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Special Alert: Net Metering in Texas at Jeopardy!

Yesterday, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) released a proposed rule in its net metering proceeding. Unfortunately, what started out in legislation as an incentive program for on-site generation is turning into a set of rules that may make it very disadvantageous for Texans to self-generate renewable on-site generation. The PUCT’s proposed rule goes to great lengths to make sure that Texas utilities (TDUs) are compensated for all line charges associated with on-site generation and for whatever metering the TDUs choose to install, including up to two IDR meters on systems over 50 kW. On the other hand, the proposed rule refuses to provide any guarantee that a distributed generation (DG) owner will receive any compensation or credit for energy delivered to the grid. In IREC’s opinion, in the practice of over 35 states and under U.S. code, this is not metering. (IREC is the Interstate Renewable Energy Council)

The PUCT’s net metering proceeding will produce two related rules. The proposed rule released yesterday deals with metering and is being decided on an expedited basis. The PUCT has scheduled an open meeting for March 26^th for interested people to comment on the proposed rule. On the same day, comments will be due on the remaining portion of the net metering rules. Although both are important, the open meeting will be taking up key issues that are key to determining what net metering will mean in Texas. IREC calls on supporters of on-site generation to attend this meeting and voice their concerns. Go to http://www.puc.state.tx.us/calendar/calendar.cfm for more information.

The following summarizes the contents of the proposed rule and the proposed order that accompanies the proposed rule:

Most disturbing, the proposed order determines that netting over a billing period is not consistent with H.B. 3693, the legislation that set the net metering proceeding in motion. This is quite ironic considering that net metering is universally understood as netting over a billing period. According to the proposed decision, “net metering” has various applications in other markets and often refers to “retail roll backs” or “banking” whereby a meter runs backwards. Because H.B. 3693 does not include these concepts and stipulates that metering must be capable of measuring in-flows and out-flows, the proposed order reasons that net metering as it is universally understood is not what the legislature had in mind for Texas. This reasoning ignores comments by IREC and others that meter readings for in-flows and out-flows can be netted to accomplish net metering and that this is in fact the way net metering is accomplished in many states. The commission appears to have been convinced by the utilities that H.B. 3693 can’t possibly call for net metering unless it states that meters should spin forwards and backwards.

The commission also concludes that “[a]bsent the ability to quantify out-flows, there is no basis for the DRGO and REP to determine when the energy is made available and arrive at the time value of this energy in the wholesale market.”  The commission appears to misunderstand its own market. An end of month out-flow reading does not provide any information as to when energy was put on the grid. Nevertheless, the commission uses this as further justification that under H.B. 3693 “it is not sufficient merely to quantify the difference between in-flows and out-flows.” Ignoring the fact that IREC and others have agreed that in-flows and out-flows should be measured, but also netted, the commission nevertheless concludes that a requirement that out-flows be measured is proof that net metering isn’t consistent with H.B. 3693 and therefore no netting should occur.

Following this illogical and seemingly result driven reasoning, the commission concludes that the proposed rule should not include the term “net metering service” because “use of the them ‘net metering service’ could be confusing.” IREC agrees. Use of the term “net metering” in the proceeding’s title has confused IREC into thinking that the proceeding would result in net metering rules.

Also in the proposed order, the commission determines – without providing any justification – that the term “out-flow” and “surplus electricity” are synonymous when used in H.B. 3693 and therefore the commission will use the term “surplus electricity” in instead of the term “out-flow” in the rule. The result is that DG owners will not have to be paid or credited anything for energy put on the grid. This flies in the face of H.B. 3693, which uses the term “out-flow” in the metering section and “surplus electricity” in the retail settlement section. It is a tenant of statutory interpretation that when the legislature uses different terms, it is assumed that the legislature means different things. Ignoring this tenant, the commission’s interpretation substitutes the term surplus electricity for the term out-flow, which had the undesirable effect of suggesting that the legislature was referring to out-flows.

The proposed rule also rejects IREC’s argument that TDUs should be required to install the lowest cost metering capable of measuring in-flows and out-flows consistent with H.B. 3693. Instead, the proposed rule specifies that TDUs may provide up to two interval demand recorders (IDR meters) for systems over 50 kW, despite the fact that a second IDR recorder would be redundant and unnecessary. For customers below 50 kW, a TDU may, at its discretion, install one or two meters of undetermined type with all cost to be paid by the DG owner. The proposed rules even suggest that a TDU may have discretion to install up to two meters for DG customers even if they do not want to measure energy delivered to the grid. This is particularly distressing given that DG owners may not be paid anything for energy put on the grid.

As an additional gift to the utilities, the commission will allow TDUs to assess line charge on all in-flows as opposed to netting in-flows and out-flows as is done in net metering programs in many other states. Despite the fact that H.B. 3693 is completely silent on this issue, the proposed order dismisses IREC’s argument for TDU charge netting as inconsistent with H.B. 3693.

 Maybe its time to let the PUC know how important net metering is to the future of Texas and renewable energy

PUC Commissioners

Barry Smitherman Chairman

Julie Caruthers Parsley Commissioner

Paul Hudson Commissioner

paul.hudson@puc.state.tx.us
barry.smitherman@puc.state.tx.us
julie.parsley@puc.state.tx.us

By Solar Nation

January 4, 2008On the energy and environmental front, anyone following the presidential primaries today can make some fairly safe predictions about our sustainable future without even picking a winner from the thirteen major candidates. In its 2008 Voters’ Guide, the League of Conservation Voters has compared and tabulated the energy policies of all the presidential hopefuls (see tables below). The League doesn’t over-editorialize, but it’s clear from even an unbiased reading of their positions that the country will go in a diametrically different direction in 2009 depending largely on the party of the 44th president.

To compare the competing Democrats, one would think they were vying to establish which of them is the greenest one of all. And while this could be construed as one-upmanship at this point in the race, it’s also a good indication of how seriously each of them takes ‘green’ issues. They have all published detailed, thoughtful plans on how they would deal with the issues of energy independence and climate change, and what’s most encouraging about them is the extent to which they see the twin issues as interdependent. Here’s a simplified summary of their positions:

For the most part, Republicans also talk up a storm on energy independence, but somehow miss the connection to climate change mitigation. This leads them to interpret our energy future mostly in terms of new nuclear power plants, old coal, clean coal, liquid coal and business-as-usual in Detroit and the oil states. Examining their positions on the same seven issues listed above, we see a wider spectrum of responses, ranging from mildly supportive to insouciant to frighteningly hostile:

As can be seen, Governor Huckabee and Senator McCain lift themselves somewhat above their competitors with support for fuel efficiency and carbon emission limits, but with these exceptions noted, the Republican candidates seem to be sharing a generally reactionary platform. Candidate Ron Paul’s position on energy is perhaps scarier than most, as he does not appear to have given much thought to the seven major issues measured; on fuel efficiency and coal plants he has shown himself no friend to clean energy or the environment, while on the other five issues he hasn’t recorded any position whatsoever.

Giuliani’s and Thompson’s records show opposition to virtually everything beneficial to the environment, and support for continued use of coal in any form. And the campaign promise of the former governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney, to bring large-scale clean energy technology to market, clashes with his public opposition to the nation’s largest proposed offshore wind project off the coast of the Bay State.

Overall, the impression given by the campaign literature of GOP hopefuls is that the energy/environmental debate has not been worthy of serious thought, nor has it featured in their spoken rhetoric as much as immigration, healthcare or the Iraq war. Compared with some of the Democratic candidates’ meticulously crafted plans with their targets, pricetags and deadlines, the Republican contenders seem to be paying lip service to an issue they know does not excite the general public. And so far as government support for clean energies such as solar is concerned, most of them mention it only as afterthoughts to ideas for increased use of coal, drilling in the ANWR and building more nuclear plants, measures that may offset some fossil fuel imports but will exacerbate environmental problems already approaching crisis levels.

So in this exercise in crystal ball gazing, you could probably get just as accurate a result with a two-dollar snowglobe. With Huckabee and McCain, and to a greater extent with the six Democrats, there is a sense of recognition of the comparative importance of the energy issue. It’s the recognition that whereas we can survive not finding a perfect solution to some of the more emotionally charged issues in politics today, we can’t survive a failure to address effectively—and on a national scale—the interrelated issues of energy and environment.

It’s also difficult to escape the conclusion that, in the event of a candidate in the mold of Giuliani, Paul, Romney or Thompson being sworn in next January, the brotherly relationship between the oil & gas industry and Government that characterized the Bush Administration will become, if anything, measurably cozier.

By Charles A. Breeding

Recall the opening scene in the blockbuster movie, Forrest Gump – a feather floating in the wind, up and down and all around with no control or sense of direction whatsoever. I would argue that many business people feel that awful feeling of being powerless, being blown around by the latest change of which they have no power, influence or sense of control. Helpless. It is not a good feeling.

Later in the movie, as Forrest’s son is about to leave for his first day of school, he asks his father a thought-provoking question: “Is life like a feather (I’m powerless over many events which affect me) or do I have destiny (I can set goals, and purposefully move toward them)?” Forrest’s answer: “ I guess it’s just a little bit of both, son.” Isn’t it?

Stuff Happens, says the cleaned-up version of the famous bumper sticker. Yet, 10% of success is what happens to you –90% of success is what you DO with what happens to you. In other words, do you respond or react? Do you quit, or get up and try again? Are you a golf club thrower, or do you recoup quickly? Do you let your feelings of resentment or anger get the best of you, or are you as cool as a cucumber in a crisis? Do you say things that you later regret? Or, when attacked, respond with calmly spoken, kind words, and perhaps make the other person regret their attack?

IQ or EQ?
Emotional Intelligence, sometimes abbreviated EI or EQ, in a takeoff of IQ, has become a hot management leadership consulting area in the last two years. Emotional skills have replaced experience and IQ or intelligence as the most important markers of personal success. EI is rooted in the belief that success is only partly explained by IQ, or one’s intellect. More important is how one behaves in response to events, and how well they interact with people.

Credit for popularizing EI concepts generally goes to Daniel Goleman, chief executive of Emotional Intelligence Services in Massachusetts and a former Harvard educator. Goleman reached the best seller list in 1995 with “Emotional Intelligence.”
The foundation of EI, says Goleman, is that “we are being judged by a different yardstick – not just by how smart we are, or by our training and expertise, but also by how well we handle ourselves and each other.”

And I would argue that the tests are how well we handle ourselves in a crisis, in conflict, in disagreement, and in dealing with problems. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

Kinder and Gentler
Goleman describes the results of a U.S. Navy study of its best commanding officers: “…the greatest difference between average and superior leaders was in their emotional style. The more effective leaders were more positive and outgoing, more emotionally expressive and dramatic, warmer and more sociable (including smiling more), friendlier and more democratic, more cooperative, more likable and ‘fun to be with,’ more appreciative and trustful, and even gentler than those who were merely average.” I guess that Dale Carnegie had much of it right over sixty years ago.

Improving EI is all about improving our relationships with others. Unlike IQ, however, emotional intelligence is a learned competence. Corporations, which spend small fortunes identifying, nurturing, and training their future leaders, have begun to zero in on emotional intelligence as a key component of management success.

So what else comprises EI? Goleman’s research shows that emotional intelligence — which includes such things as self-awareness, motivation, empathy/sensitivity, listening, self-regulation, accepting responsibility and accountability, and adeptness in relationships — may be up to 25 times as potent as IQ in determining workplace success.

An Example
John is a rising executive, who at 42 years old, has punched his ticket all the way to Executive Vice President at a utility. He’s extremely bright having graduated from one of the best graduate schools for MBA’s, and is a well above-average presenter and public speaker.

Recently, he was provided data about how his peers, subordinates and colleagues viewed him from an assessment instrument called “360 Feedback.” The results: John is seen as not a good listener; he takes delegated or empowered authority back in meetings when things aren’t going his way; he is seen as somewhat unapproachable because of his quick temper and growing reputation for shooting messengers; he is viewed as having problems giving feedback other than criticism of which he excels.

John’s first reaction to the feedback data is disbelief, followed by the same stages as facing pending, imminent death: denial, blaming, anger, and more. Yet, as the expert coaching intervention proceeds over time, he comes to give some credit of how he is perceived by others. “Perception IS reality,” he grudgingly admits.

Because of John’s eventual acceptance of this information, he has won 25% of the battle: awareness. He also has the desire to improve, the next 25% of the eventual victory. Many business leaders aren’t even aware of the impact that their style has on the respect, trust, commitment-level and motivation of their direct reports.

What to Do
One of the most critically important ways to begin to strengthen your emotional intelligence is to learn to accept full and complete responsibility — offering no excuses. This trait is not age-dependent or experience-driven, unfortunately. No passing the buck. Full accountability regardless of “extenuating circumstances.” Perhaps this is one reason that managers command the salaries that they do – they are responsible for what their team does, or fails to do, period.

Make a New Year resolution TODAY to work on your emotional intelligence. Leadership development, executive coaching, and even some classroom training (beyond the one-day seminar wonder) can and will have an effect on the critical interpersonal skills so important to emotional intelligence. If you are in the “fast-track” and want to stay there, success requires a solid emotional intelligence that often requires coaching to fully realize and achieve.

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« Two Personality Powers for Motivating Others

 If you have not made a call to your Senator to let them know how you feel about alternative energy pleasee pick up the phone on Monday.Let them know this is important. Let them know you are watching them.

Make your voice heard !!!!!!
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    Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a 21st Century energy bill that would harness American ingenuity and put us on a path to cleaner, smarter new energy future.  This bill is a breakthrough on energy policy and would set the country firmly on a path to increasing clean energy, lowering energy demand, and reducing U.S. dependence on oil.

Unfortunately, this morning, a minority of Senators, led by coal and Big Oil supporters blocked forward progress on energy and the bill failed to reach the 60 vote hurdle.  Senators who blocked this bill, including Texan John Cornyn, delivered an early Christmas present to big oil and dirty coal and put a lump of coal in the stockings of the American people.

Voting FOR the clean energy bill: Reps. Green (Al), Hinojosa, Reyes, Edwards, Jackson Lee, Gonzalez, Rodriguez, Doggett, Cuellar, Johnson (Eddie Bernice)

Voting AGAINST the clean energy bill: Sen. Cornyn and Reps. Gohmert, Poe, Johnson (Sam), Hall, Hensarling, Barton, Culberson, Brady, McCaul, Conaway, Thornberry, Paul, Neugebauer, Smith, Lampson, Marchant, Burgess, Green (Gene), Carter, Sessions

Sen. Hutchison and Reps. Granger and Ortiz did not vote.

Americans should not tolerate leaders who are defending the status quo on energy.  At a time when oil prices are at more than $90/barrel, the public deserves a 21st century clean, green energy policy that saves money at the gas pump and on energy bills.

Please call your U.S. Representative and Senators and tell them how you feel about their vote. You can reach their offices by calling 202-224-3121.

Then let us know who you talked to and what they said by visiting our website:

http://environmenttexas.org/action/energy/clean-energy-call?id4=ES

We are particularly disappointed that despite overwhelming public support for renewable energy and demand for cars that get better gas mileage, that the Senate has missed this opportunity to enact a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) and strengthen fuel economy standards. Both of these policies would substantially reduce global warming pollution while saving consumers money.

We hope the Senate will act again quickly (which they may do as early as Tuesday) to pass these critical energy policies and deliver a bright green holiday to America.

Sincerely,

Luke Metzger
Environment Texas Director
LukeM@environmenttexas.org
http://www.environmenttexas.org

You have to LOVE this .

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SouthwestSolar.biz » Blog Archive » A New Sense of Urgency

For anyone who began with Citizenre over the fall, winter and spring of 2006/2007, you may have marked the passage of this time with excitement, sleepless nights, maxed out mobile phone minutes, and a couple false starts with our press release. It certainly has been a roller coaster ride. Naturally, the ups and downs have caused some associates to take pause, or to reevaluate the boundaries of their comfort zones. Others have continued to work consistently and methodically, and with great fervor.

So maybe you’re one of those who have maintained a steady pace working this business. Or maybe uncertainty drove you to sideline your efforts for the time being. Whatever the case, I have tremendous respect for your reasoning—we are all operating from unique and different backgrounds that affect the choices we make.

Regardless of your current level of activity, there are a few things I’d like you to consider. When the press release goes public, a lot of things are going to change. Fast. Homeowners will begin to seek us out for a change! We’ll be inundated with people needing to be trained as associates. The market will become much more competitive. Participation in events and trade shows will become more complex. The pace and volume of business will be ripe for those best positioned to take advantage of this growth.

After signing a non-disclosure agreement along with the other RSDs, we were recently entrusted with a preview of what’s to come. We were all momentarily speechless. It is real and it is happening with such magnitude it’s absolutely spectacular. There’s no denying this has been an imperfect process, but behind the scenes, some very big pieces have come together in perfect union and near silence. And I for one would like to commend you on your patience and tenacity in the face of some pretty big unknowns! We’re about to have a lot of fun.

So I have two words for you: preparation and readiness. If you’re active, inactive, on or off the fence, as long as you are still aligned with this concept, there are steps you can take to be well positioned for this historical event.

Here is what I suggest:

* Read and re-read all your training materials and knowledge base. Be comfortable with the information so you can be confident with the questions you’ll be fielding. Remember, it’s okay to say, “Good question, I’ll get back to you on it.”

* If you have remained fairly active, gather your team together and begin discussing ways you can be better trained and better organized. Set short and long-term goals. Be accountable for those goals.

* Get systems in place for FRA management and customer follow-up so the process is streamlined and efficient for you. Keep in mind that without received FRAs, there will be no site inspection, no installation, and no income!

* Follow up on any current FRAs that have not been verified. Do some “spring cleaning” in your back office and be sure you’ve communicated with customers and associates who need follow-up.

* If you haven’t already, try to achieve 10 team/personal sales to reach sales manager. The training materials at this level will make you better prepared to lead your own business and others.

* Assist members of your team to achieve this promotion to sales manager. The more associates in your organization, the more you and your team will benefit from what has been going on behind the scenes. Many of us will wish we’d worked harder and accomplished more during the down time!

* Be sure you have ample business cards and other supplies handy.

Now is the time to boost yourself and your organization to a better state of readiness. Please make use of the tools in our Powur back office and the tools provided on this site. If there is additional support we can provide, please email me with your request.

Spring Hericks,
Southwest RSD

I was thumbing through Robert Dilts’ Alpha Leadership: Tools for Business Leaders Who Want More from Life when I came across this concise explanation of why leading yourself first is important before leading others.

The central idea in the story of Monty Roberts, the ‘Horse Whisperer’, is that although horses will run away from strange humans at the slightest provocation, they will follow and ‘join up’ with interesting humans who appear to pose no threat to them.

We shy away from forceful demands for loyalty and commitment, but we flock to and swarm round focal points where ‘cool stuff’ seems either to be happening or about to happen.

Good leaders work with our hunger to involve ourselves, with others, in interesting work and exciting projects. They influence and seduce, rather than command, and try to become ‘attractors’, as complexity scientists put it - the embodiments of attractive energy, the center of the swarm.

But leaders can only be attractive, in this sense, when they themselves are truly aligned. Alignment starts from the inside, out: being sure of who you are and what your ‘calling’ is, understanding and projecting your values and abilities, and ensuring that these inner qualities and resources are fully aligned.

In short, there is no substitute for being an authentic and coherent person

According to figures from our Department of Energy, each person in the U.S. consumes as much energy as
2.1 Germans
12.1 Columbians
28.9 citizens of India
127 Haitians and 395 Ethiopians.

As a nation, we lead the world in carbon dioxide emissions, nearly twice the amount of second-place China (which has one billion people). We lead the world, by far, in water and oil consumption. We have the largest houses in the world. Each year, the average American generates 189 pounds of food waste, 183 pounds of plastic trash, 570 pounds of paper trash, 86 pounds of glass trash, and so on.

In short, Americans make the biggest environmental footprint on the planet. If one views the earth’s resources as one common stash, we’re the guys hogging all the supplies.

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Video interviews submitted by Citizenre ecopreneurs (16:33 mins).

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