Arkansas Public Service Commission Dismisses Investigation into Net Metering Cost Shifting

The Arkansas Public Service Commission has resolved the investigation into potential cost shifting associated with net metering by dismissing the docket in light of the newly enacted Arkansas Cost-Shifting Prevention Act of 2023. The legislation, signed into law on March 13, 2023, allows certain types of costs to be recoverable by electric utilities from net-metering customers. The Commission has opted to discontinue its investigation, citing the new law's provisions as rendering further action unnecessary.

Key Takeaways:

• The Arkansas Public Service Commission has dismissed the investigation into potential cost shifting associated with net metering, citing the newly enacted Arkansas Cost-Shifting Prevention Act of 2023.
• The Act, signed into law on March 13, 2023, specifies that certain types of costs shall be recoverable by electric utilities from net-metering customers.
• Joint Movants, consisting of Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, LLC, Southwestern Electric Power Company, and Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company, had filed a motion to dismiss the docket on April 7, 2023.
• General Staff supported the dismissal, but requested that the procedural schedule be suspended while the Commission considers the motion in the event of an extended deliberation period.
• The Commission directed each investor-owned electric utility and distribution cooperative to file direct testimony on the amount and extent of cost shifting, as well as the manner in which the utility would design a tariff to recover costs on behalf of non-Net-Metering Customers.

Statistics:

• 22-061-U: The docket number assigned to the investigation into potential cost shifting associated with net metering.
• 28: The Order No. referencing the procedural requirements for utilities to document cost shifting and propose a tariff recovery plan.
• 16-027-R: The docket number associated with the referenced Order 28.
• 1000: The Center Street address of the Arkansas Public Service Commission.
• 501: The area code for the Arkansas Public Service Commission's telephone number.
• 682-5873: The telephone number of Michael Brechlin, General Staff's representative.

Sources:

• Arkansas Public Service Commission. (2023, April 13). Docket 22-061-U.
• Arkansas General Assembly. (2023, March 13). Act 278 of 2023 (Arkansas Cost-Shifting Prevention Act of 2023).
• Joint Movants (2023, April 7). Motion to Dismiss.
• Carroll Electric Cooperative Corporation (2023, April 11). Supporting the Joint Motion to Dismiss.
• General Staff (2023, April 13). Response to Joint Motion to Dismiss.