Texas PUC Won't Consider As Part Of CenterPoint-TDU Rate Case Application To Install Voltage-Regulation Battery Assets

The Public Utility Commission of Texas issued a preliminary order in CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric (CEHE, or CenterPoint), LLC's newly filed rate case.

Under the preliminary order, the PUC held that the issue of whether CEHE should be permitted to install voltage-regulation battery assets should not be addressed in the rate case

"The Texas Legislature is currently discussing the issue of battery storage. Given the pending litigation and the far-reaching policy implications of CenterPoint's proposal, the Commission finds that this case is not the appropriate forum to decide the issues raised by CenterPoint's request to install voltage-regulation battery assets," the PUC stated

CEHE's request under its rate application for authority to install voltage regulation battery technology, "when necessary and cost-effective," to provide voltage regulation associated with solar farms, wind generation, and other forms of distributed generation that are expected to be connected to the company’s facilities in the coming months and years had been first reported by EnergyChoiceMatters.com (see story here)

Furthermore, in the preliminary order, the PUC held that the issue of whether CEHE should be permitted to modify its tariff to add an additional allowance for facility extensions to electric vehicle charging stations should not be addressed in the rate case

"The Commission currently has a project open to address issues related to electric vehicle charging stations. Because the issues raised by CenterPoint's request are better addressed in the project than in this litigated case, and because inclusion of the issue within this case could limit the Commission's or CenterPoint's ability to participate in the project, the Commission directs the parties not to address CenterPoint's request for the additional allowance," the PUC stated

Docket 49421