PURPA – Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978
PURPA was meant to promote energy conservation (reduce demand) and promote greater use of domestic energy and renewable energy (increase supply). In 2009, PURPA required qualified electric utilities to consider three new 111(d) standards pursuant to the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA).
Two new PURPA standards defined by the 2021 Infrastructure Bill which the Cooperative must consider are set forth below:
1. Demand-Response Practices.
(A) In General – Each electric utility shall promote the use of demand-response and demand flexibility practices by commercial, residential, and industrial
consumers to reduce electricity consumption during periods of unusually high demand.
(B) Rate Recovery – A nonregulated electric utility may establish rate mechanisms for the timely recovery of the costs of promoting demand-response and
demand flexibility practices in accordance with subparagraph (A).
2. Electric vehicle charging programs.
Each state shall consider measures to promote greater electrification of the transportation sector, including the establishment of rates that:
(A) promote affordable and equitable electric vehicle charging options for residential, commercial, and public electric vehicle charging infrastructures;
(B) improve the customer experience associated with electric vehicle charging, including by reducing charging times for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty
vehicles;
(C) accelerate third-party investment in electric vehicle charging for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles; and
(D) appropriately recover the marginal costs of delivering electricity to electric vehicles and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
The following schedule below will be followed by WREC in order for the Cooperative to fully consider the views of the Eligible Participants regarding the standards so that it may determine whether it is appropriate to implement such PURPA standards:
- Official Notice of Public Hearing Process and Procedural Schedule – issued February 1, 2023
- Initial Comments – to be submitted by May 1, 2023
- Reply Comments – to be submitted on or before July 1, 2023
- Determination Announcement by the Cooperative’s Board of Trustees – to be rendered on or before November 15, 2023
To view the 2023 PURPA Announcement Resolution, click on Resolution Of The Board Of Trustees Of Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative, Inc.
For any questions pertaining to PURPA please fill out the form below. To view the complete PDF document for PURPA, click on Notice Of PURPA Consideration And Hearing Process To All Eligible Participants.
PURPA Questions and Answers
Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act.
PURPA was originally passed with the intention of conserving electric energy, increasing efficiency in facilities and resources used by utility companies, making retail rates for electric consumers fairer, speeding up the creation of hydroelectric energy production at small dams, and conserving natural gas.
PURPA was enacted on November 9, 1978. It was a United States Act passed as part of the National Energy Act.
PURPA was meant to promote energy conservation (reduce demand) and promote greater use of domestic energy and renewable energy (increase supply). The law was created in response to the 1973 energy crisis, and one year in advance of a second energy crisis.
