Regulators to possibly fine NV Energy for not setting aside energy storage incentive funds
State utility regulators plan to investigate and possibly fine NV Energy for not following a signed agreement requiring the company to allocate $10 million toward an incentive program for energy storage systems.
As part of a lengthy order on the utility’s annual plan for clean energy incentive programs, members of the Public Utilities Commission found that NV Energy had “failed to comply with a Commission order” implementing a 2017 law creating and mandating incentive payments aimed at spurring development in residential and large scale energy storage systems. The order was approved by the three members of the Public Utilities Commission in a unanimous vote last Wednesday.
In the order, members of the commission wrote that NV Energy had agreed but then failed to set aside $10 million in funding from the utility’s existing incentive funding pool to use toward energy storage incentive programs. Despite the utility agreeing to the order in a docket implementing the 2017 legislation and in its 2018 annual plan (including signing a stipulation), the utility ultimately never set aside the funds for the nascent program.
Complicating matters further is that total funding for the incentive program — initially set up in 2004 and aimed at ramping up investment in solar, wind, geothermal and other clean energy programs through a surcharge on electric bills — is nearly capped out. As of May 20, only an approximate $6.1 million of the original $295.2 million allocated for the program remains available for use, and all programs save a low-income solar program, a carved out electric vehicle incentive program and the energy storage program are ending as of July.
Read more: https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/regulators-to-possibly-fine-nv-energy-for-not-setting-aside-energy-storage-incentive-funds