Docket No. ER24-314-000
I concur with this rejection of Duke’s section 205 filing for the reason given in the order.
I would add that Duke’s filing proposes changes to the planning process for local, not regional, transmission projects in its load-serving territories in North and South Carolina. While Duke does not propose changes to cost allocation, changes in the planning process could certainly affect the costs of transmission that flow through into retail rates.
I note that neither the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC), the NCUC Public Staff, nor the Public Service Commission of South Carolina (PSCSC) filed comments in this proceeding.[1] That absence of comment could be interpreted as either tacit support of Duke’s filing, or at least no objection.
As Duke’s proposal is being rejected herein, if Duke refiles an amended proposal to change its local transmission planning process, I believe the record would benefit from the views of these state entities. I believe the record would also benefit from information they could provide as to the authority of the NCUC and PSCSC to approve integrated resource plans (IRPs) that include local transmission construction plans, as well as their authority to approve or disapprove permits to construct individual local transmission projects, such as through a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) process.
For these reasons, I respectfully concur.
[1] Both the NCUC and the NCUC Public Staff intervened.