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August 11, 1998
SUBJECT: NOTICE OF AUGUST 20, 1998 MEETING. TOPIC AREA MEETING COVERING STUDY PART G: PUBLIC PURPOSES
Dear Interested Party:
On August 20, we will convene the fourth of our series of Topic Area Meetings focusing on parts of the study of the state's electric industry we are conducting under the provisions of ESSB 6560.
Instructions on how to get to the meeting are attached.Agenda for AUGUST 20, 1998 Topic Area Meeting: 6560 Study Section G
9:30 - Introductions – Review Agenda 9:45 - Clarifying questions on data survey (Part IV, pp. 19-24) 10:45 - Review General Approach to Section G analysis. 12:00 - Lunch (on your own) 1:00 - Brainstorm trends 1:45 - Brainstorm criteria for fair, efficient, and effective 2:15 - Brainstorm strategies to foster future achievement 4:00 - Adjourn
To help you prepare for the meeting, we describe below a bit more about our approach to Study Task G and how you can contribute ideas and suggestions.
Section (G):
It is our plan to communicate the current levels of investment in graphs that include investments from 1990 and projected through 2000. The primary data sources include utilities, the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (for state and federal low-income funds), and the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance. We are investigating whether Bonneville tracks non-utility energy efficiency investments by state. If they do, we will include their relevant data. We are also requesting some data from industrial self-generators using non-hydro renewable energy sources.
We propose to include a discussion of the history, rationale and current context for these programs in the report. This would describe legislation or rules that guided past investments such as the Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act, the federal Energy Policy Act, the state’s Least Cost Planning rules and the Public Utilities Regulatory Policy Act of 1978 (PURPA).
Here, we plan on looking at developments in public policy, industry structure, technology, finance, and other factors that affect the provision of conservation, renewables, and low-income energy assistance. This discussion would include trends such as: trends in Bonneville funding for public purposes; lower avoided costs for power; new approaches to leveraging investments; the prospect of competition; and federal funding for low-income energy services.
We will capture some information on programmatic trends through our data collection. We have requested data on the types of conservation programs and levels of funding and savings for the highest funded programs for 1990-1997 and for 1998-1999. We have also requested information from the utilities on any new renewable energy programs they are considering or designing.
Here, we first plan to develop criteria by which policy makers could evaluate how well a proposed strategy achieves the policy goals of public purposes. What do fair, efficient, and effective mean in this context? We have scheduled a discussion and brainstorming session on this topic at the August 20th meeting.
We next plan on outlining a variety of strategies for accomplishing public purposes in the future in Washington State. Any strategy identified will need to address funding, management and accountability. The report will also include an overview of the range of strategies being adopted throughout the United States and relevant models adopted in other countries.
How You Can Help
This general framework for the approach to task "G" is the one we described at the July 8, 1998, meeting. In this Topic Area meeting we would like your help through comments and suggestions regarding:
The general approach. Are there any alternatives or refinements you would suggest?
Observations regarding trends affecting achievement of public purposes.
Criteria by which to evaluate potential future strategies. Does the strategy fairly, effectively and efficiently foster future achievement of the purposes of such investment?
Suggestions and recommendations regarding future strategies to consider for inclusion in the report.
We are looking forward to a constructive discussion of the issues affecting Part (G) of the 6560 study and particularly look forward to your suggestions and comments.
See you on Thursday the 20th of August.
[If you are not able to attend the meeting, you can provide suggestions and comments on these sections of the study through our general e-mail address – wepg@ep.cted.wa.gov – or by mail]
Sincerely,
| Dick Byers Energy Policy Specialist Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission |
K.C. Golden Assistant Director, Energy Division Washington Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development |
Study 6560 web site: http://www.cted.wa.gov/energy/archive//6560 (includes a list of agency contacts, phone numbers and e-mail addresses).
General e-mail: wepg@ep.cted.wa.gov
| Fax: | Karen Dunn, CTED (360) 956-2180 |
| Chris Vernon, WUTC (360) 586-1150 |
CTED Energy Policy Home Page | Study 6560 Home | WUTC Home Page
| This page was last modified October 24, 2001. |
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| CTED Energy Policy Group PO Box 43173 Olympia, Washington 98504-3173 (360) 956-2096 (phone) (360) 956-2180 (fax) |
Washington
Utilities and Transportation Commission PO Box 47250 Olympia, Washington 98504-7250 (360) 753-6420 (phone) (360) 586-1150 (fax) |
Send comments to wepg@ep.cted.wa.gov |