ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) announced today that it was seeking comment on a Department of Public Service report recommending options to create additional opportunities for customers to participate in Community Distributed Generation (CDG) projects. The objective of CDG programs is to open participation in renewable energy to those previously blocked from participating.

In the report, Department staff recommend expanding opportunity for customers to participate in CDG projects within utility territories where previously authorized incentives for distributed solar have been fully subscribed. This includes Orange & Rockland and Central Hudson, where more than 190 megawatts of CDG are already in service or in advanced stages of development. Staff propose making increased upfront incentives available to about 100 megawatts of new projects split between Orange & Rockland and Central Hudson, in order to nurture continued market growth while managing overall costs.

With the issuance of the report the Commission sought public comment, concurrently Department staff continued to work with interested stakeholders to develop final recommendations for Commission consideration. The comment period on the report ends on Monday, October 22, 2018.

Additionally, the report recommends that existing market transition credits be enhanced and standardized across upstate utility territories in order to ensure that additional electric customers in these territories are afforded viable opportunities to meet their energy needs through participation in a CDG project. These enhanced credits would be available to more than 700 megawatts of new projects, thereby creating robust CDG opportunity for New Yorkers across the state. Furthermore, the proposal also recommends adjustments to market transition credits available in Con Edison for almost 400 MW of new CDG projects.

The report may be viewed online (go to www.dps.ny.gov, and then search using case number "15-E-0751 or 15-E-0082"), or at the following link:

http://documents.dps.ny.gov/public/Common/ViewDoc.aspx?DocRefId={4428EBC8-BC3E-46C3-8C11-1B9249FE4350}

How to Comment

There are several other ways to send comments to the Commission regarding this proposal. Comments should refer to Case 15-E-0751 – In the Matter of the Value of Distributed Energy Resources and/or Case 15-E-0082 – Proceeding on Motion of the Commission as to the Policies, Requirements and Conditions For Implementing a Community Net Metering Program.”

Internet or Mail: Go to the Web site (www.dps.ny.gov), click on "Search," enter the case number (15-E-0751 or 15-E-0082), and then click on "Post Comments" at the top of the page. Alternatively, e-mail comments may be sent directly to the Secretary to the Commission at secretary@dps.ny.gov or they may be mailed or delivered to Hon. Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350. All written comments will become part of the record in this proceeding and will be reported to the Commission for its consideration. All submitted comments may be accessed on the Commission's Web site (go to www.dps.ny.gov, and then search using the case number). Many libraries offer free Internet access.

Toll-Free Opinion Line: You may call the Commission's Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This number is set up to take comments about pending cases from in-State callers, 24 hours a day. These comments are not transcribed verbatim, but a summary is provided to the Commission.

Comments submitted via these alternate means are requested by October 22, 2018.