N.Y. Delegates To Staff Review, Approval of REV Demonstration Projects (Community Choice Aggregation)

In adopting a joint proposal concerning Central Hudson Gas & Electric's current rate cases, the New York PSC affirmed its prior decision to delegate to PSC Staff the review and approval of demonstration projects to be proposed by the utility as part of the Reforming Energy Vision proceeding.

In the PSC's prior REV order, it had delegated review of the demonstration projects to Staff.

However, since Central Hudson has sought cost deferrals associated with such projects, which have been described in a prior status report but which have not yet been formally proposed for approval, the issue of requiring a Commission vote on any demonstration project was implicated in the case and debated.

At its meeting yesterday, the Commission affirmed that Staff will retain authority to review and approve the demonstration projects, to be evaluated based on the criteria previously adopted by the PSC in its REV order.

The decision is notable as one of the REV demonstration projects proposed at Central Hudson is an opt-out municipal aggregation in Ulster County, New York

Details on the CCA proposal can be found in our prior story (click here)