Title 35-A, §3210-C: Capacity resource adequacy

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

A. "Capacity resource" means any renewable capacity resource, nonrenewable capacity resource or interruptible, demand response or energy efficiency capacity resource. [2007, c. 293, §1 (AMD).]

A-1. "Contract for differences" means a contractual arrangement between a buyer and a seller in which cash payments are made based on the actual or relative difference between a target price for energy or a capacity resource and the market value of the energy or capacity resource. Under a contract for differences, the seller pays to the buyer the positive difference between the market value and the target price and the buyer pays to the seller the negative difference between the market value and the target price. "Contract for differences" does not include a contract for the physical delivery of energy or capacity resources. [2007, c. 656, Pt. B, §1 (NEW).]

B. "Interruptible, demand response or energy efficiency capacity resource" means a resource that has demand response, interruptible or energy efficiency capacity recognized by the commission. [2005, c. 677, Pt. C, §1 (NEW).]

C. "New" as applied to any capacity resource means a capacity resource that:

(1) Has an in-service date after September 1, 2005;

(2) Was added to an existing facility after September 1, 2005;

(3) For at least 2 years was not operated or was not recognized by the New England independent system operator as a capacity resource and, after September 1, 2005, resumed operation or was recognized by the New England independent system operator as a capacity resource; or

(4) Was refurbished after September 1, 2005 and is operating beyond its previous useful life or is employing an alternate technology that significantly increases the efficiency of the generation process. [2005, c. 677, Pt. C, §1 (NEW).]

D. "Nonrenewable capacity resource" means an electric generation resource other than a renewable capacity resource. [2005, c. 677, Pt. C, §1 (NEW).]

E. "Renewable capacity resource" means a renewable resource, as defined in section 3210, subsection 2, paragraph C, except the maximum total power production capacity limit of 100 megawatts under section 3210, subsection 2, paragraph C does not apply and "renewable capacity resource" does not include:

(1) A generator fueled by municipal solid waste in conjunction with recycling; or

(2) A hydroelectric generator unless it meets all state and federal fish passage requirements applicable to the generator. [2007, c. 293, §1 (AMD).]

[ 2007, c. 656, Pt. B, §1 (AMD) .]

2. Policy. It is the policy of this State:

A. That the share of new renewable capacity resources as a percentage of the total capacity resources in this State on December 31, 2007 increase by 10% by 2017 and that, to the extent possible, the increase occur in uniform annual increments; [2005, c. 677, Pt. C, §1 (NEW).]

B. To reduce electric prices and price volatility for the State's electricity consumers and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity generation sector; and [2005, c. 677, Pt. C, §1 (NEW).]

C. To develop new capacity resources to reduce demand or increase capacity so as to mitigate the effects of any regional or federal capacity resource mandates. [2005, c. 677, Pt. C, §1 (NEW).]

[ 2005, c. 677, Pt. C, §1 (NEW) .]

3. Commission authority. The commission may direct investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities to enter into long-term contracts for:

A. Capacity resources; and [2009, c. 415, Pt. A, §21 (RPR).]

B. Any available energy associated with capacity resources contracted under paragraph A:

(1) To the extent necessary to fulfill the policy of subsection 2, paragraph A; or

(2) If the commission determines appropriate for purposes of supplying or lowering the cost of standard-offer service or otherwise lowering the cost of electricity for the ratepayers in the State. Available energy contracted pursuant to this subparagraph may be sold into the wholesale electricity market in conjunction with solicitations for standard-offer supply bids. [2009, c. 415, Pt. A, §21 (RPR).]

The commission may direct investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities to enter into contracts under this subsection only as agents for their customers and only in accordance with this section. The commission may permit, but may not require, investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities to enter into contracts for differences that are designed and intended to buffer ratepayers in the State from potential negative impacts from transmission development. To the greatest extent possible, the commission shall develop procedures for long-term contracts for investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities under this subsection having the same legal and financial effect as the procedures used for standard-offer service pursuant to section 3212 for investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities.

The commission may enter into contracts for interruptible, demand response or energy efficiency capacity resources. These contracts are not subject to the rules of the State Purchasing Agent. In a competitive solicitation conducted pursuant to subsection 6, the commission shall allow transmission and distribution utilities to submit bids for interruptible, demand response or energy efficiency capacity resources.

Capacity resources contracted under this subsection may not exceed the amount necessary to ensure the reliability of the electric grid of this State or to lower customer costs as determined by the commission pursuant to rules adopted under subsection 10.

Unless the commission determines the public interest requires otherwise, a capacity resource may not be contracted under this subsection unless the commission determines that the capacity resource is recognized as a capacity resource for purposes of any regional or federal capacity requirements.

The commission shall ensure that any long-term contract authorized under this subsection is consistent with the State's goals for greenhouse gas reduction under Title 38, section 576 and the regional greenhouse gas initiative as described in the state climate action plan required in Title 38, section 577.

[ 2009, c. 415, Pt. A, §21 (RPR) .]

4. Priority of capacity resources. In selecting capacity resources for contracting pursuant to subsection 3, the commission shall apply the following standards.

A. The commission shall select capacity resources that are competitive and the lowest price when compared to other available offers for capacity resources of the same or similar contract duration or terms. [2007, c. 293, §3 (AMD).]

B. Among capacity resources meeting the standard in paragraph A, the commission shall choose among capacity resources in the following order of priority:

(1) New interruptible, demand response or energy efficiency capacity resources located in this State;

(2) New renewable capacity resources located in this State;

(3) New capacity resources with no net emission of greenhouse gases;

(4) New nonrenewable capacity resources located in this State. The commission shall give preference to new nonrenewable capacity resources with no net emission of greenhouse gases;

(5) Capacity resources that enhance the reliability of the electric grid of this State. The commission shall give preference to capacity resources with no net emission of greenhouse gases; and

(6) Other capacity resources. [2005, c. 677, Pt. C, §1 (NEW).]

[ 2007, c. 293, §3 (AMD) .]

5. Contract term. A contract entered into pursuant to subsection 3 may not be for more than 10 years, unless the commission finds a contract for a longer term to be prudent.

[ 2005, c. 677, Pt. C, §1 (NEW) .]

6. Competitive solicitation process and contract negotiation. For purposes of selecting potential capacity resources for contracting pursuant to subsection 3, the commission shall conduct a competitive solicitation no less often than every 3 years if the commission determines that the likely benefits to ratepayers resulting from any contracts entered into as a result of the solicitation process will exceed the likely costs. Following review of bids, the commission may negotiate with one or more potential suppliers. When only one bid has been offered, the commission shall ensure that negotiations are based on full project cost disclosure by the potential supplier. The commission shall negotiate contracts that are commercially reasonable and that commit all parties to commercially reasonable behavior.

[ 2005, c. 677, Pt. C, §1 (NEW) .]

7. Disposition of resources. An investor-owned transmission and distribution utility shall sell capacity resources and energy purchased pursuant to subsection 3 or take other action relative to such capacity resources and energy as directed by the commission.

[ 2009, c. 415, Pt. A, §22 (RPR) .]

8. Cost recovery. The commission shall ensure that an investor-owned transmission and distribution utility recovers in rates all costs of contracts entered into pursuant to subsection 3, including but not limited to any impacts on the utility's costs of capital. A price differential existing at any time during the term of the contract between the contract price and the prevailing market price at which the capacity resource is sold or any gains or losses derived from contracts for differences must be reflected in rates and may not be deemed to be imprudent.

[ 2009, c. 415, Pt. A, §23 (RPR) .]

9. Contract payments. Contracts for capacity and related energy entered into pursuant to this section must provide that payments will be made only after contracted amounts of capacity and related energy have been provided.

[ 2005, c. 677, Pt. C, §1 (NEW) .]

10. Rules. The commission shall adopt rules to implement this section. In adopting rules, the commission shall consider the financial implications of this section on investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities. Rules adopted under this subsection are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. The commission may not enter into or direct any investor-owned transmission and distribution utility to enter into any contract pursuant to this section until rules are finally adopted under this subsection.

[ 2007, c. 575, §5 (AMD); 2007, c. 656, Pt. B, §5 (AMD) .]

Maine Revised Statutes

§3210-C. Capacity resource adequacy

Data for this page extracted on 12/07/2009 12:11:02.