Active Dockets

UD-24-02: Resolution and Order Establishing a Docket and Procedural Schedule to Enhance Distributed Energy Resource Programs

Council Docket UD-24-02, established via Resolution R-24-624, initiated proceedings establishing a procedural schedule to evaluate ways to increase the availability of Distributed Energy Resources (“DERs”), battery storage, and related facilities, including any changes to ENO-related policies, funding mechanisms, and establishment of a vendor-neutral program to facilitate these goals in light of the frequency and intensity of severe weather events, rapidly changing climate conditions, and increased demand on the electric grid. 

Pertinent docket deadline dates are/were as follows:

• November 15, 2024 - Parties may intervene in the docket by filing a Motion to Intervene with the Clerk of Council, an electronic copy addressed to Mr. Byron Minor at email: Byron.Minor@nola.gov, and paying the applicable filing fee, unless such fee is waived pursuant to Council Resolution R-16-365.  Timely filed motions to intervene that are not opposed within the allotted time-period shall be deemed granted; 
   
• November 22, 2024 – ENO is directed to submit a copy of their current interconnection policy to the service list; 
   
• December 20, 2024 – Parties are directed to submit proposals for changes to existing policies or programs, costs, and proposed funding mechanisms, including comments on whether SERI Credits can and should be used to support these programs, to the service list; 
   
• February 4, 2025 – Parties shall convene a virtual technical conference to discuss the proposals; 
   
• March 14, 2025 – Parties shall file comments on the proposals submitted;
   
• March 31, 2025 – Parties shall file reply comments;
   
• April 29, 2025 – Parties shall convene a second virtual technical conference;
   
• July 16, 2025 – Advisors shall submit an Advisors’ Report summarizing comments received, recommending changes to existing Council policies, analyzing proposed funding mechanisms, and providing additional guidance to the Parties on how to fulfill the Council’s goals for this docket; 
   
• August 8, 2025 – Parties shall file any comments on the Advisors’ Report;
   
• September 22, 2025 – Parties shall file revised proposals;
   
• October 14, 2025 – Hearing Officer shall certify the record and submit it to the Council for consideration and determining if additional procedural deadlines are necessary.
   
• December 18, 2025 – Council adopted Resolution R-25-669 establishing the expansion of distributed energy resources (“DERs”), battery storage, and/or related facilities.  As a result, the following DER implementation deadlines were ordered:
   
• March 1, 2026 – ENO, in consultation with CURO, the Advisors, and the Council’s DER Program implementation advisors, shall file with the Council a proposed three-year DER Program implementation plan, under Energy Smart as Phase 3 of the BESS Pilot Program. 
   
• April 1, 2026 – Deadline for party comments and advisor input on ENO’s DER Program implementation plan;
   
• April 23, 2026 – Council adopted resolution R-26-150 extending the procedural schedule to allow a 30-day discovery period to allow parties and the Advisors to obtain additional information related to Together New Orleans’ (TNO) proposed substantive modifications to ENO’s previously approved DER implementation plan and for ENO to provide supplemental filings consistent with the Council’s directions;
   
• May 26, 2026 – Discovery deadline for all parties and the Advisors to obtain additional information related to TNO’s proposed substantive modifications to ENO’s DER Implementation Plan per Council resolution R-26-150;
   
• May 26, 2026 – ENO shall file its supplemental details to the proposed DER Implementation Plan per Council resolution R-26-150;
   
• June 22, 2026 – Parties shall file comments addressing ENO’s proposed DER Implementation Plan and ENO’s supplemental filing per Council resolution R-26-150;
   
• June 22, 2026 –Parties shall file comments addressing TNO’s proposed substantive modifications to the DER Implementation plan per Council resolution R-26-150;
   
• July 22, 2026 – Advisors’ Report due;
   
• August 6, 2026 – Hearing Officer shall certify the record.
   
• Action Item – Council may approve, modify, or reject ENO’s DER Program implementation plan in whole or in part, and may direct the responsible entities to make