Public comment sought on customer-generated electrical power

The Montana Public Service Commission has taken its first step towards resolving the protracted debate over net-metering in Montana. It seeks input on a set of draft criteria to be included in a cost-benefit study of customer-generators that will be conducted by NorthWestern Energy.

HB 219, sponsored by Rep. Zach Brown (D-Bozeman), signed into law earlier this year, requires NorthWestern to complete a comprehensive study on the costs and benefits associated with customer-generators by April 1, 2018. The bill authorizes the Commission to establish minimum information requirements to be included in the utility’s analysis. Early involvement from stakeholders is critical to ensure the study returns meaningful results.

The Commission’s notice (http://bit.ly/2rKgkes) asks commenters to provide feedback on a long list of possible benefits and costs to be studied. These include benefits such as avoided energy and capacity the utility otherwise would have to buy, and costs such as integrating solar or wind energy onto the utility network.

It also directs NorthWestern to provide the Commission an overview of the data the company has already collected on how customer-generator’s consumption profile differs from a typical consumer that does not have a net-metering arrangement.

Those customers who have interconnected net-metering systems prior to a Commission order that establishes new classifications of service for customer-generators will be exempt from the changes.

The Commission invites interested persons to submit written comments addressing the potential benefit and cost elements and study questions contained in the Notice of Opportunity to Comment no later than July 7, 2017, either by mail or hand delivered to the Commission at 1701 Prospect Avenue, Helena, MT, 59620, or by email to psc_utilitycomment@mt.gov. Comments can also be submitted at http://psc.mt.gov (“Comment on Proceedings”).