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PURA Urges Prioritizing Legislative Changes Focused on Renewable Energy
The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) submitted the final report to the General Assembly.
In the final report, PURA urged the General Assembly “to prioritize passing enabling legislation for successor renewable energy tariff programs in the 2026 legislative session,” to ensure continuity to the successor program once the current programs sunset at the end of 2027.
As background, PURA opened this proceeding to conduct a study regarding the state’s renewable energy tariff programs, such as RRES and NRES. The study will consider: (1) whether to extend such programs beyond the procurement years authorized; (2) potential processes that can be adopted to avoid stranded projects; (3) potential successor programs; (4) an examination of potential programs that do not incorporate any MW cap; (5) consideration of different possible criteria and procedures for choosing projects, such as choosing projects by lottery or on a first-come, first-served basis; and (6) an identification of alternative bidding frameworks, such as awarding solicitations based on which projects can be deployed soonest.
In its final report PURA recommends the following amendments to statutes to enable the recommended successor program:
- Adjust dates throughout the statute to reflect the successor programs taking effect in 2028.
- Sec. (a)(1)(B), (a)(1)(C): revise to authorize PURA to establish standard offer, walk-up non-residential and community clean energy programs. Grant PURA authority to set baseline compensation rates and adders that consider ratepayer and participant costs and benefits, the state’s comprehensive energy strategy, the value of distributed energy resources, and statewide greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals.
- Sec. (a)(2): Remove the term “new” with respect to non-residential and shared clean energy projects to allow existing projects with remaining useful life to participate.
- Sec. (a)(3): Eliminate the requirement to provide both Buy-All and Netting options for the non-residential program at customer choice. Instead, authorize PURA to establish a tariff for the purchase of all energy and renewable energy certificates on a ¢/kWh basis.
- Sec. (a)(5): Remove the restriction that the maximum selected purchase price in any given solicitation cannot exceed the prior year’s price unless changed circumstances exist.
- Sec. (a)(6)(D), (a)(6)(E): Restrict participation in the state’s community clean energy program to low-income customers, with priority given to those in arrears.
- Sec. (b)(1): For the residential successor program, remove the requirement for a non-bypassable charge for netting tariff customers.
- Sec. (b)(2): Remove the requirement to provide both Buy-All and Netting options for the residential successor program at customer choice.
- Allow a single tariff for the purchase of energy produced and not consumed during the period of time established by PURA, except for multifamily affordable housing and low-income customers, who may retain the option to select a tariff for the purchase of all energy and renewable energy certificates on a ¢/kWh basis.
- Sec. (c)(1)(A): Replace annual MW caps for non-residential and shared clean energy programs with budget caps (proposed amounts: $25 million for nonresidential, $16 million for shared clean energy), where any remaining budget not allocated in any given year will roll into the next year’s available budget.
- Sec. (c)(1)(B): Remove, as conditions for exceeding the limits on total available MW in a given procurement are no longer relevant if budget caps are implemented.
- Sec. (c)(1)(C), (c)(1)(D): Modify program duration and dates to allow an eight-year term, extending through 2035.
- Sec. (g): Clarify that “generation projects” include any energy storage collocated with the generation facility.
- Sec. (a): Reinstate PURA’s authority to establish programs for energy storage systems connected to the distribution system in front of the meter and not located at customer premises. Additionally, authorize PURA to extend the program end dates to align with the duration of any successor solar programs.
- Sec. (7): Update to direct the consumer protection task force to fulfill its scope of work, with a realistic and defined deadline; designated stakeholder to lead the task force; and direction to consider consumer protection measures related to solar contractor licensing as well as ongoing compliance and auditing.
