Maine Issues RFP for Long Term Energy, Capacity Contracts

The Maine Public Utilities Commission has issued an RFP for long-term contracts for capacity, associated energy, and/or renewable energy credits (RECs) from qualifying resources.

"The objective of the RFP is to acquire long-term contracts that would reduce electricity costs for Maine consumers and/or serve as a hedge against price volatility," the PUC said.

Other factors, including the environmental and reliability attributes of the resources, may also be considered.

The RFP does not seek a specified quantity of capacity, energy, or RECs, nor does it prescribe a specific formula for determining how proposals will be selected.

The PUC has the authority to dispose of the products of the long-term contracts by selling such products into the market, with all customers paying for, or receiving benefits of, the contract, or by using the contracts to meet Standard Offer load. Under prior long-term contracts, the PUC has typically had the products sold into the market.

Qualifying resources include new and existing supply-side and demand-side resources.

Bidders selected will enter into long-term contracts with one or more of Maine's investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities - Central Maine Power Company (CMP), Bangor Hydro-Electric Company (BHE), and/or Maine Public Service Company (MPS)

Initial Proposals will be due on or before March 1, 2013.