FERC has ordered two New York utilities into hearing and settlement judge procedures over their proposed return on equity (ROE) on transmission investments to support the state’s renewable energy goals (ER23-1816, ER23-1817).
The commission’s Dec. 4 order accepts for filing Rate Schedule 19 formula rate protocols and templates for Avangrid’s New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E) effective July 3, 2023, subject to refund.
In response to a protest by the New York Association of Public Power (NYAPP), FERC called for hearing and settlement proceedings on the utilities’ proposed 10.87% “ceiling base” ROE — a fixed value in the formula rate that would be subject to a lower ROE authorized by the New York Public Service Commission.
NYAPP said FERC should adopt the ROE and capital structure approved by the New York commission in the most recent retail case for NYSEG — 9.2% for 2024, with a capital structure of 52% equity and 48% debt and customer deposits.
FERC agreed that the 10.87% ROE had not been shown to be just and reasonable. “We find that applicants’ proposed ceiling base ROEs raise issues of material fact that cannot be resolved based on the record before us and that are more appropriately addressed in the hearing and settlement judge procedures ordered below,” it said.
Schedule 19 and the Cost Sharing and Recovery Agreement (CSRA) — a voluntary participant funding agreement among the six New York state-regulated public utility transmission owners — are intended to provide a cost recovery and allocation framework for local transmission upgrades needed to meet the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act.
Historically, local transmission upgrades have been funded via bundled, local transmission and distribution rates. Under the CSRA, the costs are instead shared statewide and recovered on a volumetric load-ratio share basis from load-serving entities.
FERC’s order requires the settlement judge to file a report on the status of the settlement discussions in 60 days after the judge’s appointment.
While FERC sided with NYAPP on the ROE issue, it rejected the group’s contention that the formula rate misallocates administrative and general expenses.
