Utility 2.0 Plan
Background
Pursuant to the Public Authorities Law, PSEG LI, Service Provider for the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), submits for review to the Department of Public Service (Department or DPS), proposed plans related to implementation of energy efficiency measures, distributed generation and/or advanced grid technology programs, having the purpose of providing customers with tools to more effectively manage their energy usage and utility bills and improving system reliability and power quality. PSEG LI submitted its proposed 2023 Utility 2.0 Plan update to DPS on June 30, 2023. PSEG LI’s annual Energy Efficiency Plan is included as an appendix with the filing.
As part of the Department’s regulatory oversight of electric service operations on Long Island pursuant to the Public Service Law, DPS reviews the proposed plans and provides recommendations to the LIPA Board of Trustees (BOT) for consideration in its approval and budget process which is expected to conclude by the end of 2023.
Utility 2.0 Plan Proposals
PSEG LI’s 2023 Utility 2.0 Plan provides updates and budget adjustments on initiatives previously reviewed by DPS and approved in prior years by the LIPA Board of Trustees. Additionally, PSEG LI is proposing three new programs in its 2023 Utility 2.0 Plan to begin in 2024, including:
- Fleet Make-Ready Program
- Residential Charger Rebate Program
- EV Phase-In Rate
Energy Efficiency (EE) Plan
Background
PSEG LI submitted its annual Energy Efficiency (EE) Plan to the DPS on June 30, 2023, as an appendix to its Utility 2.0 filing. The EE Plan describes PSEG LI’s customer-facing energy efficiency programs for residential and commercial customers, their associated energy savings targets, program budgets, and benefit-cost analyses. PSEG LI utilizes an independent evaluator for evaluation, measurement and verification of energy savings and for technical recommendations to improve program performance on an annual basis.
PSEG LI offers enhanced incentives to Low-to-Moderate Income (LMI) residential customers through three independent programs, The Home Comfort LMI, Home Performance with Energy Star (HPwES LMI), and the Residential Energy Affordability Partnership (REAP). In 2024, the three proposed programs will provide LMI residential customers with rebates to help them weatherize their homes, pay for the installation of heat pumps, and incentives for direct install energy efficiency measures.
Energy Efficiency Proposals
The total proposed budget for the 2024 EE portfolio is $93.71 million. Some of the key program proposals in the Plan include but are not limited to:
- Energy Efficient Products: provides rebates or incentives for Energy Star certified linear LED lighting, Energy Star appliances (e.g. dryers, water heaters, dehumidifiers), pool pumps, and advanced power strips. This also includes an Appliance Recycling program which provides vouchers to residential and commercial customers upon proper disposal of inefficient refrigerators, freezers, room air conditioners, and dehumidifiers.
- Home Comfort: offers incentives for efficient heating and cooling systems. Home Comfort Partners work with customers to encourage high efficiency choices when purchasing and installing ENERGY STAR ducted split air-source heat pumps, ductless mini split air-source heat pumps, and packaged terminal heat pumps.
- Residential Energy Affordability Partnership (REAP): provides efficiency measures and a free comprehensive home assessment for income-eligible customers. The program provides education and program referrals intended to help participants save energy and reduce electric bills.
- Home Performance with Energy Star: is a federal program administered locally by PSEG LI. This program provides free professional energy audits for any single-family homeowner in PSEG LI service territory. The customer receives a comprehensive whole-house energy review including appliances, insulation, and domestic hot water. Eligible customers with electric heat can participate in the free Home Performance Direct Install program, which includes a Home Energy Assessment and select free efficiency upgrades.
- Commercial Efficiency programs: provides rebates for energy savings measures, such as lighting, air conditioning, and refrigeration. Technical Assistance rebates are available to offset the cost of engineering, design, and energy modelling services for qualifying projects.
View a copy of PSEG Long Island’s EE Plan.
State Goals
The Plans are developed in alignment with NY State strategic priorities. These priorities and associated targets are primarily set forth in statute and Public Service Commission policy which are the basis for Department recommendations. Some of the more significant state policy pronouncements and guidance documents related to energy efficiency can be found in Case 18-M-0084 in the Department’s Document Matter Management system (DMM), including the Order Authorizing Utility Energy Efficiency and Building Electrification Portfolios Through 2025 issued January 16, 2020. The PSC has set forth a pathway to achieving a statewide 185 TBTU site energy savings target by 2025. The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) was passed in June 2019 which further solidified clean energy goals for New York State.
Public Comment
To ensure full public participation in the review of the proposed Utility 2.0/ EE Plan, the DPS invites public and stakeholder input and has established a public comment period that began on July 6, 2023. Comments filed with the Department will be posted to the Department’s Document Matter Management system (DMM) which is accessible online. Comments will become part of the record considered by the Department in its review and development of recommendations.
Interested persons or parties are invited to submit comments on the Plan by August 21, 2023 and reply comments by September 6, 2023. See important dates section.
Comments may be submitted via:
- Online Comment Form: Comments may be entered directly into the case/matter page on the DPS website: Matter 14-01299. Once on the matter page, enter comments by clicking on the “Post Comments” tab located at the top of the page, or submit comments here.
- First Class Mail: Comments may be mailed and delivered to Hon. Michelle L. Phillips, Secretary, New York State Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350. Your comments should refer to “Matter Number 14-01299—PSEG Long Island’s Utility 2.0 Plan.”
- Toll-free Opinion Line: Comments may also be submitted through the DPS Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. The number is designed to take comments about pending cases from in-state callers, 24 hours a day. Callers should press “2” to leave comments, mentioning PSEG Long Island’s Utility 2.0 Plan.
For more information about the review process for the Utility 2.0 or EE Plans, you may contact the Department of Public Service at 1-888-275-7721.
Stay Connected
Staying informed of activity is easy through the Department's Document and Matter Management (DMM) System. As a registered user of the application you will be able to self-subscribe to the service or party list, submit Comments and E-File.
E-Filing - Electronic filing through the Department's Document and Matter Management (DMM) System provides for secure, fast and accurate processing of your filings. With E-Filing you will be able to submit up to 100 MB of data of both public and confidential documents. E-Filing is the preferred method of submission of filings.
Comments - See Submitting Comments section above.
Service List - By subscribing to a service list for a case, an email notification will be sent to you when a filing and/or issuance is entered in the case. Subscribers can request to receive “Commission Issuances Only” or “Filings and Commissions Issuances”.
Party List - Generally, parties commit to contribute to the development of a complete record in a proceeding by conducting discovery, submitting testimony, briefs, or other formal written comments, and/or participating in evidentiary hearings, procedural conferences and other formal events conducted in the case.
For more information and step by step instructions visit:
Important Dates
- 6/30/2023 - PSEG LI filed their Utility 2.0 and EE Plan
- 8/9/2023 - PSEG LI posts Public Information Video
- 8/21/2023 - Public Comments Due
- 9/06/2023 - Reply Comments Due
- 11/01/2023 - DPS issues final recommendation to LIPA