Choptank Electric Seeks Your Input On Energy Policy Standards
On November 15, 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was signed into law. Among other things, the Act established two new federal standards under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) Section 111(d). Section 111(d) requires covered electric utilities to consider the new standards and make a determination concerning whether or not it is appropriate to implement each standard. The full text of the law can be found online at https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/16/chapter-46 or a copy may be requested from the Cooperative by calling 1-877-892-0001 and asking for the Legal Department.
Pursuant to the law, this serves as official public notice of Cooperative members’ opportunity to comment on the standards and/or attend the hearing. If you wish to provide input, please send your comments in writing by January 15, 2023, to Choptank Electric Cooperative, Attn: General Counsel, P.O. Box 430, Denton, MD 21629.
A brief description of each standard is listed below. This is for informational purposes only and is not meant to replace the full text of the law. The Cooperative’s Board of Directors will conduct a hearing on October 18, 2023, at 5PM at its Denton District office located at 24820 Meeting House Road, Denton, MD 21629. At the hearing, Choptank’s staff will introduce its report, all written comments will be considered, and members attending in person will have an opportunity to be heard. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Cooperative’s Board will determine whether to implement the new standards. This determination will then be available to the public on the Cooperative’s website.
Section 2621 PURPA 111(d) Standards:
20. Demand-Response Practices
(A) In general. Each electric utility shall promote the use of demand-response and demand flexibility practices by commercial, residential, and industrial consumers to reduce electricity consumption during periods of unusually high demand.
(B) Rate recovery. A nonregulated electric utility may establish rate mechanisms for the timely recovery of the costs of promoting demand-response and demand flexibility practices in accordance with subparagraph (A).
Current Co-op Activities: For certain rate classes, Choptank currently offers time-of-use rates and an opportunity to receive a monetary credit for load reduction during peak hours. More information can be found under our Terms & Conditions located at https://choptankelectric.coop/rates
21. Electric Vehicle Charging Programs
Each State shall consider measures to promote greater electrification of the transportation sector, including the establishment of rates that:
(A) promote affordable and equitable electric vehicle charging options for residential, commercial, and public electric vehicle charging infrastructure;
(B) improve the customer experience associated with electric vehicle charging, including by reducing charging times for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles;
(C) accelerate third-party investment in electric vehicle charging for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles; and
(D) appropriately recover the marginal costs of delivering electricity to electric vehicles and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Current Co-op Activities: Choptank currently owns two public EV chargers: one in St. Michaels and one at the Harriet Tubman Museum in Dorchester County.