New York PSC Orders Creation Of Centralized Integrated Energy Data Resource

February 11, 2021

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Copyright 2010-21 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Paul Ring • ring@energychoicematters.com

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The New York PSC today ordered the creation of an integrated energy data resource (IEDR) that would provide a centralized platform for collecting, integrating, managing, and accessing customer and system data from New York State’s energy utilities.

Notably, the PSC did not in its order today address data access authorization and requirements.

"In a closely related part of this proceeding, the Commission is considering new state policies for a uniform and comprehensive Data Access Framework to govern the means and methods for accessing and protecting all types of energy-related information. Consequently, all aspects of implementing and operating the proposed IEDR must comply with any future policies adopted under a new Data Access Framework," the PSC said

The PSC designated NYSERDA as the IEDR Program Sponsor. In this role, NYSERDA will be responsible for defining, initiating, overseeing, and facilitating the IEDR Program on behalf of the State.

NYSERDA was ordered to file an initial Implementation Plan within 30 days.

The PSC directed that the following schedule be adopted: "Program Phase 1, the initial IEDR implementation, shall enable at least five of the highest priority use cases with the expectation that there could be ten or more achieved. Program Phase 2 shall expand and enhance the initial IEDR to enable approximately an additional forty use cases incrementally, by building upon the success of Phase 1. The total duration for enabling approximately 50 IEDR use cases shall be about 60 months. Phase 1 shall be completed in 24 – 30 months. Phase 2 shall be completed in 30 – 36 months. Operation of the utility’s IEDR data feeds shall persist for the life of the IEDR (multiple decades)."

The PSC further said, "Noting that the Joint Utilities recommend that the schedule should take into account the varying timelines of each utility’s current capabilities as it relates to collection and provision of the various data elements, the Commission defers decision of any phased implementation at the utility level to the design and development process to be carried out by the Project Manager."

An Advisory Group is to be created to inform and assist with implementation

The PSC ordered that, "The Advisory Group’s members shall be selected by the Steering Committee [composed of DPS and NYSERDA staff] and shall represent all relevant stakeholder groups including, but not limited to: DER developers; electric and gas utilities; energy consumers; state and local government entities; and interested industry groups."

The PSC did not specifically list ESCOs as a relevant stakeholder group

"The number and diversity of Advisory Group members should ensure adequate representation across stakeholder groups while remaining manageable," the PSC said

The Commission further directed that NYSERDA, as Project Sponsor, shall include a near-term process to solicit stakeholder comments addressing, at a minimum, initial use case prioritization along with the rationale supporting that use, prior to selection of a Program Manager and seating of the Advisory Group. "This widespread stakeholder outreach should result in a valuable information resource for the Program Manager and Advisory Group," the PSC said

The PSC noted that, "The Commission reiterates and affirms that data is owned by ratepayers and not the utilities. Nonetheless, management of data and providing useful access to useful information is a core business activity of New York’s utilities. For these reasons, the Commission directs NYSERDA to form a Utility Coordination Group as a necessary component of the IEDR Program execution. The Utility Coordination Group shall include members of the Steering Committee (DPS Staff and NYSERDA) or designees, Project Sponsor, Program Manager, Staff Resource for Utility Data Systems, and the senior-level leader of each utility IEDR implementation team, which the Commission directs be formed at each utility. The Utility Coordination Group will also be used to assure alignment of implementation schedules and policies of the IEDR and the potential Data Access Framework. NYSERDA, as Project Sponsor, shall include the formation of the Utility Coordination Group in its Implementation Plan."

Case 20-M-0082

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