Click here for a PDF version of this Order.

Docket UE21403
Order UE07-06

IN THE MATTER of an application by Maritime Electric Company, Limited for approval of a Demand Side Management Plan.

BEFORE THE COMMISSION

On Thursday, the 30th day of August, 2007.

Maurice Rodgerson, Chair
Weston Rose, Commissioner
Anne Petley, Commissioner

Order

WHEREAS on November 7, 2006, Maritime Electric Company, Limited (the "Company") filed with the Commission a demand side management ("DSM") plan pursuant to the Renewable Energy Act and Commission Order UE06-06, dated October 16, 2006; 

AND WHEREAS the DSM filing of the Company, entitled  Making a Difference with Holiday Lighting, was publicly noticed in local newspapers and on the Commission’s website in accordance with established practice and procedure;

AND WHEREAS, pursuant to the public notice, the Commission received submissions on the DSM proposals of the Company from the Government of P.E.I. and the Environmental Coalition of PEI;

AND WHEREAS the Commission engaged the services of John Murphy, MBA, P.Eng., to provide an independent assessment of the Company’s DSM plan and to conduct a comprehensive review of DSM and related initiatives;

AND WHEREAS the report of Mr. Murphy was later circulated to the parties to the proceeding, including the Company, for reply comments;

AND WHEREAS, in its reply, the Company proposed that it be permitted to resubmit its DSM plan to accommodate the following:

  •  a broadening of the focus of the DSM plan to encompass opportunities for the conversion of the use of compact fluorescent bulbs ("CFLs") at both the residential and general service levels;

  •  modification of the DSM plan to accommodate more use of rebates and incentives for both holiday lighting and CFLs and to address recommendations of Mr. Murphy to accommodate fixture charges for CFLs and conversion to CFL floodlights and outdoor and security lighting;

  • the review of the scope of education, media and public awareness programming to accommodate the use of rebates and incentives; and

  •  a retention of key programming initiatives contained in the filed DSM plan that the Company considers instrumental in achieving program objectives including "Greenlight", the partnership with the PEI Women’s Institute and the Residential Energy Assistance Program.

AND WHEREAS, in its reply, the Company further proposed the deferral of non-lighting related programs proposed by Mr. Murphy for further analysis and possible inclusion in meeting 2015 target DSM requirements;

AND WHEREAS the Commission has thoroughly considered the submissions of the Company, the Government of PEI, the Environmental Coalition of PEI and John Murphy and has found and concluded that:

  1. the proposal of the Company to resubmit its DSM plan is satisfactory; however the proposal to defer analyses on the other recommendations of Mr. Murphy for possible inclusion in meeting 2015 requirements is not. The Company will be directed to submit further analyses on these items as part of its 2009 capital budget application; and

  2. the proposal to complete certain initiatives associated with the holiday lighting program is satisfactory to the Commission and authorization will be given herein for associated expenditures in 2007 of $42,000;

NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to the Electric Power Act and the Renewable Energy Act;

IT IS ORDERED THAT

1.  the proposal of the Company to resubmit its DSM plan with a focus on CFL lighting programs is approved;

2.  The revised DSM plan shall be filed with the Commission on or before November 30, 2007;

3.  The Company shall file with the Commission, as part of its 2009 capital budget application, further analyses and proposals that address the other DSM and DSM-related initiatives proposed by John Murphy; and

4.  a 2007 Holiday Lighting Program with a total budget of $42,000 is approved.

DATED at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, this 30th day of August, 2007.

BY THE COMMISSION:

Maurice Rodgerson, Chair

Weston Rose, Commissioner

Anne Petley, Commissioner

Notice:

Section 12 of the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission Act reads as follows:

12. The Commission may, in its absolute discretion, review, rescind or vary any order or decision made by it or rehear any application before deciding it.

Parties to this proceeding seeking a review of the Commission's decision or order in this matter may do so by filing with the Commission, at the earliest date, a written Request for Review, which clearly states the reasons for the review and the nature of the relief sought.

Sections 13.(1) and 13(2) of the Act provide as follows:

13.(1) An appeal lies from a decision or order of the Commission to the Appeal Division of the Supreme Court upon a question of law or jurisdiction.

(2) The appeal shall be made by filing a notice of appeal in the Supreme Court within twenty days after the decision or order appealed from and the Civil Procedure Rules respecting appeals apply with the necessary changes.