| This rulemaking satisfies the requirements of Senate Bill (SB) 19-236, codified at § 40-2-132, C.R.S., that requires the Commission to adopt rules regarding Distribution System Planning. Specifically, SB 19-236 directs the Commission to promulgate rules establishing the filing of Distribution System Plans and the evaluation of Non-Wires Alternatives (NWA). Section 40-2-132, C.R.S., specifies that the Commission shall promulgate rules establishing the filing of a distribution system plan that includes:
1) a methodology for evaluating the costs and net benefits of using Distributed Energy Resources (DER) as NWA;
2) a determination of the threshold for the size of new distribution projects requiring NWA analysis for any new neighborhood or housing development; and
3) a determination of what should be included in a DSP filing including, the consideration of NWA regarding new development (greater than 10,000 residences), the consideration of increases in load forecasts resulting from beneficial electrification programs, a forecast of DER growth, a summary of the utility’s planning process for cyber and physical security risks, a proposed cost-recovery method, anticipated new distribution system expansion investments, a process to evaluate DSP feasibility and economic impacts of NWA for certain projects, and an estimate of peak demand growth or DER growth that merits analysis of new NWA projects. |