Utility Green Tariffs: A - Z

Keys to Structuring Long-Term Renewable Contracts Directly between Utilities and Commercial/Industrial Off-takers

November 4-5, 2020 | Online ::

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As renewable energy has moved into the mainstream of bulk power consumption, commercial, industrial, institutional and other large users are contracting directly for their power.  These so-called green tariffs (GT) facilitate the broader social objectives that employees, customers, the supply chain, citizens seek to have manifested in the broader push for the de-carbonization of business.  Many customers are entering into direct power purchase agreements (PPAs) with independent and merchant power producers.  Others are opting to establish special arrangements with utilities, effectively taking service under new rates that are differentiated from what otherwise applies to large commercial and industrial customers.

This GT summit will explore the different types of applicable rate structures and alternatives available and under consideration by utilities and utility regulators for the bulk purchase of renewable energy — especially by large commercial, industrial, and institutional customers.  Utilities, state regulatory bodies, large power consumers and project developers with active or anticipated green tariff arrangements and related cases will find this a must-attend forum to evaluate their options and the path forward.

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Learning Outcomes

Through presentations and panel discussions, attendees will have the opportunity at this program to:

• Identify the various utility green tariff rate designs and mechanisms in use
• Indicate common elements of regulatory costs, benefits and externalities that can be reflected in “green tariff” rate structures
• Evaluate strategic utility challenges in properly establishing renewable energy program designs and revenue targets
• Examine avoided cost and levelized cost (LCOE) calculation metrics and assumptions associate with green tariffs
• Discuss mechanics of GT administration by utilities
• Assess the elements essential for business partner(s) to collaborate with utilities and regulators for successful formulation and adoption of green tariffs
• Illustrate salient best practices, opportunities and challenges through GT case studies
• Infer influences on future development of green tariffs

Credits

EUCI is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.

EUCI is authorized by IACET to offer 0.9 CEUs for this event.

 

Requirements for Successful Completion of Program

Participants must sign in/out each day and be in attendance for the entirety of the conference to be eligible for continuing education credit.

Instructional Methods

Case studies and PowerPoint presentations will be used in this program.

Wednesday, November 4, 2020, Pacific Time

8:45: a.m. – 4:45 p.m.  :: Course Timing

8:00 – 8:30 am :: Log In

8:30 – 8:45 am. :: Welcome, Overview and Introductions

8:45 – 10:00 am :: The Foundations of Corporate and Bulk-Scale Green Energy Programs

This segment will provide an overview of the foundations that underpin the concepts associated with all green energy programs, including green tariffs (GT).  It will explore what the drivers are behind this relatively recent renewable energy procurement practice, especially what utilities and project developers who support these programs must understand about the large end-user customers they directly serve.  Finally, it will compare and contrast how GTs relate to the full range of green power acquisition/deployment.

Types of GTs and How They Work

This segment will survey the three types of green tariffs in the United States:

1. A sleeved power purchase agreement (PPA)
2. Subscriber programs
3. Market-based rate programs

It will present the characteristics, similarities and distinctions that influence the administration of each rate and policy innovation.

10:00 – 10:20 am :: Morning Break

10:20 – 11:45 am ::  Mechanics of GT Administration by Utilities 

• Establishing the starting point(s)
  • The process of determining customer-appetites and needs
  • Regulatory-mandated vs voluntary
  • Market structure and characteristics
    • Wholesale market operations
    • Bi-lateral transactions
  • Customer eligibility and how many GTs a single utility can adopt
• Implementation of program elements and design

11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. :: Break for Lunch

12:30 – 2:15 p.m. :: Green Tariff Program Design Essentials

• Designing for your customers
• Key strategic and tactical considerations
• Green tariff design elements & best practices
• Launching a successful green tariff – a roadmap for marketing and outreach 

2:15 – 2:30 p.m. :: Afternoon Break

2:30 – 4:30 p.m. :: Green Tariff Pricing Structures

This segment will review the conceptual underpinnings of green tariffs and set out their basic pricing formulation. The presentation will also review how several leading green tariff providers design their contracts or services, focusing on key features affecting service viability, such as:

• Green tariffs vs. other renewable service products
• REC market considerations
• Green tariff motivation and pricing principles
• Tariff formulation
• Leading green tariff examples

4:30 p.m. :: Program Adjournment for Day

Thursday, November 5, 2020 : Pacific Time

8:30: a.m. – 4:30 p.m.  :: Course Timing

8:15 – 8:30 am :: Log In

8:30 – 10:00 a.m. :: Green Tariff Execution: Case Studies by Public Power and IOU Utilities

This discussion will address development of a green tariff program from start to finish, including these items:

• Why the utility pursued a green tariff
• Whether it played out as planned
• Lessons learned
• Best practices
• Opportunities and challenges

10:00 – 10:20 a.m. :: Morning Break

10:20 – 11:45 a.m. :: Business Partner(s): A Critical Part of the GT Equation

This segment will explore what commercial, industrial, institutional and other classes of large renewable energy users are looking for in their quest to lock down “green” power in a business-sustainable fashion.  It will address:

• Rate sensitivity
• Comparative power options
• Reducing carbon footprint
• Subsequent relationship between GT counterparty and utility
• Impact on customer and public recognition and goodwill

Trends in GT Program Designs and Best Practices

• As GT programs become more widespread and refined, what set of characteristics are customers requiring?
• Rate design review – elements that work best
• Innovation in utility green tariff program solutions

11:45 am – 12:45 p.m. :: Break for Lunch

12:45 – 2:45 p.m. :: Green Tariff Execution: Case Studies by Business Partner(s) and Government Jurisdiction(s)

This discussion will address development of a green tariff program from start to finish, including these items:

• Why the utility pursued a green tariff
• Whether it played out as planned
• Lessons learned
• Best practices
• Opportunities and challenges

2:45 – 3:00 p.m. :: Afternoon Break

3:00 – 4:30 p.m. :: Influences on Future Development of Green Tariffs

• State RPS Updates
• Solar Policies (Net Metering, Value of Solar, etc.)
• Changes to state carbon policies affecting voluntary and corporate renewable energy
• Local gov’t and business/community-led carbon reduction pledges and measures
• Citizen, customer and shareholder advocacy

4:30 p.m. :: Program Adjournment

Celina Bonugli, Clean Energy Innovation Specialist, World Resources Institute (WRI)

Celina Bonugli is a Clean Energy Innovation Associate at World Resources Institute (WRI).  She supports the facilitation of electric utility and large-scale energy buyer collaboration to spur innovative solutions that de-carbonize the electricity sector, increase grid efficiencies and integrate new technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For the Renewables Accelerator initiative, which provides technical support to U.S. municipal governments as they procure renewable energy, Ms. Bonugli leads the electric utility and regulatory engagement strategy, consultation, and resource development.  Prior to joining the WRI, she contributed to international renewable energy policy for developing countries with the Worldwatch Institute. She also worked with the Green Energy Institute and The Climate Trust in Portland, Oregon where she researched and analyzed relevant laws to develop greenhouse gas emission and climate related policy for the state.  Ms. Bonugli holds a Juris Doctor and a certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources law from Lewis and Clark Law School.

Bruce R. Chapman, Vice President and Senior Economist, Christensen Associates Energy Consulting

Bruce R. Chapman is Vice President and Senior Economist at Christensen Associates Energy Consulting.  He assists clients in the electricity and natural gas industries to improve their costing and pricing capabilities. Mr. Chapman advises clients in such areas of expertise as: cost-of-service analysis and rate design based upon established regulatory and market-based principles; innovative rate design including demand response products, renewables pricing, fixed billing, and other market-based retail pricing products; load forecasting and load research analysis. Additionally, he has supervised the development of software required for the implementation and support of innovative retail products.

Jenny Heeter, Senior Energy Analyst Markets & Policy Group – Strategic Energy Analysis Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

Jenny Heeter is a Senior Energy Analyst in the Markets & Policy Group in the Strategic Energy Analysis Center at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).  She has been on the NREL staff for 11 years.  Her areas of expertise include market analysis, policy analysis and utility regulation analysis.  Ms. Heeter’s research interests are voluntary green power markets, renewable energy certificate markets and pricing, solar renewable energy certificate markets as well as renewable energy and carbon accounting.  Before joining NREL, she served as a Utility Analyst at the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, Sustainability Fellow at the Office of the Mayor (Bloomington, Indiana) and Assistant Project Manager for Clean Water Action Alliance of Minnesota.  Ms. Heeter earned a M.P.A. in Environmental Policy & Natural Resource Management at Indiana University and a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Political Science at  Macalester College.

Amanda Mortlock, Vice President – Utility Partnerships, 3Degrees

Amanda Mortlock is Vice President of Utility Partnerships at 3Degrees, a firm specializing in renewable energy, transportation decarbonization, and other climate solutions.  She brings more than 15 years of experience partnering with utilities to design, launch and manage some of the most successful voluntary renewable energy & carbon offset programs in the country.  In her role, Ms. Mortlock supports utilities in designing new products that meet a variety of stakeholder needs in a dynamic market and oversees a team focused on program implementation. 

Eric O’Shaughnessy, Energy Analyst, Clean Kilowatts

Eric O’Shaughnessy is an independent renewable energy research consultant. His research areas include distributed solar markets, distributed solar system optimization through storage and load control, community solar, and voluntary green power markets. Dr. O’Shaughnessy received his Ph.D. in Environment and Resources from the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He also has an M.P.A. from the LaFollette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a B.S. in Environmental Economics and Policy from Michigan State University.

Josh Halley, Renewable Power Portfolio Manager, Portland General Electric

Josh Halley is Renewable Power Portfolio Manager at Portland General Electric.  In that capacity over the past seven years, he has overseen the development of the green tariff and other renewable energy initiatives at the utility.  Preceding that, he served in several roles for Green Mountain Energy, supporting that renewable energy retailer’s efforts in Oregon to provide 100% clean energy solutions, backed by the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs).

We will be using Microsoft Teams to facilitate your participation in the upcoming event. You do not need to have an existing Teams account in order to participate in the broadcast – the course will play in your browser and you will have the option of using a microphone to speak with the room and ask questions, or type any questions in via the chat window and our on-site representative will relay your question to the instructor.

• You will receive a meeting invitation will include a link to join the meeting.
• Separate meeting invitations will be sent for the morning and afternoon sessions of the course.
  • You will need to join the appropriate meeting at the appropriate time.
• If you are using a microphone, please ensure that it is muted until such time as you need to ask a question.
• The remote meeting connection will be open approximately 30 minutes before the start of the course. We encourage you to connect as early as possible in case you experience any unforeseen problems.

REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT:

Utility Green Tariffs: A - Z

November 4-5, 2020 | Online

Your registration may be transferred to a member of your organization up to 24 hours in advance of the event. Cancellations must be received on or before October 02, 2020 in order to be refunded and will be subject to a US $195.00 processing fee per registrant. No refunds will be made after this date. Cancellations received after this date will create a credit of the tuition (less processing fee) good toward any other EUCI event. This credit will be good for six months from the cancellation date. In the event of non-attendance, all registration fees will be forfeited. In case of conference cancellation, EUCIs liability is limited to refund of the event registration fee only. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as complaints and refunds, please contact our offices at 303-770-8800