Explanation
BACKGROUND:
It is necessary under the amendments to the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (“PURPA”), made in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (“IIJA”), for the City of Columbus Department of Public Utilities (“CDPU”) Division of Power (“DOP”) to consider adopting two federal standards related to demand response and demand flexibility and electric vehicle charging programs and provide a written determination of its decision after a public hearing process.
Title
To recommend that the Department of Public Utilities adopt two new Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act standards pursuant to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.
Body
WHEREAS, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (“IIJA”), which amended the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (“PURPA”), requires non-regulated electric utilities that have annual retail electric sales greater than 500 million kilowatt-hours to consider adoption of two new PURPA standards relating to: (20) demand response and demand flexibility and (21) electric vehicle charging programs; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus’ Department of Public Utilities (“CDPU”) Division of Power (“Columbus Power”) is a non-regulated electric utility with annual retail electric sales greater than 500 million kilowatt-hours and has generally followed the IIJA’s procedures for considering the two new PURPA standards, including providing the public with an opportunity to be heard and undertaking a public hearing process; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus City Council initiated the process to consider the two standards in response to a request from CDPU; and
WHEREAS, as part of its consideration, Columbus City Council was required to convene a public hearing and issue a final determination, in writing, based upon evidence presented in the hearing process and upon findings specifically included in its written determination, and thereafter, make that determination...
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