immediate and future energy savings opportunities across state facilities.

Regulatory

After January’s polar vortex forced power outages, Governor Whitmer requested the Michigan Public Service Commission issue a report on the state’s energy supply, engineering and deliverability of natural gas, electricity and propane, and contingency planning.

On March 5, MPSC staff issued its process outline for the Statewide Energy Assessment.

  • Timeline for Assessment Draft:
    • March 5: Final report outline posted
    • March: Begin research, prepare stakeholder inquiries & schedule meetings with stakeholders
    • April: Workgroups meet with stakeholders 
    • May 10-30: Workgroup chairs write their sections
    • June 1: Draft report compiled and turned over for final editing 
    • July 1: Draft report due
    • July 1-August 9: Public comment period
    • Sept 13: Final report due
       

The MPSC released the draft report on July 1 and issued an order on July 2 describing the remaining process for the MPSC’s assessment.

How to Get Involved

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

Legislative

Minnesota’s Legislative Energy Commission met for the first time in a year on July 30. This hearing, chaired by Rep. Jamie Long, dealt exclusively with the House’s version of CEFA (HF 1405). The hearing had three portions:

  1. Commerce Commissioner Kelley presented on Governor’s Walz’s energy policy goals
  2. Rep. Zack Stephenson, the author of HF 1405, summarized the bill
  3. Lawmakers engaged in conversation with a stakeholder panel.
     

While no additional plans for the bill were solidified, the lawmakers and administration officials seem eager to continue discussions on CEFA and additional hearings will likely be scheduled.

On May 24, SF/HF 2 was signed into law. It includes PACE eligibility expansion and battery storage pilots but does not include any of Governor Walz’s CEFA provisions.

SF/HF 2 came as a result of the Minnesota House and Senate’s inability to come to a consensus on an energy package before session ended. On March 4, the Clean Energy First Act (HF 1956) was introduced, which included Governor Walz’s proposal to move Minnesota’s electric supply to 100% carbon-free by 2050. This bill was consolidated into a larger jobs and energy package that passed out of the House on April 24, but was not included in the omnibus taken up by the Senate. The different omnibus packages required significant conferencing. On May 1, five House members and five Senate members were appointed to settle the packages’ differences. The final bill, SF/HF 2, was signed into law.  

How to Get Involved

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

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Regulatory

The procedural schedule for KCP&L’s Missouri Energy Efficiency Investment Act (MEEIA) cycle 3 plan has been suspended. KCP&L’s cycle 2 will be extended for nine months with a new end date of December 31, 2019. Negotiations for cycle 3 are continuing. 

Updated Procedural Schedule:

  • August 19: Rebuttal testimony
  • September 16: Surrebuttal testimony
  • September 17 by 5 PM: List of issues
  • September 18 by 5 PM: Position statements
  • September 23-24: Evidentiary hearing
  • October 11: Initial briefs
  • October 21: Reply Briefs

The Missouri Public Service Commission granted Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L) and KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations Company (GMO) a request to push back the requirement to file a 2019 integrated resource plan (IRP) Annual Update to 2020, given the uncertainty of their MEEIA Cycle 2 and 3 programs. KCP&L/GMO will now be required to file their IRP update in 2020.

How to Get Involved

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

Legislative

On July 23, Governor DeWine signed H.B. 6 into law.  H.B. 6 makes significant changes to both the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) and Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS) that will have lasting impacts on the energy sector and Ohio’s economy. Our recent blog post answers common questions about H.B. 6 and looks at Ohio’s uncertain clean energy future, including a potential referendum effort underway to repeal H.B. 6. Backers will need to collect 265,000+ signatures to qualify for the ballot. Referendums require considerable resources to be successful, but this could provide possible reprieve from the impacts of the new law. However, challenges to the referendum effort have already begun, so it is unclear if the repeal referendum will qualify for the 2020 ballot.

MEEA will continue to advocate and identify opportunities to promote energy efficiency while serving as a resource for our members, policymakers and other stakeholders in Ohio and throughout the Midwest.

Regulatory

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) granted an extension for energy efficiency plan filings. The utilities now have until September 1. 

How to Get Involved

For more information about Ohio or to get more involved, contact Nick Hromalik.

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Executive

On August 16, Governor Evers signed an executive order creating an Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy within the Department of Administration. The executive order tasks the new office—working with other state agencies and the public service commission—with ensuring all of Wisconsin’s electricity is 100% carbon-free by 2050. The office will promote energy efficiency and renewable energy innovation and research. The executive order also requires energy efficiency standards for all new and existing state building and facilities.

On July 3, Governor Evers issued 78 partial vetoes to the two-year budget passed by the state legislature. The partial vetoes included re-allocating $10 million from the VW settlement fund for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. It is unlikely there are enough votes in the state legislature to override the governor’s veto.

How to Get Involved

For more information about Wisconsin or to get more involved, contact Nick Hromalik.

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