DR 98-084
PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
Special Contract No. NHPUC-140
Shaw's Supermarket, Inc.
Order Nisi Approving Special Contract No. NHPUC-140
O R D E R N O. 22,964
June 29, 1998
On May 15, 1998, Public Service Company of New
Hampshire (PSNH) filed with the New Hampshire Public
Utilities Commission (NHPUC or Commission) a special
contract, NHPUC-140, between PSNH and Shaw's Supermarkets,
Inc. (Shaw's) to become effective June 1, 1998.
The purpose of this filing is to assist NEPOOL in
ensuring an adequate supply of electricity in the region
this summer. NHPUC-140 provides benefits to PSNH, its other
customers and the New England region by enabling PSNH to
maintain 715 kilowatts (kW) of interruptible load, thereby
helping PSNH to prevent a potential summer capacity problem.
Under this agreement, Shaw's would receive a payment of $2
per kW of interruption, and would not be penalized for its
failure to interrupt when called upon by NEPOOL.
NHPUC-140 allows eleven of Shaw's locations to
receive service under NEPOOL Type 5 Interruptible Service
Rate N-5 (Rate N-5). Rate N-5 requires each customer to
designate a minimum of 100 kW of load as interruptible.
Each of Shaw's locations is able to provide only 65 kW of
interruptible load, but those locations in total can provide
715 kW of interruptible load. NHPUC-140 provides for a
waiver of the 100 kW minimum for each location.
Staff has reviewed the filing and recommends
approval of this contract based upon the fact that it will
enable PSNH to have 715 kW of interruptible load that would
not otherwise be available for interruption, thereby helping
to prevent a potential capacity problem for the supply of
electricity in New England this summer. Staff, however, has
concerns that there may be other customers who are eligible
for interruptible service but who do not qualify under the
tariffed rate, Rate N-5, and that a change in the tariffed
rate's eligibility criteria may be warranted.
The Commission has reviewed Staff's recommendation
and finds that the special contract, NHPUC-140, between PSNH
and Shaw's is in the public interest. The Commission also
agrees with Staff that further information from PSNH is
warranted regarding the eligibility of other customers for
the tariffed rate, Rate N-5. Such information should
include an estimate of the number of customers who are
situated similarly to Shaw's, whether those customers have
been contacted, and the feasibility and costs of modifying
Rate N-5 to make it available to customers with a load less
than 100 kW.
Based upon the foregoing, it is hereby
ORDERED NISI, that Special Contract No. NHPUC-140
between PSNH and Shaw's as filed on May 15, 1998 is
APPROVED; and it is
FURTHER ORDERED, that PSNH file a report with the
Commission, by July 15, 1998, addressing the customer and
eligibility concerns raised by Staff and described in our
analysis above; and it is
FURTHER ORDERED, that PSNH file with the
Commission a report, by October 1, 1998, indicating how
often NEPOOL called for curtailment of interruptible load
and the response of the customer, including the level and
duration of interruption; and it is
FURTHER ORDERED, that pursuant to N.H. Admin.
Rules PUC 203.01, PSNH shall cause a copy of this Order Nisi
to be published once in a statewide newspaper of general
circulation, such publication to be no later than July 7,
1998 and to be documented by affidavit filed with this
office on or before July 14, 1998; and it is
FURTHER ORDERED, that any interested party may
file written comments or request an opportunity to be heard
in this matter no later than July 10, 1998; and it is
FURTHER ORDERED, that this Order Nisi will be
effective on June 30, 1998, unless the Commission provides
otherwise in a supplemental order issued prior to the
effective date. In the event that the Commission determines
otherwise as a result of comments filed in opposition to
this order, the billing would be subject to a full refund.
By order of the New Hampshire Public Utilities
Commission this twenty-ninth day of June, 1998.
__________________ _____________________ ___________________
Douglas L. Patch Bruce B. Ellsworth Susan S. Geiger
Chairman Commissioner Commissioner
Attested by:
Thomas B. Getz
Executive Director and Secretary