PURPA

Notice of Hearing and Request for Member Input on

New Federal Energy Standards

Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative (CCEC) is soliciting public input regarding Demand-Response (DR) Standards and Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Standards as part of new requirements contained in the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, which amended Title I of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA).  The amendment to PURPA requires CCEC to seek public input and hold a hearing on DR and EV standards before November 15, 2023.

The CCEC Board of Directors will determine whether it is appropriate to implement the DR and/or EV standards to carry out the purposes for which PURPA was enacted.  Those purposes are to encourage (1) the conservation of energy supplied by electric utilities; (2) the optimization of the efficiency of use of facilities and resources by electric utilities; and (3) equitable rates to electric customers.  (See 16 U.S.C. § 2611.)  The CCEC Board of Directors may decline to implement DR and/or EV standards, in which case the Board of Directors will state in writing the reasons declining to implement the standards.  Such statement of reasons will be available to the public.

Important Dates:  Members of the public must submit input in the form of written comments no later than 5:00 PM on March 15, 2023.  All responsive comments will be available to the public at ccemc.com/PURPA no later than April 15, 2023. 

CCEC's Board of Directors will conduct its hearing on May 22, 2023, at or around 5:30 PM.  The hearing will be based on the written record and public comment will not be taken or allowed during the hearing.  After the hearing (but no later than November 15, 2023), the CCEC Board of Directors will determine whether it is appropriate to implement DR and EV standards.  

The CCEC Board of Directors will consider all written input in accordance with the requirements of PURPA.  The conduct of the hearing as well as the relevance and weight to be given to all written input, to the extent practicable as determined by CCEC's legal counsel, will follow Robert's Rules of Procedure (11th Edition) and the North Carolina Rules of Evidence.  CCEC's legal counsel will address and recommend to the CCEC Board of Directors any resolution of procedural or evidentiary issues relevant to the hearing. 

After the hearing, the CCEC Board of Directors may accept as part of the written record, where good cause for doing so exists, studies or other documentation provided by state or federal agencies or professional studies or reports commissioned by CCEC.  In addition, the CCEC Board of Directors may revise or revoke any adopted standards at any time after November 15, 2023, without further public input or hearings. 

The CCEC Board of Directors' determination will be available at ccemc.com/PURPA on or before November 15, 2023.

Current DR and EV Charging Programs

DR and EV charging programs provide financial and environmental incentives to both CCEC members and CCEC as a whole, when members can reduce or shift energy used during times of high demand.  EVs are vehicles powered by electricity, generally provided by a battery, that will charge by being connected to CCEC’s electrical grid.

Here at the cooperative, we offer programs and services to meet the evolving needs of our members, increase energy efficiency, and expand beneficial electrification to enhance the lives of those we serve. To that end, we are proud to offer demand-response and EV charging programs that may fit many lifestyles.  Read about some of our options below.