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For Immediate Release: 01/18/2024 Rory M. Christian, Chair Contact:
James Denn | James.Denn@dps.ny.gov | (518) 474-7080
24005/20-M-0082 January 18, 2024
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PSC Approves Budgets for Energy Data Projects |
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Comprehensive Data Initiative Supports New York’s Clean Energy Strategy and Nation-Leading Mandate to Achieve Economy-Wide Carbon Neutrality ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today approved budgets for the State’s energy utilities and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) relating to all costs associated with second phase Integrated Energy Data Resource (IEDR) projects. “The budget we are approving today is critical to helping achieve the State’s energy policy goals, as well as ensuring customer privacy and maintaining cyber-security,” said Commission Chair Rory M. Christian. “The data and information generated by the IEDR will unlock smart deployment of distributed resources required for the creation of an energy system that is responsive to the needs of our clean-energy economy, while also protecting consumers and cyber-assets.”
Collecting, integrating, analyzing and managing energy-related information from the State’s electric and gas utilities and other sources will enable energy companies, consumers and others to develop valuable technical and business insights more readily and equitably by using queries and other functions to filter, aggregate, analyze, and generate useful information. Those insights will, in turn, lead to faster and better policy, investment, and utility operational decisions that will accelerate the realization of New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act) goals.
The Commission has recognized the need to address data-related issues through many of its prior
proceedings and has continued to take necessary steps to increase access to, and the appropriate use of, customer and system data to further New York State’s clean energy goals and continue support of the Department’s mission. Achieving the State’s clean energy goals requires the continued development and maintenance of utility system data and customer energy-related data. The benefits in doing so are numerous and encompass all levels of the market from the customer up, and support New York State’s energy efficiency goals.
NYSERDA anticipates that its cost of the second phase will be approximately $36.4 million from 2024-2026.
On May 12, 2023, each of the utilities separately filed proposed second phase budgets with the Commission totaling $39.5 million. The IEDR stands as a pivotal tool facilitating enhanced access to valuable energy data for diverse stakeholders, encompassing energy service entities, utilities, governmental bodies, and academics. Building on the success of the first phase, the second phase of IEDR development will add approximately 40 new use cases over the course of 30 to 36 months, helping to meet the objective of advancing the State's energy transition toward a cleaner, more resilient, and cost-effective electricity system.
Approval of second phase budgets for IEDR expenditures for the State’s energy utilities, as well as NYSERDA, will facilitate the creation of new internal processes, acquisition of new hardware and software, and enable the onboarding of new subject matter experts, with the purpose of assisting in advancing the IEDR's mission and capabilities.
Making energy-related data readily available will support New York in meeting its clean energy goals and facilitating the objectives of the Commission’s energy system reforms. The ability of market participants to deliver smart, economically sound energy solutions and the ability of customers to share their energy usage data, will animate markets, facilitate customer choice, and provide systemic benefits to all New Yorkers. In conjunction with useful data access, it is necessary to ensure that the proper protections of information technology systems, data systems, and customers’ privacy exist. Understanding the importance of data access and protections, the framework will ensure that the necessary data access requirements are clearly recognized and fully met consistently and effectively across the State.
New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan
New York State's nation-leading climate agenda calls for an orderly and just transition that creates family-sustaining jobs, continues to foster a green economy across all sectors and ensures that at least 35 percent, with a goal of 40 percent, of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities. Guided by some of the nation’s most aggressive climate and clean energy initiatives, New York is on a path to achieving a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and economywide carbon neutrality by mid-century. A cornerstone of this transition is New York's unprecedented clean energy investments, including more than $46 billion in 65 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce building emissions, $3.3 billion to scale up solar, nearly $3 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $2 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. These and other investments are supporting more than 170,000 jobs in New York’s clean energy sector as of 2022 and over 3,000 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, New York also adopted zero-emission vehicle regulations, including requiring all new passenger cars and light-duty trucks sold in the State be zero emission by 2035. Partnerships are continuing to advance New York’s climate action with 400 registered and more than 100 certified Climate Smart Communities, nearly 500 Clean Energy Communities, and the State’s largest community air monitoring initiative in 10 disadvantaged communities across the state to help target air pollution and combat climate change.
Today’s decision may be obtained by going to the Commission Documents section of the Commission’s Web site at www.dps.ny.gov and entering Case Number 20-M-0082 in the input box labeled "Search for Case/Matter Number". Many libraries offer free Internet access. Commission documents may also be obtained from the Commission’s Files Office, 14th floor, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223 (518-474-2500). If you have difficulty understanding English, please call us at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release.
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