UD-17-05: Distributed Generation-scale Solar Photovoltaic Systems And Procedural Schedule
Council Docket UD-17-05, established via Resolution R-17-622, adopted a procedural schedule in response Entergy New Orleans’ (“ENO”) application for approval to construct distributed generation (“DG”)-scale solar photovoltaic (“PV”) systems of approximately 5 MW in the City of New Orleans, request cost recovery and related relief. On May 11, 2018, ENO filed an Agreement in Principle (“AIP”) to settle and resolve matters within this docket. In the AIP, the Parties, including the Alliance for Affordable Entergy, Gulf States Renewable Energy Industries Association, 350 New Orleans, and the American Institute of Architects New Orleans Chapter, agreed to settle and resolve this docket finding that construction of multiple DG-scale systems with a total combined capacity of approximately 5 MW in New Orleans should be considered and evaluated as a pilot program. The Council found the AIP just, reasonable, and in the public interest. The Council further concluded that moving forward as a pilot program, the DG-scale PV system will provide information to the Council regarding future distributed renewable projects. On June 21, 2018, the Council adopted Resolution R-18-222 approving the AIP, and on October 1, 2018, ENO filed its DG-scale PV Project Status Report for public review.
Pertinent docket deadline dates were as follows:
- January 12, 2018 – Deadline for ENO to conduct an initial public meeting where it presents the proposed project to the public and response to questions from the public regarding the proposed Project;
- January 26, 2018 – Interested parties required to intervene in the docket with objections to intervention requests due within five days of such request;
- February 9, 2018 – Deadline for ENO, the Intervenors, and Council Advisors to participate in a settlement conference to allow ENO to present technical details and answer any questions;
- March 5, 2018 – Deadline for ENO, Intervenors, and Council Advisors to participate in a second settlement conference to allow for discovery, to allow Parties to decide whether settlement is attainable, and to develop language of a proposed Agreement in Principle to be filed with the Council;
- March 19, 2018 – Deadline for ENO to file a proposed Agreement in Principle with the Council;
- April 13, 2018 – Deadline for each party to file comments on ENO’s DG application, including proposals for a procedural schedule for further proceedings, to resolve any outstanding disputes if the Parties are unable to reach settlement;
- Discovery period – Commenced upon issuance of Resolution R-17-622 and ran until May 11, 2018, the filing date of the Agreement in Principle with the Council.
- June 21, 2019 – The City Council adopted Resolution R-18-222 resulting in settlement of Docket UD-17-05.