Duquesne Light Co. agreed to implement 10 recommendations by a Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) management and operations audit. The PUC, which released the audit March 14, said the recommendations could save the company about $2.4 million annually. The audit recommendations include: conducting a staffing study to identify ways to reduce overtime expenses; improving tracking of third-party damage and claims to reduce such claims; enhancing efforts to reduce residential customer arrearages and rotating its external audit firm and/or audit managers and audit teams. Duquesne Light committed to completing all recommendations by the end of 2013. Docket No. D-2011-2269361
Pennsylvania Audit: FirstEnergy Affiliates Overstated Energy Efficiency Costs
A PUC audit found that FirstEnergy Corp.’s Pennsylvania subsidiaries overstated their Energy Efficiency and Conservation Program costs in 2010 and 2011 by mistakenly applying Ohio’s higher sales tax rates on purchases of items such as home energy audit kits. The company agreed with the audit finding and has corrected the error. The audit found Pennsylvania Power Co. and Pennsylvania Electric Co. had net overcollections of more than $1 million each but Metropolitan Edison Co. undercollected by about $7.3 million despite the error.
Virginia Electric Biennial Rate Review Due
Virginia Electric and Power Co. will initiate its biennial rate review by the Virginia State Corporation Commission in late March and file a revised transmission cost rider in May. Separately, the commission issued an order Feb. 28 changing the beginning of the calendar year for future base rate cases to Jan. 1 from Dec. 1.
Virginia: Testimony Due on Renewable Pilot
March 19 is the deadline for filing testimony in the Virginia State Corporation Commission’s review of Virginia Electric’s proposal to create renewable generation pilot program for large non-residential customers.
The pilot would allow customers under Rate Schedule GS-3 or GS-4 with demands greater than 500 kilowatts and purchases of renewable energy of between one million and 24 million KWh annually to purchase a larger portion of their energy from renewable sources than available in the company’s existing generation mix.
The plan would be limited to planned deliveries of 240 million KWh annually in aggregate, or 100 customers, whichever is reached first.
Hearing: May 7, 10 a.m. Commission’s Courtroom, Second Floor, Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond. Written comments from non-witnesses are due by April 30.
Delaware: Delmarva IRP Case Delayed
The Delaware Public Service Commission March 4 approved a four-month delay in the procedural schedule for the review of Delmarva Power and Light Co.’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). A commission hearing examiner approved the delay, proposed by the company and PSC staff to allow scheduling of workshops and settlement efforts with stakeholders. The company’s IRP, filed Dec. 6, concluded that “the combination of available generation resources and transmission import capability into the PJM DPL Zone” will be sufficient to meet the company’s power demands through 2022. Docket #12-544
Kentucky Fuel Hearing Set
Witnesses for Kentucky Power Co. will testify before the Kentucky Public Service Commission April 9 in an examination of the company’s Fuel Adjustment Clause. The hearing will focus on the company’s coal procurement practices for November 2010 through October 2012. In a filing March 1, the company said it was not seeking a change in its base fuel cost.
Hearing: April 9, 2013, 10:00 a.m., Hearing Room 1 of the Commission’s offices at 211 Sower Boulevard, Frankfort, KY.
Indiana Rate Bill Wins OK
Lawmakers gave preliminary approval Wednesday (March 13) to a bill that would allow electric utilities to obtain rate increases for transmission and distribution upgrades outside of a base rate case.
The House Utilities & Energy Committee approved Senate Bill 560 after adding amendments limiting utilities’ transmission and distribution rate hikes under the revised “tracking” process to 2% of its total revenue. Read more in The Indianapolis Star.
Ohio Consumers Rep Fights Duke Request for Depositions
The Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel Wednesday asked the Ohio Public Utilities Commission to overturn a motion to compel depositions from the OCC’s witnesses in Duke Energy Ohio’s pending electric and gas distribution rate cases.
The OCC said Duke filed its request for depositions on Feb. 28, nearly six weeks after the Jan. 18 discovery deadline set by PUC rules. The OCC is asking the PUC to overturn an order by Attorney Examiner Katie L. Stenman compelling the depositions.
Duke filed a request in June 2012 seeking an $86 million increase in electric distribution rates and a $44 million increase in gas rates. The company’s last electric base rate increase was in 2009.
Maryland OKs Offshore Wind Bill
The House Monday night (March 18) gave final approval to Gov. Martin O’Malley’s bill to subsidize development of offshore wind energy. The legislation will raise residential bills by $1.50 per month; most businesses would see a 1.4% increase in rates. Read more in the Baltimore Sun.
Maryland PSC to Archive Meeting Broadcasts
The Maryland Public Service Commission will begin archiving live-stream broadcasts of its proceedings over the Internet beginning May 1. The archives will be kept for six months.