Section 407-316-9 - ELECTRIC RESOURCE ADEQUACY REPORT AND PLANA.Report and PlanThe Commission may periodically prepare an Electric Resource Adequacy Report and Plan. The Commission shall prepare an Electric Resource Adequacy Report and Plan when it determines that such action would be necessary or useful in the solicitation and evaluation of long-term contracts under this Chapter. In the event that the Commission prepares an Electric Resource Adequacy Report and Plan, it shall submit the Report and Plan to the Joint Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy.
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The Plan may include, but not be limited to, the following information:
1. an assessment of the adequacy of bulk level grid reliability;2. the amount, type and preferred location of capacity resources and transmission development necessary to ensure adequate bulk level grid reliability, minimize the cost of federal capacity requirements, or lower the cost of electricity for Maine consumers;3. the identification of capacity resources whose continued operation is necessary to ensure adequate grid reliability, minimize the cost of federal capacity requirements, or lower the cost of electricity for Maine consumers;4. Commission action to facilitate the development or maintain the operation of capacity resources and transmission necessary to ensure adequate grid reliability, minimize the cost of federal capacity requirements, or lower the cost of electricity for Maine consumers; and5. recommended legislation.B. Plan DevelopmentIn developing the plan, the Commission may consider and, to the extent appropriate, incorporate the following:
1. existing forecasts of load and capacity requirement needs produced by the ISO-NE, the NMISA, the NBSO and other applicable entities;2. forecasts by transmission and distribution utilities of peak demands and load growth; and3. reports from transmission and distribution utilities on bulk level grid reliability within their service territories and the need for the development of new resources.C. Public ParticipationThe Commission shall seek comment from interested persons in developing the Report and Plan.
D. Plan ImplementationThe Commission shall implement the Plan by taking the following actions, as appropriate:
1. authorize long-term contracts for capacity resources pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter;2. order transmission and distribution utilities to develop or facilitate the development of capacity resources or transmission;3. participate in proceedings of other agencies as a resource for information on the need for capacity resources or transmission; and4. advocate in the processes or proceedings of the FERC, ISO-NE, NEPOOL, NMISA, NBSO, NERC, NPCC or other entities that relate to or that may have an impact on grid reliability in Maine or the cost of federal capacity requirements for Maine consumers.E. Utility ReportsIn the event that the Commission decides to prepare an Electric Resource Adequacy report and Plan pursuant to the is Section, it may require investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities to file service territory bulk level grid reliability reports no less frequently then every two years. The grid reliability report may include an assessment of resource adequacy and grid reliability within the utility's service territory, an evaluation of whether the current system meets established grid reliability criteria or objectives, an analysis of whether established grid reliability criteria or objectives are likely to be met over the following five year period, and a discussion of the costs and benefits of viable alternatives to address any identified grid reliability need.
65- 407 C.M.R. ch. 316, § 9