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York Electric considers PURPA standards
September, 2007
The federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 amended the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) to add five proposed regulatory standards relating to fuel sources, fossil fuel generating efficiency, interconnection, smart metering, and net metering. According to PURPA, non-regulated electric utilities like York Electric had to formally consider adoption of the five proposed standards. York Electric Cooperative's Board of Directors met recently to consider proposed federal standards pertaining to renewable energy and conservation.
After reviewing this information, York Electric's Board determined it could not adopt the fuel source and fossil fuel generating standards since they apply to generation utilities. Santee Cooper, who generates the electricity purchased by York Electric through its supplier Central Electric, has indicated they already meet or exceed these requirements.
York Electric's Board also concluded that the implementation of the PURPA Net Metering Standard as drafted would raise issues of rate equity between consumers who would use net metering and consumers who would not. Therefore, the Board chose not to adopt the net metering standard. In making this decision, York Electric is recommending Central Electric, our power supplier, consider purchasing power from York Electric members/consumers under a net billing arrangement. Due to the current rate structures, York Electric's Board concluded that the Smart Metering Standard should not be adopted at this time.
Finally, York Electric's Board adopted an Interconnection Standard, addressing the process of connecting a member's on-site generation (such as solar panels) to the local distribution grid.
For a copy of the full written decision, write to PURPA, York Electric Cooperative, Inc., Post Office Box 150, York, SC 29745.
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