Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 25-17.0825 - As-Available Energy

(1) As-available energy is energy produced and sold by a qualifying facility on an hour-by-hour basis for which contractual commitments as to the quantity, time, or reliability of delivery are not required. Each utility shall purchase as-available energy from any qualifying facility. As-available energy shall be sold by a qualifying facility and purchased by a utility pursuant to the terms and conditions of a published tariff or a separately negotiated contract.

As-available energy sold by a qualifying facility shall be purchased by the utility at a rate, in cents per kilowatt-hour, not to exceed the utility's avoided energy cost. Because of the lack of assurances as to the quantity, time, or reliability of delivery of as-available energy, no capacity payments shall be made to a qualifying facility for the delivery of as-available energy.

(a) Tariff Rates: Each utility shall publish a tariff for the purchase of as-available energy from qualifying facilities. Each utility's published tariff shall state that the rate of payment for as-available energy is the utility's avoided energy cost as defined in subsection (2) of this rule, less the additional costs directly attributable to the purchase of such energy from a qualifying facility. The additional costs directly associated with the purchase of as-available energy from qualifying facilities shall be specifically identified in the utility's tariff.

(b) Contract Rates: Each utility may enter into a separately negotiated contract for the purchase of as-available energy from a qualifying facility. All contracts for the purchase of as-available energy between a qualifying facility and a utility shall be filed with the Commission within 10 working days of their signing. Those qualifying facilities wishing to negotiate a contract for the sale of firm capacity and energy with terms different from those in a utility's standard offer contract may do so pursuant to subsection 25-17.0832(2), F.A.C. Where parties cannot agree on the terms and conditions of a negotiated contract, either party may apply to the Commission for relief pursuant to Rule 25-17.0834, F.A.C.

(2)

(a) Avoided energy costs associated with as-available energy are defined as the utility's actual avoided energy cost before the sale of interchange energy. Avoided energy costs associated with as-available energy shall be all costs the utility avoided due to the purchase of as-available energy, including the utility's incremental fuel, identifiable variable operating and maintenance expense, and identifiable variable utility power purchases. Demonstrable utility administrative costs required to calculate avoided energy costs may be deducted from avoided energy payments. Avoided line losses reflecting the voltage at which generation by the qualifying facility is received by the utility shall also be included in the determination of avoided energy costs. Each utility shall calculate its avoided energy cost associated with as-available energy deterministically, on an hour-by-hour basis, after accounting for interchange sales which have taken place, using the utility's actual avoided energy cost for the hour, as affected by the output of the qualifying facilities connected to the utility's system. A megawatt block size at least equal to the most recent available estimate of the combined average hourly generation of all qualifying facilities making energy sales based on the utility's as-available energy rate to the utility shall be used to calculate the utility's hourly avoided energy costs associated with as-available energy. For the purpose of this subsection, interchange sales are inter-utility sales which are provided at the option of the selling utility exclusive of central pool dispatch transactions.

(b) Each utility's tariff shall include a description of the methodology to be used in the calculation of avoided energy cost implementing subsection (2) of this rule. Each utility's implementation methodology shall specify the method by which the utility's incremental fuel and operating and maintenance costs and line losses are determined.

(3)

(a) For qualifying facilities with hourly recording meters, monthly payments for as-available energy shall be made and shall be calculated based on the product of:

(1) the utility's actual avoided energy rate for each hour during the month; and

(2) the quantity of energy sold by the qualifying facility during that hour.

(b) For qualifying facilities with dual kilowatt-hour register time-of-day meters, monthly payments for as-available energy shall be calculated based on the average of the utility's actual hourly avoided energy rate for the on-peak and off-peak periods during the month.

(c) For qualifying facilities with standard kilowatt-hour meters, monthly payments for as-available energy shall be calculated based on the average of the utility's actual hourly avoided energy rate for the off-peak periods during the month.

(4) Each utility shall file with the Commission by the twentieth business day of the following month, a monthly report of their actual hourly avoided energy costs, the average of their actual hourly avoided energy costs for the on-peak and off-peak periods during the month, and the average of their actual hourly avoided energy costs for the month with the Commission. A copy shall be furnished to any individual who requests such information.

(5) Upon request by a qualifying facility or any interested person, each utility shall provide within 30 days its most current projections of its generation mix, fuel price by type of fuel, and at least a five year projection of fuel forecasts to estimate future as-available energy prices as well as any other information reasonably required by the qualifying facility to project future avoided cost prices including, but not limited to, a 24 hour advance forecast of hour-by-hour avoided energy costs. The utility may charge an appropriate fee, not to exceed the actual cost of production and copying, for providing such information.

(6) Utility payments for as-available energy made to qualifying facilities pursuant to the utility's tariff shall be recoverable by the utility through the Commission's periodic review of fuel and purchased power. Utility payments for as-available energy made to qualifying facilities pursuant to a separately negotiated contract shall be recoverable by the utility through the Commission's periodic review of fuel and purchased power costs if the payments are not reasonably projected to result in higher cost electric service to the utility's general body of ratepayers or adversely affect the adequacy or reliability of electric service to all customers.

Notes

Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 25-17.0825

Rulemaking Authority 366.051, 350.127(2) FS. Law Implemented 366.04(2)(c), (f), (5), 366.041(1), 366.051, 366.06(1) FS.

New 9-4-83, Formerly 25-17.825, Amended 10-25-90.

New 9-4-83, Formerly 25-17.825, Amended 10-25-90.