SS 013-21 Notice of Hearing

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PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION OF WISCONSIN

In the Matter of Rulemaking to updated Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter 119 for Interconnecting Distributed Generation Facilities               1-AC-256

NOTICE OF PRELIMINARY PUBLIC HEARING AND COMMENT PERIOD

Hearing Date:

Friday, March 19, 2021 – 1:00 p.m.

Hearing Location:

Audio Hearing – No physical location Any person may attend and comment by telephone, or listen live on the internet.

Comments Due: Thursday, March 25, 2021

Address Comments To: Steffany Powell Coker Secretary to the Commission Public Service Commission P.O. Box 7854 Madison, WI 53707-7854

  NOTICE IS GIVEN that the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin will hold a preliminary public hearing on the statement of scope in this docket on Friday, March 19, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. The hearing has no physical location. Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 227.136(2), the Commission is considering the promulgation of administrative rules to amend Wis. Admin. Code ch. PSC 119 (PSC 119), relating to the interconnection of distributed generation facilities with the distribution system of electric public utilities.

  Distributed generation in Wisconsin has undergone significant changes since PSC 119 was initially promulgated in 2004. Substantial growth in the number of installations throughout the state has increased demand for the application process established by the rules and created new engineering and reliability considerations. Technological development has also accelerated, including through the emergence of new technologies and establishment of new technical and certification standards. The intended objective of this rulemaking would be to establish revisions to PSC 119 that address these changes, including by reviewing changes to application processes that can help maintain timely processing while meeting the needs of both applicants and utilities, and identify updated technical requirements that address new technological developments and enable distributed generation to be used as effectively as possible to support system reliability and provide value for utilities and ratepayers.

  Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 227.135(1), a statement of scope is prepared in advance of any rule that the Commission plans to promulgate. The Commission (PSC REF#: 402383) and Governor (PSC REF#: 404416) have approved the statement of scope, a copy of which was published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register (PSC REF#: 405318). The Commission has been directed by the co-chairperson of the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules (JCRAR) to hold a preliminary public hearing and comment period on the statement of scope in this docket. Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 227.136(7), a preliminary public hearing and comment period on a statement of scope does not relieve the agency of its obligation to hold an agency hearing on proposed rules under Wis. Stat. § 227.16, after proposed rules are available for review.

This hearing has no physical location. Members of the public may attend and comment by telephone, or listen live on the internet.

To attend the public hearing session by telephone, use the following:

1. Dial:     312 626 6799

2. Meeting ID:   875 9567 2064

3. Passcode:   870391

The presiding Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) controls access to the hearing. Telephone lines will be muted until the time allowed for each caller to speak. Any call placed after the hearing begins will be put on hold. The ALJ will accept and mute the call at the earliest opportunity that does not disrupt the hearing.

To listen to the public hearing session on the internet go to the Commission’s web site at http://psc.wi.gov, and select “Live Broadcast” button. This webpage provides no opportunity to make a comment.

DOCUMENTS. All documents in this docket are to be filed on the Commission’s Electronic Records Filing (ERF) system. To view these documents: (1) go to the Commission’s E-Services Portal at http://apps.psc.wi.gov, (2) enter “1-AC-256” in the box labeled “Quick Single Docket Search,” and (3) select “Documents.” To receive electronic notifications when new documents are filed in this docket, go to ERF - EZ Subscriptions and follow the instructions to subscribe to this docket.

WRITTEN COMMENTS Any person may submit written comments on these proposed rules. The record will be open for written comments from the public, effective immediately, and until Thursday, March 25, 2021. All written comments must include a reference on the filing to docket 1-AC-256. File by one mode only.[1]

Any utilities, organizations, or interest groups shall file one comment using the Commission’s ERF system. To file such a comment, go to the Commission’s web site at http://psc.wi.gov, and click on the “ERF - Electronic Regulatory Filing” graphic on the side menu bar. On the next page, click on “Need Help?” in the side menu bar for instructions on how to upload a document.

Any member of the public shall file only one comment either through the Commission’s web site or by mail as follows:

- Web Comment. Go to the Commission’s web site at http://psc.wi.gov, click on the “Public Comments” button on the side menu bar. On the next page select the “File a comment” link that appears for docket number 1-AC-256.

- Mail Comment. All comments submitted by U.S. mail must include the phrase “Docket 1-AC-256 Comments” in the heading, and shall be addressed to:

Docket 1-AC-256 Comments

Public Service Commission

P.O. Box 7854

Madison, WI 53707-7854

The Commission does not accept comments submitted via e-mail or facsimile (fax). Any material submitted to the Commission is a public record and may appear on the Commission’s web site. The Commission may reject a comment that does not comply with the requirements described in this notice.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. The Commission does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the provision of programs, services, or employment. Any person with a disability who needs accommodations to participate in this docket or who needs to obtain this document in a different format should contact the docket coordinator listed below.

CONTACT. Please direct questions about this docket or requests for additional accommodations for the disabled to the Commission’s docket coordinator, Joe Fontaine, at [phone] or [e-mail].

Dated at Madison, Wisconsin, the 4th day of March, 2021.

By the Commission:

Steffany Powell Coker

Secretary to the Commission