Defensa del consumidor
Defendiendo a Cape Cod y Martha’s Vineyard
La protección de los consumidores en materia de energía puede ser compleja, y las decisiones que tomen los legisladores o los reguladores estatales pueden tener repercusiones de gran alcance en lo que los consumidores pagan por su electricidad. Las decisiones que se toman a nivel estatal también afectan a los programas disponibles para la eficiencia energética o las energías renovables, como la solar. Por eso, el Pacto de Cape Light hace especial hincapié en la defensa del consumidor.
En uno de nuestros primeros esfuerzos en 1999, el Pacto logró obtener 25 millones de dólares para reducir las facturas de electricidad de los consumidores en Cape Cod y Martha’s Vineyard. Desde entonces hemos conseguido reducciones adicionales y mantenemos una vigilancia constante sobre las propuestas que puedan afectar a los consumidores.
La labor del Pacto en nombre de los consumidores es realmente importante porque:
- Los intereses de los consumidores de Cape Cod y Martha’s Vineyard no necesariamente coinciden con las preocupaciones de los consumidores del resto del estado.
- Las decisiones políticas que se tomen hoy a nivel estatal determinarán los problemas a los que nos enfrentamos y los costos que pagaremos en el futuro.
En esta sección, intentaremos mantenerle al día sobre lo que hemos hecho en el pasado y lo que estamos haciendo actualmente en nombre de los consumidores de Cape y Vineyard.
Cronología de la defensa del consumidor
- Caso de tarifas de Eversource : este caso fue presentado ante la DPU el 14 de enero de 2022. Esto afectará a todos los residentes y negocios de Cape Cod y Martha’s Vineyard. Para obtener más información, visite nuestra página sobre el caso de tarifas de 2022.
- Modernización de la red eléctrica : esta solicitud se presentó ante el DPU el 2 de julio de 2021. Para obtener más información, visite nuestra página sobre la modernización de la red eléctrica en 2021.
- Objetivo de Energía Renovable Solar de Massachusetts (SMART) (expediente DPU 20-145): El Pacto participó en este expediente con el objetivo de permitir que los clientes de las agrupaciones municipales se beneficien de los incentivos para energía solar compartida en comunidades de bajos ingresos del programa SMART.
- Vehículos eléctricos (expediente DPU 21-90): El Pacto participó en este expediente con el objetivo de garantizar que los clientes de Cape & Vineyard puedan beneficiarse de los incentivos del programa Make Ready disponibles para la instalación de equipos de suministro para vehículos eléctricos.
- Proyecto de Inversión de Capital de Cape Cod (Expediente DPU 22-55): El Pacto participó en este expediente abogando por la aprobación del Proyecto de Inversión de Capital (CIP) de Eversource en Cape Cod. El CIP de Cape Cod busca resolver las importantes barreras a la interconexión que enfrentan las instalaciones de recursos energéticos distribuidos, como la energía solar fotovoltaica, que solicitan interconexión al sistema eléctrico en el área de Cape Cod y Martha’s Vineyard. La DPU emitió una Orden aprobando el CIP de Cape Cod en junio de 2024.
- Investigación sobre la agregación municipal (Expediente DPU 23-67): El Pacto y varias otras ciudades y pueblos de Massachusetts participaron en una investigación que la DPU inició sobre la agregación municipal. En concreto, la DPU propuso un borrador de Directrices y un Plan Modelo para las agregaciones municipales que el Pacto consideró excesivamente restrictivos. El Pacto, en colaboración con un grupo de partes interesadas, abogó por el reconocimiento del control y la toma de decisiones municipales en la gestión de las agregaciones y, finalmente, logró que se actualizaran las Directrices propuestas, lo que permite la flexibilidad necesaria para operar eficazmente su programa.
- Plan de Modernización del Sector Eléctrico de Eversource (Expediente DPU 24-10): Eversource presentó su Plan de Modernización del Sector Eléctrico (ESMP) ante la DPU en enero de 2024. El Pacto participó en este expediente, abogando por varios puntos, entre ellos garantizar un proceso oportuno para la implementación de TVR, aprobar el CIP de Cape Cod y solicitar a Eversource que informara sobre los impactos del ESMP en los postes dobles. En agosto de 2024, la DPU emitió una Orden aprobando el ESMP de Eversource. Muchos de los asuntos de interés para el Pacto se abordarán durante la Fase II del procedimiento, que comenzará en enero de 2025.
- Investigación sobre la carga energética (Expediente 24-15 de la DPU): El Pacto participó en la investigación de la DPU sobre la carga energética reuniendo a un grupo de partes interesadas para debatir el tema. El Pacto presentó dos rondas de comentarios a la DPU, centrados en los problemas de asequibilidad de la energía que enfrentan los clientes de Cape y Vineyard, basándose en su sesión con las partes interesadas.
1998
Sale of Canal Electric Plant
The Compact intervened in Commonwealth Electric’s sale of the Canal Electric Plant, resulting in $25 million in savings to the Cape and Vineyard.
2002
Purchases of Municipal Streetlights
The Compact helped to negotiate municipal purchase of streetlights on the Cape and Vineyard from NSTAR. This resulted in municipal savings in operations and maintenance costs, and also made it possible for the Compact to work with the municipalities to replace streetlights with highly efficiency LED. The LEDs streetlights will save towns $800,000 per year.
2007
NSTAR Green Intervention
The Compact intervened to minimize the costs associated with the voluntary NSTAR Green Program that were being charged to all NSTAR distribution customers whether or not they were in the program. This benefitted all NSTAR distribution customers including those on the Cape and Vineyard.
2008
Advocacy for Low-Income Rate Payers
The Compact helped to ensure the eligible low-income residents on the Cape and Vineyard are able to receive discounted electric service rates.
2010-11
Protecting Consumer Interests during the NSTAR Merger
The Compact participated in meetings and briefings that followed NSTAR’s announcement of its merger with Northeast Utilities. The Compact worked to ensure that the merger did not result in increased costs, decreased reliability or other issues for consumers on the Cape and Vineyard.
2011
Standards for Long-Term Renewable Energy Contracts
As required by statute, NSTAR enters into long-term renewable energy contracts. NSTAR’s proposed recovery mechanism would have passed on savings from the contract only to its Basic Service customers. The Compact proposed an alternative approach designed to share savings from the contracts with all NSTAR customers. The DPU adopted this approach and continues to use a similar approach with other long-term contracts. For this contract, $111 million in savings was shifted from NSTAR’s basic service customers (which does not include all NSTAR customers) to NSTAR’s distribution customers, which includes all NSTAR customers including Compact customers.
2012
Promoting Grid Modernization
The DPU is developing a plan for implementing “smart grid” elements, as part of overall “Grid Modernization”. Grid Modernization has the potential for great savings for consumers, but can also require large expenditures. The Compact focuses on ensuring that investments are made in technologies that provide benefits to consumers that justify costs, and that utilities are properly incentivized and not overly compensated for their participation.
Promoting Standards for Distributed Generation
The Compact plays a strong, active role in developing standards for allowing distributed generation facilities to interconnect to local distribution systems. The interconnection of distributed generation systems helps to achieve the Commonwealth’s renewable energy goals, increase fuel diversity, and increase the resiliency of the local distribution system.
2013
Challenge to NSTAR Cost Recovery Proposal
Through a DPU proceeding, the Compact challenged aspects of NSTAR’s proposal to recover costs from NSTAR distribution customers. NSTAR’s proposed changes would have increased distribution charges to residential customers. The DPU agreed with the Compact’s objection, preventing the increase in residential rates.
2015
Participation in Grid Modernization Proceeding
The Compact participated in Eversource’s grid modernization proceedings to ensure its understanding of Eversource’s grid modernization plan (GMP) and the potential impacts on Compact energy efficiency offerings. The Compact was active in supporting the establishment of grid modernization performance metrics and grid modernization annual report templates.
2017
Participation in Eversource Rate Case
The Compact intervened in Eversource’s electric distribution rate case to, among other things, ensure transparency in certain aspects of Eversource’s decoupling activities (to argue that Eversource should not claim lost base revenue for the Compact’s energy reductions), to address Eversource’s proposed return on equity, to address the impacts of the rate case on competitive markets and to ensure geographical equity in cost allocation.
2021
Participation in Electric Vehicle Proceeding
The Compact participated in Eversource’s Electric Vehicle Proceeding to ensure that its customers are able to participate in Eversource’s Residential Make-Ready and Charger Rebate offerings to receive incentives for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE). The Compact sought coordination between Eversource and the Compact to carry out the Eversource offerings for the benefit of all customers.
Participation in Grid Modernization Proceeding
The Compact participated in Eversource’s grid modernization proceeding to support customers in the Compact’s energy efficiency program that may be affected by Eversource’s proposed customer-facing investments, including advanced metering infrastructure (“AMI”).
2022
Participation in Eversource Rate Case
The Compact intervened in Eversource’s electric distribution rate case to advocate for the just administration for low-income customers of an energy efficiency charges tariff, to protect its own energy efficiency program and also energy efficiency generally as Eversource proposed to revise its performance based ratemaking metrics.
2024
Electric Sector Modernization Plan
The Compact is participating in the review of Eversource’s Electric Sector Modernization Plan (ESMP) by the Grid Modernization Advisory Council (GMAC). The proceeding addresses matters of time varying rates, interconnection of distributed generation, substation upgrades and other investments on Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard, rate design, metrics and double poles. In addition, how the ESMP incorporates energy efficiency and demand response will have an impact on the Compact’s energy efficiency and demand response programs.
Energy Affordability Investigation
The Compact is participating in the DPU’s investigation into energy affordability, which has a special focus on residential customers. The investigation is exploring how customers are enrolled into, verified for and educated about electric discount rate programs and establishing tiered electric discount programs. The investigation also explores the way energy efficiency programs, consumption reduction, investment in residential loan programs for solar PV and battery storage installations and targeted educational programs may play a role in energy affordability.
2025
Seasonal Heat Pump Rate Investigation and Eversource Residential Seasonal Heat Pump Rate
The Compact is participating in DPU’s investigation into an optional seasonal heat pump rate, as recommended by the Interagency Rates Working Group. The Compact is also a limited participant in Eversource’s proposal for a seasonal heat pump rate. Seasonal heat pump rates may encourage adoption of heat pumps in the Commonwealth to support electrification efforts and help the Commonwealth achieve its greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. The Compact is participating to ensure that its customers will be included in the marketing and educational outreach for seasonal heat pump rate offerings and that Eversource will collaborate with the Compact for rate offerings that are available to Compact customers.
