South Carolina Opens Dockets To Address Competitive Energy Supply Programs Required Under New Law

The South Carolina PSC has formally docketed proceedings to address Section 58-41-30 of recently adopted H3659, which requires utilities to file proposed competitive renewable energy supply programs

EnergyChoiceMatters.com was first to report final passage of the law last month

In brief, the law directs the creation of a renewable energy competitive supply program for large customers that would allow for such customers to select a renewable energy facility and negotiate with the renewable energy supplier on the price to be paid by the participating customer for the energy, capacity, and environmental attributes of the renewable energy facility.

However many details of the program are left to the PSC (including the amount of any fees), and the viability of such program will be dependent on implementation at the PSC

See our prior story for the specific terms required for the programs that are contained in the law

An eligible customer is a customer with a new or existing contract demand greater than or equal to one megawatt at a single-metered location or aggregated across multiple-metered locations.

Consistent with the law, the PSC directed that utilities file their proposals by September 13, 2019. Utilities seeking a determination that an existing program meets the statutory conditions must notify the PSC within 45 days.

The dockets opened to consider the competitive renewable supply programs are:

• 2019-207-E: Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC

• 2019-208-E: Duke Energy Progress, LLC

• 2019-209-E: Dominion Energy South Carolina