Bill Text: DE SJR1 | 2019-2020 | 150th General Assembly | Draft
Bill Title: Directing The Delaware Public Service Commission To Review The Qualified Fuel Cell Provider Tariff With The Goal Of Finding Ways To Mitigate The Future Burden On Delmarva Power Ratepayers.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 6-3)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-05-31 - Introduced and Assigned to Energy Committee in Senate [SJR1 Detail]
Download: Delaware-2019-SJR1-Draft.html
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SPONSOR: |
Sen. Lawson & Rep. Kowalko |
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Sens. Hocker, Pettyjohn, Wilson; Reps. Collins, Matthews, Osienski, D. Short |
DELAWARE STATE SENATE
150th GENERAL ASSEMBLY
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 1
DIRECTING THE DELAWARE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO REVIEW THE QUALIFIED FUEL CELL PROVIDER TARIFF WITH THE GOAL OF FINDING WAYS TO MITIGATE THE FUTURE BURDEN ON DELMARVA POWER RATEPAYERS.
WHEREAS, the cumulative amount of the Qualified Fuel Cell Provider (“QFCP”) tariff to cover the excess cost of facilities to generate 30MW of electric power using fuel cells made by Bloom Energy, Inc. (“QFCP facilities”) is over $200 million and increasing at about $3 million per month; and
WHEREAS, this burden has substantially exceeded estimates made in 2011 for reasons that are not obvious to either State officials or the general public; and
WHEREAS, the QFCP facilities are scheduled to operate and the QFCP tariff to continue being charged until 2033; and
WHEREAS, the benefits derived by Delmarva Power ratepayers appear to be relatively minor in relation to the burden of the QFCP tariff; and
WHEREAS, although the QFCP tariff is only subject to change by the joint action of Delmarva Power and Bloom Energy, Inc., there may be some way for the parties responsible to adjust the operations of the QFCP facilities that will mitigate the burden on Delmarva Power ratepayers.
NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 150th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, with the approval of the Governor, that Public Service Commission is authorized and directed to conduct a comprehensive review of the QFCP facilities and QFCP tariff to identify and evaluate any options that may be available to mitigate the burden of the QFCP tariff on Delmarva Power ratepayers.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that for purposes of this review, the Public Service Commission is empowered to issue subpoenas to require the appearance and sworn testimony of representatives of Bloom Energy, Inc., Delmarva Power, and any other entities involved in operation of the QFCP facilities.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of National Resources and Environmental Control should be invited to participate but with the understanding that the Public Service Commission has primary responsibility for this review.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Service Commission shall complete the review required in lines 14 through 17 of this resolution and compile a report containing the results of the review, including any requests for action by the General Assembly that would reduce the burden of the QFCP tariff on Delmarva ratepayers, and make the report public and submit the report to all members of the General Assembly and the Governor no later than 1 year after the enactment of this resolution.
SYNOPSIS
This Senate Joint Resolution requires the Public Service Commission to conduct a comprehensive review of the Qualified Fuel Cell Provider tariff and Qualified Fuel Cell Provider facilities to identify and evaluate any options that may be available to reduce the burden of this tariff on Delmarva Power ratepayers. This Senate Joint Resolution also requires that a report containing the results of this review be completed and made public within 1 year.
Author: Senator Lawson
