Act 129 Information

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The PUC is actively involved in the implementation process for Act 129 of 2008. On Oct. 15, 2008, Governor Rendell signed HB 2200 into law as Act 129 of 2008, with an effective date of Nov. 14, 2008. The Act expands the Commission’s oversight responsibilities and imposes new requirements on electric distribution companies (EDCs), with the overall goal of reducing energy consumption and demand.

House Bill 2200 - Act 129 of 2008 Bill

The Act adds several new sections to, and amends several existing sections of the Public Utility Code.  The Commission will implement the Act in phases.  The first phase will deal with the Commission’s obligation to adopt an energy efficiency and conservation (EE&C) program by Jan. 15, 2009.  Subsequent phases of the Commission’s Act 129 implementation process will address EDC and default service provider responsibilities; conservation service providers; smart meter technology; time-of-use rates; real-time pricing plans; default service procurement; market misconduct; alternative energy sources; and cost recovery.

En Banc Hearing - The PUC held a special public hearing Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008, on alternative energy resources, energy conservation and efficiency, and demand side response (DSR) tools and programs to assist consumers. Docket No. M-00061984.

Act 129 Statewide Evaluator (SWE)

The SWE kick-off meeting was conducted on Wednesday, September 23, 2009, with GDS Associates, Inc. and participants from the electric distribution companies.  GDS Associates, Inc. discussed their presentation and the draft Audit Plan Outline was proposed.

Audit Plan Presentation - From the December 1, 2009, meeting.

Kick-off Meeting Presentation - From the September 23, 2009, meeting.

Audit Plan Outline-draft

The PUC sought a Statewide Evaluator Contract to evaluate the energy efficiency and conservation programs required by ACT 129 of 2008. Act 129 requires each of the seven major Electric Distribution Companies (EDCs) in Pennsylvania to adopt a plan to reduce energy demand and consumption within its service territory. The Act requires a 1% reduction in consumption by May 31, 2011, a total of 3% reduction in consumption and a 4.5% reduction in peak demand by May 31, 2013. A Request For Proposal (RFP) went out asking that the RFP  contain provisions for an audit plan development, four annual audits of the EDCs' programs and a 2013 review of the entire program.

GDS Associates Inc. Engineers and Consultants was selected as the Act 129 Evaluator at the public meeting of June 25, 2009, by the Commission. Press Release

The Statewide Evaluation contract will began in the summer of 2009 and will continue until October 31, 2011, with two, one-year renewal options through December 31, 2013.

A Pre-proposal Conference was held on Wednesday, May 6, 2009, at 1 P.M. in Hearing Room 5 on the ground floor of the Commonwealth Keystone Building, 400 North St., Harrisburg PA 17120.

For RFP issues, you may contact the Commission's Issuing Officer for this RFP - Wayne Williams, Director, Bureau of Conservation, Economics and Energy Planning for the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission at (717) 787-2139, fax (717) 787-2545, or waywilliam@state.pa.us.

RFP Contract for Act 129 Statewide Evaluator - Contract for the Act 129 Statewide Evaluator, GDS Associates Inc. Engineers and Consultants.

GDS Associates Technical Proposal Submittal - RFP submission for the Act 129 Statewide Evaluator.  Dated June 16, 2009.

RFP for Act 129 Statewide Evaluator - Issued April 21, 2009. Appendices A-C included.
Appendix D - Act 129 Statewide Evaluator Contract

RFP Addenda - Issued May 19, 2009. Addenda to Act 129 Statewide Evaluator Request for Proposal.

Questions & Answers/List of Attendees - Q&A and the list of attendees from the Pre-Proposal Conference held on May 6, 2009. Posted on May 13, 2009.

Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EE&C) Program

Act 129 directed that by July 1, 2009, all electric distribution companies with at least 100,000 customers are to develop and file an energy efficiency and conservation plan with the Commission for approval. Below are the energy efficiency and conservation plans filed by the electric distribution companies.

Fact Sheets

Residential Fact Sheet - Information for the home.
Business Fact Sheet - Information for businesses.

Allegheny Power - Docket No. M-2009-2093218

Duquesne Light - Docket No. M-2009-2093217

Metropolitan Edison Company (Met-Ed) - Docket No. M-2009-2092222
Pennsylvania Electric Company (Penelec) - Docket No. M-2009-2112952
Pennsylvania Power Company (Penn Power) - Docket No. M-2009-2112956

PECO Energy Company - Docket No. M-2009-2093215

PPL Electric Utilities - Docket No. M-2009-2093216

EDC Contact Information - List of electric distribution company contacts for Act 129 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plans. In accordance with the Implementation Plan.

Reconsideration Order - The Commission denied the Energy Association of Pennsylvania's petition for reconsideration and granted the Industrial Energy Consumers of PA's petition for clarification at the May 28, 2009, Public Meeting. Docket No. M-2008-2069887.

Implementation Order - Energy Efficiency and Conservation Program Implementation Order -- Adopted at January 15, 2009, Public Meeting. Entered January 16, 2009. Docket No. M-2008-2069887.

Secretarial Letter - The PUC has circulated the draft staff proposal and additional questions for comment from interested parties. Dated November 26, 2008. Docket No. M-2008-2069887.

Secretarial Letter - Extension of Comment Period for Energy Efficiency and
Conservation Program and EDC Plans. Dated October 28, 2008. Docket No. M-2008-2069887.

Secretarial Letter - Letter soliciting comments regarding the Energy Efficiency and
Conservation Program and EDC Plans. Dated October 21, 2008. Docket No. M-2008-2069887.

Press Release - PUC announces a Working Group Meeting to discuss the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Program on Dec. 10, 2008. Dated Nov. 14, 2008. Docket No. M-2008-2069887.

Comments

Comments to Additional Questions

Reply Comments

Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EE&C) Plans

On May 7, 2009, the Commission issued a Secretarial Letter directing all jurisdictional electric distribution companies (EDCs) with at least 100,000 customers to use the below template format and appendices when preparing their EE&C Plans that are due July 1, 2009. Technical questions regarding the template and appendices should be directed to Tony Rametta in the PUC's Bureau of Fixed Utility Services at arametta@state.pa.us or 717-787-2359. Questions relating to legal or procedural issues involving the completion or filing of the EE&C Plans, please contact Kriss Brown in the PUC's Law Bureau at kribrown@state.pa.us or 717-787-4518.

Secretarial Letter - Dated May 7, 2009.

Template Format - Master format.

Appendices - Final format.

A proposal for EDC EE&C Plan format has been developed by Commission staff.

Proposed Appendices - Dated March 18, 2009.

Comments

Phase II: Requirements for Conservation Service Providers

Final Order - Implementation of Act 129 of 2008, Phase 2 – Registry of Conservation Service Providers. Public Meeting of Feb. 5, 2009. Entered on Feb. 5, 2009. Docket No. M-2008-2074154.

The Conservation Service Providers (CSP) Registry Application is available in PDF and WORD.

CSP Registry - Link to the CSP Registry information.

Tentative Order - Implementation of Act 129 of 2008, Phase 2 – Registry of Conservation Service Providers. Public Meeting of Dec. 18, 2008. Entered on Dec. 22, 2008. Docket No. M-2008-2074154.

Secretarial Letter - The PUC initiated Phase 2 by requesting comments on the experience and qualification requirements the Commission must establish for conservation service provider. Dated Nov. 14, 2008. Docket No. M-2008-2074154.

Press Release - PUC solicited comments on the experience and qualification requirements the Commission must establish for conservation service providers as the Commission begins Phase II of its implementation of Act 129. Dated Nov. 14, 2008. Docket No. M-2008-2074154.

Comments

Comments on Tentative Order

Technical Reference Manual

The Technical Reference Manual standards will be used to measure and verify applicable DSM/EE measures used by EDCs to meet the Act 129 consumption and peak demand reduction targets.

2010 TRM Update Tentative Order - 2010 update to the Technical Resource Manual at Docket No. M-00051865, adopted at the January 28, 2010 public meeting.

2009 Final Order and Technical Manual - 2009 update to the Technical Resource Manual at Docket No. M-00051865, adopted at the May 28, 2009 public meeting.

Technical Manual - Adopted September 2005 at Docket No. M-00051865.

2010 TRM Update Reference Material

Total Resource Cost Test

Act 129 of 2008 directs the Commission to use a Total Resource Cost (TRC) test to analyze the costs and benefits of the energy efficiency and conservation plans that certain electric distribution companies are required to file. Act 129 defines the TRC test as “a standard test that is met if, over the effective life of each plan not to exceed 15 years, the net present value of the avoided monetary cost of supplying electricity is greater than the net present value of the monetary cost of energy efficiency conservation measures.” 66 Pa. C.S. § 2806.1(m).

Order - Order on the TRC test. From the Public Meeting of June 18, 2009, at Docket No. M-2009-2108601. Entered June 23, 2009.

Secretarial Letter - Letter seeking comments on the TRC test and Appendix staff proposal. Dated May 21, 2009, at Docket No. M-2009-2108601.

Proposed TRC Test - TRC test staff proposal.

Proposed TRC Test Appendix - Appendix to TRC test staff proposal.

Comments

Smart Meter Technology Procurement and Installation

Act 129 of 2008 amended Section 2807 of the Public Utility Code by adding a requirement for electric distribution companies with greater than 100,000 customers to submit, for PUC approval, a smart meter technology procurement and installation plan. 66 Pa. C.S. 2807(f). These smart meter plans are to be filed with the PUC by August 14, 2009.

Meeting Announcement Letter - Agenda - The Commission has announced that a stakeholders meeting will be held on July 16, 2009, at 1 PM in Executive Chambers on the 3rd Floor of the Commonwealth Keystone Building in Harrisburg. Docket No. M-2009-2092655. Date July 1, 2009.

PECO Energy - Docket No. M-2009-2123944

PPL Electric - Docket No. M-2009-2123945

Duquesne Light - Docket No. M-2009-2123948

FirstEnergy Companies - Docket No. M-2009-2123950
Met-Ed, Penelec and Penn Power

West Penn Power - Docket No. M-2009-2123951

Meeting Presentations

Implementation Order – Smart Meter Procurement and Installation Implementation Order – Adopted at June 18, 2009, Public Meeting. Entered June 24, 2009. Docket No. M-2009-209655.

Secretarial Letter - The Commission has extended the smart meter procurement and installation comment period to April 20, 2009 and the reply comment period to April 29, 2009. Docket No. M-2009-2092655.

Secretarial Letter - The PUC seeks comments on specific smart meter deployment and capabilities and a smart meter implementation proposal. Comments are due by April 15, 2009. Please reference Docket No. M-2009-2092655 when filing comments related to this smart meter proposal.

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