Title
Approval of Proposed Changes to the Department of Public Utilities Rules & Regulations, Rule E-5 Interconnection with Cogeneration and Small Power Producers
Recommended Action
I move that the Board of Public Utilities approve the proposed changes to the Department of Public Utilities Rules & Regulations, Rule E-5 Interconnection with Cogeneration and Small Power Producers
Utility Manager's Recommendation
The Utility Manager recommends that BPU approve the motion as presented.
Body
At the April 3, 2024 work session and April 17, 2024 board meeting, staff presented proposed changes to Rule E-5 Interconnection with Cogeneration and Small Power Producers and updates to the related construction standards as shown in the associated application. Additionally, GDS consultants provided feedback on the billing practices relating to cogeneration supporting the proposed changes to E5.05. The updated proposed changes are detailed in Attachment A and a clean version of E-5 is included in Attachment B.
The impact of changing to directly billing the wholesale rate is $113,782 for calendar year 2023. This breaks down to an average annual reduction of $251.73 per household. The last time the annual true up was conducted was for calendar year 2019. DPU is proposing to not retroactively perform the true up for calendar years 2020 through 2023. If this motion is approved by the Board, the changes will take effect immediately.
At the April 17, 2024 board meeting, BPU directed staff to develop answers to questions raised during public comment. Chair Gibson and Vice-Chair Stromberg met with staff to review the Q&A's prepared by staff before these were published. The Q&A was published on April 26, 2024. It was published on a new web page, social media, the Los Alamos Daily Post and Los Alamos Reporter. Additionally, direct notification of the Q&A was sent to all solar customers via email, text, phone or letter. A copy is included as Attachment D.
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