NCPA - Legislative & Regulatory Old

Legislative & Regulatory Old

The NCPA Legislative and Regulatory Affairs department provides representation for NCPA members at the state and federal levels, and in both the legislative and regulatory arenas. Through the active participation of the locally-elected officials who comprise NCPA’s Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Committee, our agency advances consumer-oriented, environmentally and socially responsible policies on behalf of the communities we represent.

Throughout the year, NCPA members actively participate in state and local policy forums, and work closely with policymakers and their staffs to partner on initiatives that promote affordable, reliable, and clean energy resources.

The NCPA Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Committee, comprised of locally-elected officials, meets regularly to chart the course for the agency’s policy programs – ensuring a direct linkage between NCPA and the interests of the communities and districts we serve. This construct ensures that NCPA is a true voice of the consumer as we engage in state and federal policy debates.

Independent Evaluation

Summary
AB2021 requires all publicly-owned utilities to conduct independent evaluation of their energy efficiency programs. Through a competitive solicitation process, NCPA members have selected a pool of qualified consultants experienced in the practice of evaluation, measurement, and verification (EM&V) of energy efficiency programs.

Background
On December 4, 2006, NCPA issued a Request for Qualifications for Evaluation, Measurement, and Verification Services. On July 26, 2007 the NCPA Commission approved consulting contracts for the following firms:

Summit Blue Consulting, LLC (with Equipoise Consulting, Inc).
Contact Person: Floyd Keneipp (925) 935- 0270
2920 Camino Diablo, Suite 210
Walnut Creek, Ca 94597

RLW Analytics
Contact Person: John Stoops (707) 939-8825 x 15
1055 Broadway, Suite G
Sonoma, CA 95476

Robert Mowris and Associates
Contact Person: Robert Mowris (530) 581-4970
P.O. Box 2141
Olympic Valley, CA 96146

Status
The following options are available to members for obtaining professional EM&V services from an independent evaluator:

-NCPA members may utilize an enabling agreement between the consultants and NCPA to obtain EM&V services. This option allows members to negotiate a scope of work with a consultant without executing a contract. Instead, a work authorization (Contract Service Authorization) is issued to the consultant. When the work is approved and completed, the consultant bills NCPA and the costs are passed through to the member. This method provides flexibility and allows for a quick turn-around in conducting EM&V task work.

-NCPA members may contract directly with any of the consultants from the qualified pool. Since a competitive solicitation has already been conducted, there is no requirement to issue a competitive request for proposals.

-NCPA members may contract directly with a successful bidder from the qualified pool of consultants, based upon a competitive solicitation.

-Applicable California Law
Public Utilities Code, Section 9615 (AB2021)
Sec. 9615.e: Each local publicly owned electric utility shall also annually develop and submit to the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission a report containing all of the following,

Sec. 9615.e.3: ….the results of an independent evaluation that measures and verifies the energy efficiency savings and reduction in energy demand achieved by its energy efficiency and demand reduction programs.

Related Documents:

Member Services

The NCPA Member Services Program provides a forum for the exchange of information and implementation of member joint action activities.

Key objectives included in this program area includes:

Coordinating and assisting NCPA members with systematic collection of information and development of comprehensive reports to address pending policy issues such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, and carbon emission reductions.
Programmatic support to ensure the agency and its members fulfill California Energy Commission reporting requirements under Senate Bill 1037 and Assembly Bill AB2021.
Providing staff support to the NCPA Public Benefits Committee, and providing expertise and staff support in the administration of public benefits programs.

The Importance of Joint Action: handshake

-Saving & Economies of Scale
-Best Practices
-Strength and Political Influences
-Shared Expertise & Innovation
-Shaping the future

Links:

Independent Evaluation

Federal Power Programs

NCPA’s Federal Power Program is an issued-focused advocacy program that bridges both the legislative and regulatory arenas. In addition to legislative and regulatory advocacy, the Program maintains strong relationships with representatives of the Western Area Power Administration and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, working with these agencies to represent the interests of the Central Valley Project power resource. We join with water interest throughout the state to ensure our collective water and power customer policy issues are carefully considered and addressed.

The Program is concerned with maximizing the net value of the federal power resource for NCPA member systems by advancing policies that improve the operation and administration of the Central Valley Project, while also ensuring that the multitude of federal legislative and administrative proposals and actions related to the management and operation of the federal power marketing program do not adversely impact power customers.

Useful Links

Regulatory Program

NCPA’s Regulatory Program is responsible for advocacy and litigation related to proceedings before federal, state, and regional regulatory agencies. It is focused on maintaining broad and sometimes exclusive rights our members have under federal, state, and local laws, to generate transmit, and distribute energy. NCPA strongly advocates for maintaining existing transmission rights, ensuring fair and competitive market protocols, obtaining fair compensation for the use of member assets by the California Independent System Operator, and protecting the legal rights of NCPA and its members.

Useful Links

State Legislative Program

The Legislative program is designed to increase member influence and effective participation in the legislative process. NCPA's innovative grassroots legislative program starts with direct participation by our Utility Directors. We endeavor to build close working relationships with state legislators and their staffs, the Governor and representatives of his/her administration, and state regulators and their staff. NCPA's program also involves working directly with the energy / utilities / and natural resources committees of the state legislature. NCPA's legislative strategy has been to maximize the effectiveness of "joint action" by its members through cooperation and advocacy -- helped by any one of the more than 30 elected officials representing NCPA's 15 members in local communities and special districts.

Federal Legislative Program

NCPA’s federal legislative program is designed to increase member influence and effective participation in the legislative process at the federal level, both in Congress and within the President’s Administration. NCPA's innovative grassroots legislative program starts with direct participation by our member cities. We endeavor to build close working relationships with our federal representatives and California's two Senators, including their staffs. NCPA's program also involves working directly with the energy, resources, and appropriations committees of the U.S. Congress. NCPA's legislative strategy has been to maximize the effectiveness of "joint action" by its members through cooperation and advocacy -- helped by any one of the 12 congressional elected officials representing NCPA's members from local communities and special districts.