PSC-40-08-00016-P Modification of the RPS Base Forecast, Goals, Tier Allocations, Annual Targets and Schedule of Collections

10/1/08 N.Y. St. Reg. PSC-40-08-00016-P

NEW YORK STATE REGISTER

VOLUME XXX, ISSUE 40

October 01, 2008

RULE MAKING ACTIVITIES

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

PROPOSED RULE MAKING

NO HEARING(S) SCHEDULED

 

I.D No. PSC-40-08-00016-P

Modification of the RPS Base Forecast, Goals, Tier Allocations, Annual Targets and Schedule of Collections

PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE State Administrative Procedure Act, NOTICE is hereby given of the following proposed rule:

Proposed Action:

The Commission is considering whether to adopt, modify, or reject, in whole or in part, potential modifications to the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) program, including base forecast, goals, tier allocations, annual targets and schedule of collections.

Statutory authority:

Public Service Law, sections 4(1), 5(2), 66(1) and (2)

Subject:

Modification of the RPS base forecast, goals, tier allocations, annual targets and schedule of collections.

Purpose:

To re-calibrate the RPS program in light of experience and current circumstances.

Substance of proposed rule:

The Commission is considering whether to adopt, modify, or reject, in whole or in part, potential modifications to the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) program, including base forecast, goals, tier allocations, annual targets and schedule of collections. The base forecast of electricity usage in New York State against which the RPS goals are applied is currently the forecast contained in the 2002 New York State Energy Plan. The Commission is considering updating the base forecast using a 2007 forecast of electricity usage in New York State developed in Case 07-M-0548, the Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (EEPS) proceeding. The Commission is also considering updating the base forecast using a post-EEPS forecast of electricity usage in New York State, also developed in the EEPS proceeding, incorporating successful deployment of the targeted levels of energy efficiency planned in the EEPS case into the forecast. The current goal of the RPS program is to increase New York's usage of renewable resources to generate electricity to 25% by 2013. The Commission is considering whether to increase the goal to 30% by 2015 or to otherwise adjust the goal. The RPS program targets are currently divided into tiers. If the Commission modifies the base forecast or the goal, the Commission will consider whether the targets by tier should be adjusted proportionally or on some other basis. The Commission is also considering whether the annual targets should be modified to account for such changes to the RPS program. The Commission is also considering whether the schedule of collections should be modified to account for such changes to the RPS program, to specify collection levels beyond 2013 necessary to fund contracts extending beyond 2013, and to fund maintenance resources and administrative costs not yet accounted for in the current schedule of collections.

Text of proposed rule and any required statements and analyses may be obtained by filing a Document Request Form (F-96) located on our website http://www.dps.state.ny.us/f96dir.htm. For questions, contact:

Leann Ayer, Public Service Commission, 3 Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350, [phone], email: leann_ayer@dps. state.ny.us

Data, views or arguments may be submitted to:

Jaclyn A. Brilling, Secretary, Public Service Commission, 3 Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350, [phone], email: [e-mail]

Public comment will be received until:

45 days after publication of this notice.

Regulatory Impact Statement, Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, Rural Area Flexibility Analysis and Job Impact Statement

Statements and analyses are not submitted with this notice because the proposed rule is within the definition contained in section 102(2)(a)(ii) of the State Administrative Procedure Act.

(03-E-0188SA19)