OPUC Cost-Effectiveness Docket Completed

Posted on by Brian Denne

Current weatherization measures to continue only until April 30, 2015

If you have been following along our our updates regarding the Oregon Public Utility Commission and Energy Trust working on a solution to the cost-effectiveness challenges that are affecting Energy Trust’s residential gas weatherization measures, then you would know that the Commission was scheduled to rule on the issue this past Tuesday, September 30th.

Unfortunately the “solutions” that were proposed by OPUC staff, and that were accepted on Tuesday

 by the Commission included keeping only ceiling insulation and dropping wall, floor & duct insulation, as well as performance air sealing. As mentioned above, these changes are delayed until what is deemed to be the “end of the heating season” on April 30th, 2015.

Amidst our disappointment with the ruling, there are a few positives that came along with it:

  • The current weatherization measures will continue through April 30, 2015, and …
  • Staff is directed to report back in six months on the development of a hedge value for natural gas; and …
  • In six months, the Commission is open to considering the idea of an incentive cap proposal

Here is the link to the docket website. You can read the full ruling here. (ASIDE: you may note that the report says April 30th, 2014, but that is a clear typo that I have brought to the OPUC’s attention)

It is not clear yet what impact the development of a hedge value for natural gas or the development of an incentive cap proposal will yield, but we are hoping it means greater latitude for the OPUC and Energy Trust to allow incentives for the measures scheduled to be eliminated.

What you can be sure of is that the Home Performance Guild, and the myriad of our partners, will continue to remind our decision makers of the value of Home Performance and of working with Home Performance contractors and our industry’s leaders as we strive to achieve our home and environment improvement goals.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE
who helped make our case to keep weatherization incentives alive. The OPUC’s decision to delay implementation of their ruling is likely directly attributable to your input.