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Bonneville Power Administration
An Explanation and Description of the
Conservation and Renewables Discount
Table of Contents
1. Framework for the C&R Discount
1.1 Program Objectives
1.2 Key Desired Features
1.3 Power Subscription Strategy
1.4 Decisionmaking Forums for C&RD Issues
2. C&RD Decisions Addressed in the Rate Case
2.1 Amount of Funds Available
2.2 Allocation between Categories
2.3 Leveraging, Incremental Investments and Exemptions
2.4 Forecasting and Local Control
2.5 Rate Design and Billing Procedures
2.6 Accountability
3. Regional Technical Forum (RTF) Support for the C&RD
3.1 List of Qualifying Measures
3.2 Process for Approving the RTF's Recommendations
4. C&RD Implementation Issues
4.1 Customer Options for Conservation
4.2 Pooling, Trading and Banking Credits
4.3 Tracking and Reporting
5. Criteria for Renewable Resources Eligible for the C&RD
5.1 Type of Resource
5.2 Location of Resource
5.3 When Should a Resource Become Eligible for the
Credit
5.4 Resources Should Reduce Bonneville's Load Obligation
5.5 Amount of C&RD Credit Available
5.6 Other Qualifying Expenditures 10
Appendices
A. RTF Work Products Needed to Facilitate BPA's
C&RD
B. Small Utility Track
C. Proposed Option B: Incentive Level Calculation Methodology
D. Proposed Rules for Pooling Organizations
1. Framework for the C&R Discount
One of the four fundamental goals that drove BPA's final Power Subscription
Strategy issued on December 21, 1998 was to:
Provide market incentives for the development of conservation and
renewables as part of a broader BPA leadership role in the regional effort
to capture the value of these and other emerging technologies.
Accordingly, BPA announced its intent to offer a conservation and renewables
discount program in the final Power Subscription Strategy as part of this
effort to take a renewed leadership role in encouraging the development
of more energy efficiency, renewable resources and new distributed energy
technologies in the Pacific Northwest. BPA believes that the region will
realize substantial value through lower energy costs, less pollution emissions,
less investment in transmission and distribution infrastructure, better
customer service, and higher reliability by taking advantage of these resources
and technologies. This becomes especially important when the region is
not in a power surplus situation, and new generation resources are being
developed.
BPA wants to be a regional catalyst for capturing this value primarily
through market mechanisms. The conservation and renewables discount (C&RD)
proposal is one important means of accomplishing this goal. This document
presents the latest information about BPA's C&RD. It is designed to
facilitate the understanding and discussion that is needed as BPA refines
the program as part of its process for establishing power rates for its
fiscal years 2002 through 2006.
1.1 Program Objectives
The objectives for BPA's C&RD program are as follows:
-
Support the Comprehensive Review's recommendation of dedicating "3 percent
of the revenues from the sale of electricity services" to cost-effective
conservation, renewable resource development and low-income weatherization
in the Pacific Northwest;
-
Continue BPA's role as a catalyst in furthering the region's own public
purposes goals;
-
Support state legislatures and regional power planning organizations as
they establish direction for the region's development of conservation and
renewable resources;
-
Produce real, measurable efficiency gains and renewable energy supplies;
and
-
Support and maintain BPA's competitive rate position in the power market.
1.2 Key Desired Features
In addition to the objectives outlined above, BPA has worked with a
broad range of customers and public interest group representatives to identify
the following key features that the C&RD program should strive to accomplish:
-
Voluntary choice by power customers of whether and to what extent they
participate;
-
Local control of funds spent;
-
Support for power customers would be proportional to the amount of power
purchased from BPA;
-
Does not increase BPA's fixed costs, including no "centralized BPA funding"
for conservation;
-
Maximizes power customer participation in the discount program;
-
Simple to administer; integrates easily with power customers? current financial
reporting requirements; minimal administrative overhead/costs;
-
Avoids having BPA or anyone else serve as the "conservation cop"; and
-
Accountability for cost-effective energy savings and renewables investments
is maintained at the regional level.
Although these objectives and desired features may set up potential conflicts,
BPA views the creative tension that results from having to accommodate
a variety of interests and concerns in determining how to achieve
these directives to be beneficial. Our efforts to develop a viable C&RD
program that will work for the region, and the power customers who will
be responsible for its ultimate implementation, can only improve through
such a healthy debate.
1.3 Power Subscription Strategy
BPA issued its Power Subscription Proposal on September 18, 1998.
In anticipation of having a conservation and renewables discount mechanism
in BPA's Power Subscription Strategy Proposal, BPA formed a Conservation
and Renewables Discount Working Group (C&RDWG). This Working Group
met seven times over a six-month period to discuss how the C&RD might
work. In addition, comments received during the Subscription Proposal's
public review process raised several issues and concerns about the proposed
C&R discount. To facilitate responding to these concerns, the C&RDWG
established six subcommittees to delve into specific issues and prepare
recommendations for BPA to consider as it formulated the C&R discount
for BPA's initial power rates proposal. These subcommittees conducted 26
meetings over a two-month period. BPA's final Power Subscription Strategy
(issued on December 21, 1999) presented information about BPA's "leanings"
and direction with respect to the C&RD program. The information and
discussions provided by the C&RDWG, including the six subcommittees,
contributed significantly in helping BPA shape the C&RD program that
is included in the initial rate case proposal.
1.4 Decisionmaking Forums for C&RD Issues
Basically, there are three forums for C&RD decisions. First, there
is BPA's Rate Case for FY 2002 ? 2006. This is where most of the "policy"
decisions will be made, especially the decisions associated with rate levels
and implications. The second forum for C&RD related-decisions is the
NPPC's Regional Technical Forum (RTF) and the related follow-on BPA decision
process. BPA has asked the RTF to recommend a list of measures that should
qualify for the C&RD. The RTF will run a separate, independent public
process to develop this list of measures and submit their recommendations
for BPA's consideration and approval. BPA will conduct a public process
during the Fall of 2000 to adopt the RTF recommendations. The third public
forum will deal with C&RD "implementation details" and other administrative
type issues. This third process will be conducted by BPA beginning in the
Fall of 1999.
The following sections of this summary provide information about BPA's
current thinking on C&RD issues that will be addressed in each of these
three forums.
2. C&RD Decisions Addressed in
the Rate Case
This section outlines the C&RD decisions BPA has made for the initial
power rate proposal scheduled for release August 1999.
2.1 Amount of Funds Available
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Base Level of the Discount: 0.5 mills per kWh placed on BPA (roughly
$30 million per year).
-
Dividend Sharing: the first $15 million of any "dividend" distribution
would be available to all C&RD eligible customers as an additional
credit (roughly 0.25 mills) for spending on incremental conservation and
renewable activities.
-
Allocation Supplement: after the first year of the rate period,
BPA will evaluate the allocation of spending for conservation, renewables
and low-income weatherization. {Out of the $30 million, renewables is
expected to receive about $6 million in investment and low-income weatherization
about $4 million according to the Comprehensive Review percentage of spending
recommendations.} If either of these purposes receives less than those
amounts in year one of the rate period from the aggregated total of individual
customer choices, then BPA will make up the difference between actual spending
levels in year one and these amounts in year two through its own supplemental
spending. Succeeding years of the rate period would receive comparable
treatment.
2.2 Allocation Between Categories
BPA will not specify any power customer-level allocation or requirement
for expenditures between the categories of conservation, renewable resources
and low-income weatherization.
2.3 Leveraging, Incremental Investments and
Exemptions
-
Leveraging: the "base" amount will be reimbursed on a dollar credit
for dollar spent basis up to the customer's total discount amount; the
"dividend" amount will be leveraged a dollar credit for every two dollars
spent.
-
Incremental Investments: to encourage additional investment in conservation,
BPA will ask that customers certify that their application for the C&R
discount is incremental to the conservation investments they would have
made absent the C&RD program. For the IOUs, the State PUC should participate
in that determination. For the public utilities, a certification by each
utility's Board will be requested.
-
Low Income Investments: power customer expenditures for approved
low income weatherization measures do not have to be incremental.
-
Renewable Resources: renewable resource investments that qualify
for the C&RD credit will be incremental by definition.
-
Exemptions: if states, municipalities or other governmental entities
require a utility to invest in new conservation and/or a new renewable
resource project, then such actions will obviate the incremental certification
requirement. Furthermore, any utility that is spending 3% or more of their
retail revenues on qualifying conservation and/or renewable investments
during the next rate period will receive the full discount they are eligible
for and not be asked to certify that their spending is incremental.
2.4 Forecasting and Local Control
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Forecasting: each utility's amount of discount available will be
forecasted annually based on the load specified in their BPA contract prior
to the start of each fiscal year. For the full requirements customers,
BPA will use the Subscription Inventory Commitment amount for C&RD
forecasting and planning purposes. Annual Adjustments will be made to reflect
any significant changes in the load placed on BPA.
-
Local Control: all decisions about what the power customer does
with respect to their conservation and renewable investments are up to
the customer (i.e., they maintain local control over developing and managing
their efforts based on the list of qualifying measures and other program
criteria).
2.5 Rate Design and Billing Procedures
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Applicable Rate Schedules: the C&RD applies to customer loads
served by the PF-02, NR-02 and RL-02 rates, to include Slice, exchange
and pre-subscription customers whose contracts reference the new rate schedules.
-
DSI Rates: As described in the Compromise Approach, DSIs will be
eligible for the C&RD, subject to the same standards and procedures
as utilities participating in the C&RD.
-
IOU Loads: the C&RD credit will only be available for qualifying
measures that are applied to the IOU residential and small farm loads that
benefit from BPA power purchases.
-
GRSP Language: the C&RD will be implemented through language
in the General Rate Schedule Provisions (GRSPs).
-
Load Determination: BPA will use the contract (or the agreed upon
annual forecasted) load amount for C&RD planning and billing purposes
(i.e., the C&RD will not be adjusted for routine load variations during
the year).
-
Billing Information: BPA will include an item on each eligible customer's
power bill showing the amount discounted (monthly and cumulatively) in
expectation of full participation in the C&RD program. This amount
will offset the customer's pro rata share of additional revenue
collected for the discount activity. Based on the loads established for
item 5 above, eligible customers will see zero rate impact on a monthly
billing basis.
-
Adjustments Based on Invoices: power customers will submit their
invoice {certified as incremental spending} of C&RD expenditures
annually and BPA would adjust the C&RD information on the cumulative
and monthly bill line items, accordingly.
-
Reimbursement: a "true up" will occur at the end of the rate period
or the contract period, whichever is shorter (i.e., C&RD expenditures
{certified
as incremental spending} compared to amount of C&RD credit available:
if less, reimburse BPA the difference; if expenditures are equal to or
greater, then the customer's obligation is achieved).
2.6 Accountability
-
Financial Audits: BPA will have the right to conduct financial audits
on those activities for which a C&RD credit is claimed.
-
Customer-Level Accountability: accountability at the power customer
level is financial only (tracking and reporting the money spent on qualifying
measures).
3. Regional Technical (RTF) Support
for the C&RD
In a letter dated February 24, 1999, BPA requested that the Northwest
Power Planning Council (NPPC) allow the RTF to support BPA's C&RD efforts
by recommending a comprehensive list of energy efficiency measures and
renewable resources actions that are predetermined to qualify for the discount
(see
Appendix A). Accordingly, the RTF was established and its charter approved
by the NPPC on June 30, 1999. It is anticipated that they will submit their
C&RD recommendations to BPA by no later than September 2000.
3.1 List of Qualifying Measures
3.1.1 RTF Support: BPA requested that the NWPPC's RTF develop
a recommended list of qualifying measures for C&RD consideration by
no later than September 2000.
3.1.2 Measure List: the list of measures should be extensive,
covering a broad range of measures, projects and activities that qualify
for the discount (see Appendix A for details).
3.1.3 Evaluation of Savings: BPA asked the RTF to conduct periodic
energy savings performance evaluations, but only at the regional level,
with appropriate power customer involvement, for future adjustments to
the savings credited for measures and program designs.
3.2 Process for Approving the RTF's Recommendations
BPA will conduct a public process to adopt/approve, with appropriate
modifications, the list of recommended measures submitted by the RTF, to
include establishing the amount of the discount credit available for each
measure on the approved list to conclude by no later than January 2001.
This process will also be used to identify the "reduced list" for Option
A customers discussed below.
4. C&RD Implementation Issues
Beginning in the Fall of 1999, BPA will conduct a separate forum/process
for determining the amount of credit available to participating customers
for the support services (i.e., non-savings activities and costs) associated
with running the C&RD program (i.e., administrative, advertising, evaluation,
R&D, etc.). RTF input was requested for conservation and renewables
RD&D related activities.
4.1 Customer Options for Conservation
4.1.1 Small Utility Option: those customers who purchase 7.5
or less aMW from BPA will have the ability to choose an alternative approach
with minimal requirements (see Appendix B for details).
4.1.2 Other Utility Options: customers who purchase more than
7.5 aMW from BPA will have a choice between the following two options:
Option A ? Cost Reimbursement: Full cost reimbursement on a dollar-for-dollar
basis without regard to energy efficiency cost-effectiveness, to include
the following criteria: (1) a cap on the amount of administrative costs
that can be charged, expressed as a percentage of the total discount amount
available. This percentage would be variable according to the size of the
utility and its system density (that is, the allowable percentage is higher
for smaller or lower density utilities); (2) a similar cap on the percentage
of expenditures for advertising and promotional expenses; (3) for investments
in utility system upgrades (i.e., "own facility" investments), only the
additional costs attributable to energy efficiency improvements (calculated
from engineering estimates) would qualify for the discount, not the full
cost of the system upgrade (i.e., reducing line losses would be eligible,
but capacitor replacements to improve power factor would not); and (4)
a reduced list of pre-approved measures would have some controversial measures
that are clearly not cost-effective either removed from the list, or would
qualify only for the portion of the cost that was cost-effective from an
energy efficiency standpoint. OR
Option B ? Cost Plus: A customer's conservation discount is capped
by their aggregate cost-effectiveness limit (i.e., measure specific cost-effectiveness
can be combined for a total utility aggregate number), to include access
to the full pre-approved C&RD list of conservation measures. Also,
Option B customers will have an incentive component {see Appendix C
for an explanation of a proposed incentive formula} that encourages
investments in the more cost-effective measures.
4.1.3 Selecting an Option: customers can choose only one option
for the entire rate period or contract period, whichever is shorter.
4.1.4 No Mixing Customers: from a pooling standpoint, organizations
of customers will not be allowed to mix together Option A and Option B
customers.
4.1.5 No Low Density Accommodation: no special accommodation
for low density utilities will be included in the C&RD Program beyond
that outlined in the under 7.5 aMW alternative.
4.1.6
BPA Support: BPA pledges to work closely with those utilities wishing
assistance in finding effective ways in which to invest their conservation
money locally.
4.2 Pooling, Trading and Banking Credits
4.2.1 Pooling: organizations of BPA's power customers authorized
to implement conservation and renewable resource programs for their member
utilities will be allowed to pool C&RD credits across the service territories
of the organization's member utilities. {see Appendix D for a proposed
list of rules for pooling organizations; these rules will be finalized
as part of the Implementation Issues process this Fall}
4.2.2 Trading: there will be no trading of C&RD credits.
4.2.3 Banking Credits: power customers can carry over or "bank"
both positive or negative C&RD credits for more than one year up to
the total C&RD credit amount available, but they can not carry them
beyond the contract or rate period which ever is shorter.
4.3 Tracking and Reporting
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Tracking and Reporting: tracking and reporting C&RD results
will flow from the power customers? annual financial reports that are certified
as incremental spending which are submitted to receive the C&RD credit.
-
Renewables: for renewables, the credit will be based on the annual
electrical output of any eligible project in which the customer invested/purchased.
This annual statement of production will be used to track and report renewable
resource accomplishments.
-
RTF Reports: BPA will ask the RTF to provide information about the
regionwide C&RD program accomplishments (kWhs saved for conservation;
kWhs delivered for renewables) on an annual basis. Again, this information
will be based on the annual invoices submitted by power customers annually
to receive their C&RD credit.
5. Criteria for Renewable Resources
Eligible for the C&RD
The C&RD approach is designed to encourage incremental renewable
resource development in the PNW. The developer will carry risks associated
with renewable resource development. The following provides more detailed
information about C&RD eligibility criteria for renewable resources.
5.1 Type of Resource
Energy from the following types of renewable resources and activities
will be eligible for the discount:
5.1.1 Solar: electricity produced by solar heat and light.
This includes power from solar Photovoltaic systems and solar thermal systems.
5.1.2 Wind: facilities that capture wind energy to drive an electric
generator.
5.1.3
Geothermal: facilities using naturally-occurring underground heat
to generate electricity.
5.1.4
Biomass: facilities that generate electricity using heat derived
from combustion of plant matter, or from combustion of gases or liquids
derived from animal waste or sewage, or from combustion of gases (but not
toxic liquids) derived from plant matter, or from combustion of gases derived
from landfills, or which derive hydrogen from these same sources to generate
electricity using fuel cells.
5.1.5
Hydroelectric: hydropower facilities outside of protected areas
as defined by the Northwest Power Planning Council and other federal or
state agencies and applicable statutes.
5.1.6
Direct Application Renewables: equipment such as solar water heaters
that convert energy from renewable sources directly to useful non-electric
products to reduce the electric power requirements of a utility customer.
5.1.7 Hybrid facilities: the net electricity produced by the
qualifying renewable fraction.
5.2 Location of Resources
Energy must be produced from facilities meeting the following location
criteria:
5.2.1 Located in the Pacific Northwest Region as defined by the Northwest
Power Act;
5.2.2 The currently permitted Wyoming Wind Project at Foote Creek Rim and Simpson
Ridge in Carbon County, Wyoming, with the exception of the 41.4-MW Phase
I development at Foote Creek Rim;
5.2.3 Geothermal projects developed at the Glass Mountain, California, Known
Geothermal Resource Area; or
5.2.4 Projects shown by the applicant to substantially displace operation of
regional generation resources (subject to BPA approval).
5.3 When Should a Resource Become Eligible for
the Credit
5.3.1 Facilities that begin commercial operation after May 1, 1999,
will be eligible for the credit.
5.3.2 The resource must be online by the end of the rate period.
5.4 Resources Should Reduce Bonneville's Load Obligation
Credit will apply to regional resources that are used to serve customers?
loads and which therefore reduce Bonneville's load obligation. The credit
will not apply to resources sold outside the region.
5.5 Amount of C&RD Credit Available
The amount of credit earned by eligible facilities in Categories I,
II, and III will be based on actual net generation. The amount of the C&RD
credit earned by eligible facilities or activities are as follows:
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Category I
|
Category II
|
Category III
|
Unmetered Resources
|
Research & Development
|
| Resource Type |
New solar facilities
|
New geothermal or wind facilities
|
New biomass or hydro facilities
Expansion of or addition to an existing geothermal, solar, wind, biomass
or hydro facility
|
Direct-application renewables+
Unmetered customer-side generating resources
|
Wind or solar resource assessment*
Other RD&D, as approved by the BPA
New technologies**
|
| Credit |
20 mills/kWh
|
15 mills/kWh
|
10 mills/kWh
|
"Deemed" output
|
Full cost reimbursement#
|
+ These resources are too small to meter and will be treated like
conservation (i.e., customers choose one of three options: under 7.5 aMWs,
Option A or B, as discussed earlier).
* Wind or solar resource assessment refers to the existing programs
administered by Oregon State University and the University of Oregon, respectively.
** What constitutes a "new technology" and the appropriate level of
credit will be determined by the BPA on a case-by-case basis.
# Capped by the amount of the C&RD available to the customer.
5.6 Other Qualifying Expenditures
5.6.1 Costs incurred by Bonneville customer utilities to encourage
development of qualifying consumer-owned distributed generation facilities.
Costs associated with activities such as low-cost loans, grants, and design
and installation services would be included. The credit applicable to unmetered
generating facilities and direct application facilities will be established
(deemed) and recommended by the RTF to BPA for approval and generally based
on the Category I and II per kilowatt-hour credits described below.
5.6.2 Expenditures on qualifying renewable resource R&D activities
? The RTF should develop and recommend for BPA approval a list of preapproved
R&D activities. BPA will consider other R&D activities on a case-by-case
basis, using criteria tied to the objectives described above. Information
from qualifying R&D activities should be publicly available. Preapproved
activities may include funding for regional wind and solar data collection.
5.6.3 Purchases of "green power," as long as the facility supplying
the power meets the other eligibility criteria and documentation, can be
provided upon request.
5.6.4 A green power purchase from Bonneville, if Bonneville invests
the proceeds of the sale in new renewable resources. The amount of credit
would be the difference between the average cost of the Bonneville power
the green power replaces (e.g., PF-02) and the price of the Bonneville
green power product.
5.6.5 Donations to the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, to the extent
the donation is dedicated to the purchase of new renewable resources and
R&D activities meeting the other eligibility criteria.
5.6.6 Other incentives or credits received by a qualifying project (e.g., the
Federal Renewable Energy Production Incentive) will not be a consideration
in deciding whether a proposed facility should receive a credit under this
program, nor would it reduce the amount of credit received.
Appendix A
RTF Work Products Needed to Facilitate
BPA's Conservation & Renewables Discount
The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is responsible for developing
a list of measures that will qualify for its conservation and renewables
discount (C&RD) and the level of credit available for any given measure
on the list. BPA is requesting that the Northwest Power Planning Council's
(Council) proposed Regional Technical Forum (RTF) Advisory Committee identify
and recommend a list of qualifying measures and related information that
BPA can consider for use in the C&RD program. With respect to the C&RD
program, BPA views the work of the RTF to be advisory and technical in
nature. BPA may approve or modify the list and establish the amount of
discount available for each measure on the approved list through a separate
process after the RTF submits the list of recommended measures to BPA.
In another independent process, BPA will addresses the amount of credit
available for the activities and costs associated with running the C&RD
program (i.e., administrative, advertising, evaluation, R&D, etc.)
that do not directly result in electricity savings or production.
Information Requested from the RTF
-
The RTF should prepare a comprehensive list of recommended conservation
and renewables RD&D measures by no later than September 1, 2000. In
establishing the list, the RTF should include, but not be limited to, consideration
of the following types of activities:
-
the full range of conservation measures and demand-side energy efficiency
activities for which "deemed" savings can be determined;
-
appropriate program standards and guidelines;
-
renewable resource RD&D options;
-
quality control criteria for the direct application renewables and distributed
resources, with consideration of criteria that have been developed by states
and others;
-
efficiencies in utility transmission and distribution systems;
-
Federal and state-mandated public purpose utility activities and programs;
-
alternatives for contributing funds to energy efficiency and renewables-related
organizations and activities (e.g., the Bonneville Environmental Foundation
(BEF), the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA), local low-income
weatherization programs, etc.);
-
"reductions in electric power consumption as a result of increases in the
efficiency of energy production?" (see Sec. 3.(3), 1980 Power Act); and
-
"Reductions" in electric power consumption as a result of increases in
the efficiency of energy consumption (operational adjustments, maintenance
procedure changes, behavioral modifications, training, etc.).
-
Protocols or methodologies for identifying the energy savings and value
of conservation in unique facilities and situations (e.g., large commercial/industrial
sites).
-
A process for resolving differences between sponsors? estimates of savings
and the"deemed" amount for measures on the list.
-
Measures on the RTF recommended conservation list should have three components:
(a) the Definition of the Measure;
(b) the Definition of the Electricity
Savings; and
(c) the Definition of the Value to the Region (from an electric system
standpoint).
-
The RTF should develop the C&RD conservation list in a very collaborative
manner with ample opportunities for BPA's customers and other interested
parties to participate in the process.
- The RTF should establish a procedure and schedule for updating
the C&RD list.
- The RTF should establish a procedure for tracking and reporting C&RD
results per dollar allocation of spending, at a regional level. Information
about the allocation of spending among conservation, renewables and low-income
weatherization as outlined by the Comprehensive review in Table 1 of their
Dec. 12, 1996 report should be included.
Definition of Conservation Measures
-
For the list of "standard" qualifying measures, where possible, the RTF
should include two or more different levels of quality assurance as part
of the measure description. These quality assurance definitions should
be based on existing information and historical experience. In addition,
the RTF should define a protocol for customers who want to pursue measures
where no quality assurance definition is provided.
-
The RTF should define the "baseline" from which savings will be identified
for measures or measure categories on the list. These baselines should
reflect what is standard practice absent customer efforts. This should
include protocols for establishing "baselines" for non-standard measures.
Also, the RTF should identify parameters for when the "baseline" will change.
-
Fuel switching and load building activities should not be included on the
list of qualifying measures.
Definition of Conservation Savings
-
The value of the savings should reflect the higher confidence and precision
resulting from the more defensible predictions of energy savings and the
greater likelihood of effective installations corresponding to the level
of quality assurance undertaken. Estimates of savings should take into
consideration climatic information and should describe the seasonal and
daily shape of the savings where appropriate.
-
The RTF should look at modifications in the established baseline for measures
on the list, especially if there are adjustments in relevant Federal standards
or State energy codes. These changes should be reflected in the approved
list of qualifying measures (measure by measure) on a real-time basis,
rather than waiting for a wholesale update of the entire list.
Definition of Conservation Value
- For determining the value of the measures on the list, the RTF should
use the life of the measure.
- The shape of the savings (daily and seasonally) should be considered
in order to value both capacity and energy, when it is reasonably feasible
to do so.
- The RTF should advise BPA on which procedure they used for determining
avoided costs to the system for establishing the savings value for measures
on the list.
- In determining value to the system, the RTF should take into consideration,
where feasible, the relationship to load centers/distribution/transmission
benefits, etc.
- Electricity savings and total energy savings, when appropriate,
should be taken into consideration when establishing the value of measures
on the list.
Evaluation of Conservation
In support of BPA's C&RD program, the RTF may be requested to perform
a limited number of targeted evaluations. These evaluations would focus
on those measures or programs for which there is little evaluation information
and that are accounting for relatively large proportions of the available
discount. The information developed through these evaluations would be
used only to improve estimates of the achievable savings on a going forward
basis. This information would not be used to highlight any individual utility's
performance or to retroactively reclaim any discount already earned.
Renewables
With respect to renewables, the RTF should:
-
Develop a list of pre-approved RD&D activities.
-
Develop quality assurance criteria for direct application renewables and
distributed resources that will be credited based on a "deemed" amount
of output. (The RTF should consider applicable existing criteria when
establishing criteria for direct application and distributed resources.)
-
Develop evaluation criteria for RD&D proposals and play an ongoing
role in determining whether or not a proposed activity is RD&D on a
case-by-case basis.
-
Develop criteria for determining what constitutes a "new" facility, as
opposed to an expansion or addition.
-
When requested by BPA, assist in evaluating proposals for which eligibility
may be unclear. (For example, the RTF may be asked to help determine
the eligibility of a facility that is located outside the region but also
displaces regional resources.)
Appendix B
BPA's Conservation and Renewables Discount
The Small Utility Track
Those utilities eligible and participating in the small
utility track would receive their full BPA conservation credit by certifying
in an annual letter to BPA that they have provided their customers the
small utility track elements listed below.
The small utility track is strictly voluntary. A small
utility may choose to seek eligibility for the credit under the regular
program. Or the small utility may choose to do nothing; although in that
case, the utility would not be eligible for the credit.
Utility Responsibilities
- 1. The utility shall make available to all residential
customers of the utility information about:
- cost effective energy conservation measures;
- energy conservation measure financing available to
utility customers; and
- energy conservation or renewable resource incentives such as state
tax credits or low interest loans.
- Upon customer request, the utility shall provide or
arrange to provide an energy assessment of the customer's dwelling.
- The utility may satisfy the requirements above by:
(a) joining an energy conservation organization (to take advantage of the
pooling of C&RD credits approach); (b) contracting with an energy service
provider; or (c) another utility.
- Those utilities eligible for the Low Density Discount
may alternatively to #s 1 and 2 above provide appropriate energy efficiency
information to their irrigation and agricultural customers.
- The utility shall provide BPA an annual letter certifying
the above requirements have been met (typically, these letters are signed
by the utility Board).
OR
The utility can simply participate in the regular C&RD program offered
to BPA's power customers.
BPA Responsibilities
- BPA shall make available to its small track utilities a sample customer
information letter or bill stuffer to meet the requirements of #1 above.
- BPA shall make available to its small track utilities its Northwest
Energy Efficiency Business Listing and the list of energy services firms
and organizations which have a signed business alliance agreement with
BPA.
-
BPA shall be a conduit for providing information about conservation and
renewables information through its small utility account executives (i.e.,
NEEA programs and activities, DOE, EPRI and E-Source information, etc.).
Appendix C
INCENTIVE COMPONENT FOR OPTION B OF THE CONSERVATION
DISCOUNT PROGRAM
PARTIAL REQUIREMENTS CUSTOMERS ONLY
Below is the rationale and proposed methodology for calculating incentives
under Option B (cost plus choice) of the Conservation Discount offered
by Bonneville.
I. Key policy recommendations affecting incentive calculations include
the following:
-
Utility customers or organizations of customers shall declare either Option
A or Option B. They may not switch between options A and B during the entire
rate period or contract period.
-
Organizations of customers may not mix together Option A and Option B.
-
The maximum utility credit shall be the utility load capped at .05 mills
times the load placed on BPA.
-
The calculation of the incentive will be based on the aggregated incremental
energy savings and value generated by the C&RD Program. Individual
measures or parts of programs will not be considered separately from the
entire program. The one exception is the low-income program.
-
Low-income program costs shall be fully reimbursed on a dollar- for - dollar
basis for qualified measures (we may consider reimbursing costs as a percentage
of the proportion of load on BPA).
-
A Conservation Efficiency Credit is 25 percent of the difference between
the proportion of cost and the proportion of value created.
-
The incentive will be driven by the costs, value and savings resulting
from the utility's incremental C&RD spending. The incremental spending
is the additional amount that the utility would have spent over and above
what they would have done in the absence of the C&RD Program.
II. The methodology for determining the incentive payment for incremental
conservation under Option B is derived by totaling the low-income program
costs, qualifying (non-low income) program costs, and the conservation
efficiency credit. To arrive at these three figures, the following calculations
on program costs and conservation value must be made. Calculate the:
-
Maximum Utility Credit by multiplying the average megawatt load
placed on BPA by 0.5 mills/kWh.
-
Eligible Conservation Costs by subtracting low-income costs from
the incremental utility or organization's C&RD Program costs.
-
Conservation Value to the region directly from the deemed savings
list of Qualifying Measures for C&RD.
-
Proportional Utility Incentive of the value of the conservation
the utility or organization is eligible to claim by dividing the load placed
on BPA by the utility's total load.
-
Proportional Value of conservation the utility or organization is
eligible to claim by multiplying the total deemed savings value (c) by
the percentage of the total value of conservation the utility or organization
is entitled to claim (d).
-
Proportional Program Costs by multiplying non-low income program
costs (b) by the proportional Utility Incentive (d).
-
Delta Value of conservation by subtracting the proportional program
costs (f) from the proportional value of conservation (e).
-
Conservation Efficiency Credit designated as .25.
-
Amount of Conservation Efficiency Credit is simply the Conservation
Efficiency Credit (.25) times the Delta Value (g).
III. An illustration of Option B calculations based on a hypothetical
utility.
The following illustrates the amount of reimbursement credit a utility
approximately the size of EWEB would receive under Option B if the utility
spent only an incremental $500k on conservation, including $50k for low-income
weatherization, and their total MW load was 250 with a proportional load
on BPA of 100 AMW.
| Average megawatt load placed on
BPA |
100
|
(or 8760,000 kWh x 100 AMW ) |
| |
X .5mills
|
per kWh |
| |
$438k
|
(a) Maximum Utility
Conservation Credit |
| Utility Load on BPA |
100 AMW
|
|
| Total Utility Load |
250 AMW
|
|
| |
.40%
|
(d) Proportional Utility
Incentive |
| |
|
|
| Utility Conservation Cost |
$500k
|
|
| Low-Income Program Cost |
-$50k
|
|
| Non low-Income Program Costs |
$450k
|
(b) Eligible Conservation
Costs |
| |
|
|
| ( c) Savings value from
QM list |
$2,000k
|
|
| (d) Proportional Utility
Share |
x .40
|
|
| |
$800k
|
(e) Proportional Value
of Conservation |
| (b) Qualifying Conservation
Costs |
$450k
|
|
| (d) Proportional Utility
Share |
x .40k
|
|
| |
$180k
|
(f) Proportional Program
Costs |
| (e) Proportional Value
of Conservation |
$800k
|
|
| (f) Proportional Program
Costs |
-180k
|
|
| |
620k
|
(g) Delta Value of Conservation |
| (h) Conservation Efficiency
Credit |
x .25
|
|
| |
$155k
|
(i) Conservation Efficiency
Credit |
| Low-Income Program Costs |
$50k
|
|
| (f) Proportional Program
Costs |
$180k
|
|
| (i) Amount of Conservation
Efficiency Credit |
$155k
|
|
| |
$385k
|
Utility Payment For Incremental
Conservation under Option B |
Appendix D
Bonneville Power Administration
Conservation and Renewables Discount
Proposed Rules for Pooling Organizations
To facilitate effective and efficient implementation of
the C&RD, BPA's power customers are authorized to implement conservation
and renewables resource programs that qualify for C&RD through agreements
with organizations that implement conservation programs, renewables programs,
or both. Implementation of programs, reporting and other responsibilities
to qualify for and receive the C&RD may be assigned to such organizations
and pooled among member utilities and within the service boundaries of
the members. For the purposes of the C&RD program, the following rules
shall apply for organizations and their member utilities:
-
There must be a separate and distinct agreement between BPA,
the organization and its member utilities that authorizes the organization
to provide C&RD program information and reports to BPA on behalf of
the member utilities. This agreement will permit implementation records
to be kept on behalf of the member organizations and the submission of
an annual report that covers all members, and will exempt BPA from responsibility
for performance or financial agreements between the association's members.
The agreement between member utilities and the implementing organization
must authorize BPA to audit records to insure that the requirements have
been met for the discount claimed in behalf of the member utilities.
-
BPA's GRSPs will stipulate that it is OK for organizations
to implement the C&RD for its member utilities provided an agreement
(as mentioned in item 1 above) is in place.
-
All member utilities must commit their entire C&R discount amount available
to them during the rate period (10/1/2001 through 9/30/2006) for the entire
rate or BPA power sales contract period, whichever is shorter.
That is, member utilities will not be allowed to withdraw their C&RD
credit from the organization after one or more years and they must commit
100% of the C&RD credit for the 5-year rate period to the organization.
(In fact, what member utilities are doing is allowing the organization
to implement the C&RD program for them, to include providing to BPA
information on annual expenditures under the program for which they are
claiming the C&RD credit and any "true up" adjustments that may be
required at the end of the contract or rate period.)
-
Rights and responsibilities for C&RD may not be further
assigned without the express written agreement of BPA.
-
Utility members and the organization agree that BPA will
allocate any C&RD credits earned on behalf of member utilities on a
pro rata basis for the total C&RD amount authorized for C&RD credits
and reported annually by the organization.
-
Each member utility is required to separately submit to BPA
an annual certification of incremental spending from their Board. This
documentation should accompany the annual invoice of expenditures that
will be provided by the organization. (The expenditures will be made
by the organization assigned responsibility for implementation and reporting
the C&RD program it member utilities.
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