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State Agencies Seek More Time To Develop Disclosure Label Under New, More Restrictive Renewable Retail Energy Offer Rules
In Connecticut’s PURA Development of Voluntary Renewable Options Program – Modification of Implementation Dates
The Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC) and Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) request more time to develop a new environmental disclosure label for electric suppliers regarding PURA’s order regarding voluntary renewable electricity supply offers (VRO) from competitive retail electric suppliers.
As background, PURA adopted new rules governing VROs in 2020, with a court staying the until the stay was lifted last year.
Among other things the VRO order prohibits suppliers from using the term “renewable energy” for REC-based VRO products. Under the order, a supplier may not market the product as “renewable energy” unless the offer is supported by an ownership interest in or PPA for a renewable resource used to serve the contract.
The PURA order also established certain universal standards for REC-only and suppliers’ VRO offers, including geographic limitations.
PURA subsequently linked the start date for compliance with the new VRO rules to the filing of a new environmental disclosure label contemplated by the rules.
Excerpts From OCC and DEEP Motion For Continuance:
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The Disclosure Label Working Group met on January 3rd to discuss concerns over the draft disclosure labels. The meeting brought to light several complex issues that warrant additional analysis. OCC and DEEP would like time to consider these issues, make appropriate adjustments to the draft disclosure labels, and hold an additional working group meeting to discuss proposed modifications. OCC and DEEP are targeting the week of January 15th for the additional working group meeting, which we believe would give OCC and DEEP sufficient time to work through the identified issues, and present improved draft disclosure labels for the group’s consideration. Accordingly, as facilitators of the working group, OCC and DEEP jointly request an extension up to and including January 29 by which to submit a revised disclosure labels to the Authority.
OCC and DEEP respectfully submit that granting this extension would be in furtherance of the public interest and the policy reflected in the Authority’s Final Decision because, as described above, additional time will permit the Disclosure Label Working Group to produce a more thorough, comprehensive, and carefully considered revised disclosure label for the Authority’s review. {***}
16-12-29RE01 Motion for Continuance.pdf (01/05/2023)
Final Decision (12/06/2023)
16-12-29 (08/03/2021)
(Voluntary Renewable Options Program)
