DR 98-129
ENERGYNORTH NATURAL GAS, INC.
1998/1999 Demand-Side Management Program
Order Approving Procedural Schedule
O R D E R N O. 23,020
September 21, 1998
APPEARANCES: McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton by
Steven V. Camerino, Esq. for EnergyNorth Natural Gas, Inc. and
Michelle A. Caraway for the Staff of the New Hampshire Public
Utilities Commission.
I. PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On July 14, 1998, EnergyNorth Natural Gas, Inc. (ENGI)
filed with the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission
(Commission) its 1998/1999 Demand-Side Management (DSM) Program
proposal. For residential and small commercial customers, ENGI
proposes to continue to offer rebates for high efficiency heating
systems and to eliminate other conservation measures because of
the high overhead costs associated with administering those
measures. For large commercial and industrial customers, ENGI
proposes to continue to offer energy audits and rebates on
setback thermostats. The surcharges associated with ENGI's DSM
Program are $0.0063 per therm for domestic heating customers and
$0.0000 per therm for commercial general and heating customers
and industrial general customers.
By an Order of Notice issued August 25, 1998, the
Commission scheduled a Prehearing Conference for September 11,
1998, set deadlines for intervention requests and objections
thereto, and outlined a proposed procedural schedule. No party
filed for intervention. The Office of the Consumer Advocate
(OCA) is a statutorily recognized intervenor.
At the Prehearing Conference, ENGI and Staff agreed to
modify the procedural schedule as outlined in the Order of
Notice. The revised procedural schedule is as follows:
Data Requests by Staff and September 14, 1998
Intervenors
Company Data Responses September 17, 1998
Technical Session September 21, 1998
Testimony by Staff and September 24, 1998
Intervenors
Settlement Conference September 30, 1998
Hearing October 6, 1998.
Also at the Prehearing Conference, ENGI and Staff
stated their positions with regard to the filing for the record.
ENGI stated that it made its filing in accordance with
Commission Order No. 22,635 (July 1, 1997) and Order No. 22,731
(September 23, 1997). These orders required ENGI to file, on or
before July 15, 1998, a single DSM Program to be effective
October 1, 1998 through September 30, 1999 encompassing ENGI's
residential, commercial and industrial customers. ENGI stated
that the filing is currently being reviewed by Staff and that it
did not expect any major issues to be raised.
Staff stated that its preliminary issues related to
ENGI's proposal to eliminate certain residential conservation
measures, the prospect of continued DSM for natural gas
utilities, and whether ENGI is entitled to collect lost net
revenues associated with conservation measures installed for new
accounts.
II. COMMISSION ANALYSIS
We find the proposed procedural schedule to be
reasonable and will, therefore, approve it for the duration of
the proceeding.
Based upon the foregoing, it is hereby
ORDERED, that the procedural schedule delineated above
is APPROVED.
By order of the Public Utilities Commission of New
Hampshire this twenty-first day of September, 1998.
Douglas L. Patch Bruce B. Ellsworth Susan S. Geiger
Chairman Commissioner Commissioner
Attested by:
Thomas B. Getz
Executive Director and Secretary