Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
(1)
Scope and Purpose.
980 CMR 7.00 sets forth the
procedures for the filing of and requirements for the content of long-range
forecasts, amended forecasts and supplements. Forecasts are required to be
filed every five years, and supplements in every intervening year. Forecasts
include a projection of future demand or sendout and a description of
facilities which may be required to meet future demand or sendout. Forecasts by
electric companies will cover a ten year period, and gas companies a five year
period.
980 CMR 7.01,
7.02 and
7.09 apply
to both electric and gas companies.
980 CMR
7.03,
7.04
and
7.05
set forth procedures for the preparation of forecasts and supplements by
electric companies.
980 CMR
7.06,
7.07
and
7.08
set forth the procedures for the preparation of forecasts and supplements by
gas companies.
(2)
Statutory Authority.
980 CMR 7.00 is promulgated
pursuant to M.G.L. c. 164, §§ 69H, 69I and 69J.
(3)
Definitions. For
purposes of
980 CMR 7.00, the definitions
set forth in
980 CMR 2.03 and
980 CMR 7.00 apply, unless the
context or subject matter requires a different interpretation.
Forecastmeans long-range forecast,
amended, or supplemental forecast.
Lead Company means, in the case of a
facility proposed to be constructed or owned jointly by more than one company,
the company responsible for providing all information required by
980 CMR
7.04,
7.05,
7.07
or
7.08
to be included in a forecast or supplement and all information required
pursuant to
980 CMR 1.05(6)
and
7.02(8)(a)
during the course of a proceeding, and, in
the case of a facility proposed to be constructed or owned by only one company,
that company.
Peak Demand or Peak Load (electric)
means the maximum rate or consumption of electrical energy in a system, or part
thereof, expressed as the maximum megawatt hours per hour during a specified
time period (day, week, month, year, etc.)
Peak Demand or Peak Load (gas) means
the highest daily consumption in a month, season, or year.
Sendout means the total volume of gas
distributed by a company, including gas used by the company and gas unaccounted
for.
(4)
Application of
980 CMR 1.00 and
2.00.
980 CMR 1.00 and
2.00 shall apply to
980 CMR 7.00 except to the
extent that
980 CMR 1.00,
980 CMR 2.00 and
980 CMR 7.00 in conflict. In
the event of a conflict,
980 CMR 1.00 shall prevail
over
980 CMR 2.00 and
980 CMR 7.00 shall prevail
over
980 CMR 1.00 and
2.00.
(5)
General Principles and
Practices.
(a)980 CMR 7.00 shall apply to
all electric and gas companies, including but not limited to generating
companies, transmission companies, pipeline companies, liquid natural gas
companies, synthetic gas manufacturing companies, and distribution companies.
Each such company shall prepare a separate forecast or supplement, subject to
the provisions of 980 CMR 7.01(5)(c).
(b) In the case of a company doing business
in other states or countries as well as in the Commonwealth, the company shall
prepare two separate forecasts or supplements: one for Massachusetts only and a
second for its entire electric or gas operation. The latter forecast shall be
for informational purposes and shall not be subject to review by the Council;
provided, however, that the Council shall review a forecast of its entire
operations if that forecast serves to justify the construction of facilities in
the Commonwealth and subject to Council review. Notwithstanding the provisions
of this paragraph to the contrary, interstate gas transmission companies shall
not be required to prepare any forecast or supplement for any part of a service
area which lies outside of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the states of
Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and
Vermont.
(c) Companies may file
joint forecasts or supplements, using the same or comparable methodologies and
assumptions. Even so, all historical sales and demand or sendout data and
forecast levels must be stated separately for each company whose wholesale and
retail sales exceed two percent of total retail sales in the Commonwealth. Any
company whose wholesale and retail sales do not exceed two percent need not
file such data separately if it participates in a joint forecast or supplement.
In the event of a joint forecast or supplement, the Council may conduct a joint
adjudicatory proceeding concerning the forecasts or supplement. In such a
proceeding the Council may render separate and different decisions for
different companies.
(d) Electric
companies shall, whenever appropriate and unless otherwise specified, report
data in terms of megawatts electric (MW), megawatts thermal (MWt),
megawatt-hours (MWH), kilovolts (kV), megavolt-amperes (MVa), or millions of
Btu's (MMBtu). Gas companies shall, whenever appropriate and unless otherwise
specified, report data in terms of millions of Btu's (MMBtu) or millions of
Btu's per day (MMBtu/day).
(e) The
following practices shall be followed when accurate historical data cannot be
provided.
1. Historical data which cannot be
provided shall be estimated.
2.
Notation shall be made indicating which data were estimated.
3. A description of the estimation process
used shall be included in the forecast or supplement.
4. Data records of significant required data
shall be kept so as to replace the estimated data if the data becomes available
in subsequent forecast years. Such estimated data shall be replaced, if
appropriate, by the next long-range forecast or supplement.
(f) Where a facility is to be
owned jointly by more than one company, then a designated lead company may
include in its long-range forecast the information required by
980 CMR 7.04(8)
or
7.07(7)
and all other participants may incorporate
such information by reference.
(g)
The information required by this Chapter shall be submitted in such form as the
Council may require.
(h) The
procedures and requirements established in
980 CMR
7.03,
7.04,
7.06
and
7.07
for forecasts shall apply to supplements to the extent appropriate pursuant to
the terms of
980 CMR
7.05 and
7.08.
(6)
Exemption of
Facilities Under Construction.
(a) No electric or gas facility which is
under construction prior to May 1, 1976, shall be subject to any requirement
that it be included in an approved long-range forecast, nor shall failure to
include such a facility in a long-range forecast impair in any way the rights
of the company constructing the facility to file an application for a
Certificate with the Council in regard to the facility or to seek a license to
construct, operate or maintain the facility from any local or other state
agency.
