Gas and Electric Utilities, 122920 NHPUC, 26, 440

• Docket Nº: 26, 440
• Opinion Judge: DIANNE MARTIN CHAIRWOMAN
• Judge Panel: Kathryn M. Bailey Commissioner
• Case Date: December 29, 2020

GAS AND ELECTRIC UTILITIES

2021-2023 NEW HAMPSHIRE STATEWIDE ENERGY EFFICIENCY PLAN

No. 26, 440

DE 20-092

New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission

December 29, 2020

2021-2023 NEW HAMPSHIRE STATEWIDE ENERGY EFFICIENCY PLAN

Order Approving Short-Term Extension of 2020 Energy Efficiency Programs and System Benefits Charge Rate

Jessica Chiavara, Esq., for Public Service Company of New Hampshire d/b/a Eversource Energy; Patrick Taylor, Esq., for Northern Utilities, Inc., and Unitil Energy Systems; Michael J. Sheehan, Esq., for Liberty Utilities (Granite State Electric) Corp. d/b/a Liberty Utilities, Inc., and for Liberty Utilities (EnergyNorth Natural Gas) Corp. d/b/a Liberty Utilities;

Mark W. Dean, Esq., for New Hampshire Electric Cooperative;

New Hampshire Legal Assistance, by Raymond Burke, Esq., for The Way Home; Ryan Clouthier, for Southern New Hampshire Services;

Craig A. Wright for the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services; Nicholas A. Krakoff, Esq., for Conservation Law Foundation; Primmer, Piper, Eggleston & Cramer PC, by Elijah D. Emerson, Esq,, for Clean Energy New Hampshire;

Stefan Koester, for Acadia Center; Office of the Consumer Advocate, by D. Maurice Kreis, Esq., and Christa Shute, Esq., for residential ratepayers; and Paul B. Dexter, Esq., and Brian D. Buckley, Esq., for the Staff of the Public Utilities Commission.

DIANNE MARTIN CHAIRWOMAN

In this Order, the Commission approves a continuation of the current System Benefits Charge rate and structure of the existing energy efficiency programs until a final order regarding the proposed 2021-2023 Statewide Energy Efficiency Plan is issued. We expect that final order will be issued within eight weeks.

I.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

In 2016, the Commission approved an Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS), which established a comprehensive framework for New Hampshire's ratepayer-funded energy efficiency programs. Energy Efficiency Resource Standard, Order No. 25, 938 (August 2, 2016). The Commission approved the first statewide three year energy efficiency plan under the EERS framework, covering the years 2018-2020, in early 2018. Public Service Company of New Hampshire, Order No. 26, 095 (January 2, 2018).

On September 1, 2020, the Joint Utilities^[1] filed a statewide energy efficiency plan proposing programs and funding levels for 2021-2023 (2021-23 Plan). On October 29, the Commission Staff (Staff), the Office of the Consumer Advocate (OCA), the Department of Environmental Services (DES), and Clean Energy New Hampshire (CENH) pre-filed direct testimony. On December 3, 2020, the Joint Utilities, OCA, and CENH pre-filed rebuttal testimony. That same day, the Joint Utilities, OCA, DES, Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), The Way Home (TWH), Southern New Hampshire Services (SNHS), and CENH (collectively, the Settling Parties), filed a settlement agreement which called for approval of the 2021-23 Plan with some modifications (Settlement Agreement). Acadia Center and DES both filed letters supporting the Settlement Agreement. Hearings were held to consider the proposed 2021-23 Plan, as amended by the Settlement Agreement, on December 10, 14, 16, 21, and ending on December 22.

The 2021-23 Plan, Settlement Agreement, testimony, exhibits,...