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01:45:37 PM |
Senator Tate, prime-sponsor, discussed
the provisions of House Bill18-1270 cocnerning the evaluation of energy
storage systems by the Public Utilities Commission. He also distributed
distributed Amendment L.006 [Attachment B]. The reengrossed bill directs
the PUC, by February 1, 2019, to consider whether to establish, by rule
as part of the planning process, mechanisms for the procurement of energy
storage systems by investor-owned electric utilities (IOUs). The
bill specifies, however, that these mechanisms must not affect any open
proceedings, ongoing resource acquisitions, or competitive bidding processes
existing on February 1, 2018. The bill specifies that the establishment
of such mechanisms is to be based on an analysis of specified benefits
and costs of storage systems, including factors such as grid reliability
or transmission capacity. If the PUC decides to establish mechanisms for
the procurement of energy storage systems by electric utilities, it must
adopt rules establishing mechanisms for the inclusion of the benefits and
costs of energy storage systems into the planning process. Such mechanisms,
among other specified items, must include requirements for utilities to
provide the PUC with appropriate data and specify potential interconnection
points. On or before May 1, 2019, the bill authorizes electric utilities
to file applications for rate-based projects for energy storage systems
not to exceed 15 megawatts of capacity. |
