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REGULATORY MATTERS | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2017
REGULATORY MATTERS | NOTE 6 – REGULATORY MATTERS UNITIL’S REGULATORY MATTERS ARE DESCRIBED IN NOTE 8 TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN ITEM 8 OF PART II OF UNITIL CORPORATION’S FORM 10-K FOR DECEMBER 31, 2016 AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON FEBRUARY 2, 2017. Rate Case Activity Unitil Energy – Base Rates – On April 20, 2017 the NHPUC issued its final order approving a settlement between Unitil Energy, Commission Staff and the Office of Consumer Advocate providing for a permanent increase of $4.1 million in electric base rates, and a three year rate plan with an additional rate step adjustment in May 2017 of $0.9 million, followed by two rate step adjustments in May of 2018 and 2019 to recover the revenue requirements associated with annual capital expenditures as defined under the rate plan. Fitchburg – Base Rates – Electric – On April 29, 2016 the MDPU issued an order approving a $2.1 million increase in Fitchburg’s electric base revenue decoupling target, effective May 1, 2016. As part of its order, the MDPU approved, with modifications, Fitchburg’s request for an annual capital cost recovery mechanism, which allows for increases to target revenues to recover the revenue requirement associated with annual capital additions as defined under the mechanism. In 2016, Fitchburg made its first capital cost adjustment filing for calendar year 2015 capital investments, and received MDPU approval to increase revenues by approximately $0.5 million, subject to further investigation and reconciliation. On June 29, 2017, Fitchburg filed its compliance report on capital investments for calendar year 2016, which forms the basis for the next filing to adjust target revenues to be made with the MDPU in November 2017. These matters remain pending. Fitchburg – Base Rates – Gas – On April 29, 2016, the MDPU issued an order approving a $1.6 million increase in Fitchburg’s gas base revenue decoupling target, effective May 1, 2016. Fitchburg – Gas Operations – On October 31, 2016, Fitchburg submitted its annual filing under its gas system enhancement program to recover the revenue requirements associated with capital additions in 2017 as defined under the program. The filing sought approval to collect an additional $0.9 million of annual revenues. On April 28, 2017, the MDPU approved recovery of 2017 costs, subject to a revenue cap of 1.5%, resulting in an additional $0.5 million of annual revenues effective May 1, 2017. The remaining $0.4 million of annual revenues the Company sought approval to collect has been deferred for recovery in future periods under the program. The Company has requested that the MDPU waive the 1.5% revenue requirement cap on deferred amounts. This matter remains pending. Northern Utilities – Base Rates – Maine – On May 31, 2017, Northern Utilities filed a base rate case with the MPUC seeking to increase annual revenues by $6.0 million. On August 18, 2017, the Company made a supplemental filing seeking to increase revenues by an additional $0.7 million associated with its Targeted Area Build-out Program (see below). Following an extensive regulatory review and investigation process, a final order from the MPUC on Northern Utilities’ request is expected by the end of February 2018. In addition to the distribution base rate increase, Northern Utilities is requesting to extend its Targeted Infrastructure Replacement Adjustment mechanism (TIRA). The TIRA is a capital cost recovery mechanism designed to recover the annual revenue requirements associated with targeted investments in gas distribution system infrastructure replacement and upgrade projects, including the Company’s Cast Iron Replacement Program (CIRP). This matter remains pending. Northern Utilities – Targeted Infrastructure Replacement Adjustment – The settlement in Northern Utilities’ Maine division’s last rate case allowed the Company to implement a TIRA rate mechanism to adjust base distribution rates annually to recover the revenue requirements associated with targeted investments in gas distribution system infrastructure replacement and upgrade projects. The TIRA had an initial term of four years and covers targeted capital expenditures in 2013 through 2016 as defined under the mechanism. The 2017 TIRA, for 2016 expenditures, was approved by the MPUC on April 25, 2017, and provided for an annual increase in distribution base revenue of $1.1 million, effective May 1, 2017. Northern Utilities – Targeted Area Build-out Program – Maine – On December 22, 2015, the MPUC approved a Targeted Area Build-out (TAB) program and associated rate surcharge mechanism. This program is designed to allow the economic extension of natural gas mains to new, targeted service areas in Maine. It allows customers in the targeted area the ability to pay a rate surcharge, instead of a large upfront payment or capital contribution to connect to the natural gas delivery system. The initial pilot of the TAB program was approved for the City of Saco, and is being built out over a period of three years, with the potential to add 1,000 new customers and approximately $1 million in annual distribution revenue in the Saco area. The second TAB program was approved for the Town of Sanford, and has the potential to add 2,000 new customers and approximately $2 million in annual distribution revenue in the Sanford area. Northern Utilities – Base Rates – New Hampshire – On June 5, 2017, Northern Utilities filed for a base rate increase with the NHPUC seeking to increase annual revenues by $4.7 million. On June 15, 2017, the Commission suspended the Company’s proposed permanent rates tariffs while the filing is under extensive regulatory review and investigation over the next several months. A final order from the NHPUC on Northern Utilities’ request is expected in the second quarter of 2018. Northern Utilities reached a settlement agreement on temporary rates to produce an increase in annual revenues of approximately $1.6 million, effective with service rendered on and after August 1, 2017, and until a final, non-appealable order on permanent rates is issued. As of September 30, 2017, Northern Utilities has deferred approximately $0.3 million of costs associated with this base rate case. Once a final decision on permanent rates is issued, it will be reconciled back to the date that temporary rates were implemented. The settlement agreement was approved by the Commission on July 31, 2017. In its initial petition, Northern Utilities requested approval to implement a multi-year rate plan, including a capital cost recovery mechanism, which will allow for recovery of the revenue requirements associated with future annual capital expenditures as defined under the plan through changes, or step adjustments, to Northern Utilities’ distribution rates without the need to file a general rate case prior to January 2021. This matter remains pending. Northern Utilities – Pipeline Refund – On February 19, 2015, the FERC issued Opinion No. 524-A, the final order in Portland Natural Gas Transmission’s (PNGTS) Section 4 rate case, requiring PNGTS to issue refunds to shippers. Northern Utilities received a pipeline refund of $22.0 million on April 15, 2015. As a gas supply-related refund, the entire amount refunded will be credited to Northern Utilities’ customers and marketers over three years as directed by the NHPUC and MPUC. The Company has recorded current Regulatory Liabilities related to these refunds of $3.4 million on its Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2017. Granite State – Base Rates – Granite State has in place a FERC-approved second amended settlement agreement under which it is permitted to file annually, each June, for a rate adjustment to recover the revenue requirements associated with specified capital investments in gas transmission projects up to a specific cap on expenditures. On June 21, 2017 Granite State filed for an annual revenue increase under this provision of $0.2 million, effective August 1, 2017. The FERC issued an order approving the filing on July 28, 2017. This is the last annual rate adjustment allowed under the second amended settlement. Other Matters NHPUC Energy Efficiency Resource Standard Proceeding – In May 2015, the NHPUC opened a proceeding to establish an Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (“EERS”), an energy efficiency policy with specific targets or goals for energy savings that New Hampshire electric and gas utilities must meet. On April 27, 2016, a comprehensive settlement agreement was filed by the parties, including Unitil Energy and Northern Utilities, which was approved by the NHPUC on August 2, 2016. The settlement provides for: extending the 2014-2016 Core program an additional year (through 2017); establishing an EERS; establishing a recovery mechanism to compensate the utilities for lost-revenue related to the EERS programs; and approving the performance incentives and processes for stakeholder involvement, evaluation, measurement and verification, and oversight of the EERS programs. In accordance with the Settlement, on September 1, 2017, the New Hampshire electric and gas utilities jointly filed a Statewide Energy Efficiency Plan for the period 2018-2020. This filing remains pending. Unitil Energy – Electric Grid Modernization – In July 2015, the NHPUC opened an investigation into Grid Modernization to address a variety of issues related to Distribution System Planning, Customer Engagement with Distributed Energy Resources, and Utility Cost Recovery and Financial Incentives. The NHPUC engaged a consultant to direct a Working Group to investigate these issues and to prepare a final report with recommendations for the Commission. The final report was filed on March 20, 2017. This matter remains pending. Unitil Energy – Net Metering – Pursuant to legislation that became effective in May 2016, the NHPUC opened a proceeding to consider alternatives to the net metering tariffs currently in place. The NHPUC issued an Order on June 23, 2017. The Order removes the cap on the total amount of generation capacity which may be owned or operated by customer-generators eligible for net metering. The order also adopts an alternative net metering tariff for small customer-generators (those with renewable energy systems of 100 kW or less) which will remain in effect for a period of years while further data is collected and analyzed, time-of-use and other pilot programs are implemented, and a distributed energy resource valuation study is conducted. Systems that are installed or queued during this period will have their net metering rate structure “grandfathered” until December 31, 2040. The Company does not believe that this proceeding will have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial position, operating results or cash flows. Fitchburg – Electric Operations – On November 17, 2016, Fitchburg submitted its 2016 annual reconciliation of costs and revenues for transition and transmission under its restructuring plan, including the reconciliation of costs and revenues for a number of other surcharges and cost factors, for review and approval by the MDPU. All of the rates were given final approval by the MDPU on December 29, 2016, effective January 1, 2017. Fitchburg – Service Quality – On February 28, 2017, Fitchburg submitted its 2016 Service Quality Reports for both its gas and electric divisions in accordance with new Service Quality Guidelines issued by the MDPU in December 2015. Fitchburg reported that it met or exceeded its benchmarks for service quality performance in all metrics for both its gas and electric divisions. This matter remains pending. Fitchburg – Solar Generation – On August 19, 2016, Fitchburg filed a petition with the MDPU seeking approval to develop a 1.3 MW solar generation facility located on Company property in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, including a cost recovery mechanism to share the costs and benefits of the project among all Fitchburg customers. On November 9, 2016, the MDPU approved a Settlement Agreement supporting the proposal, which was reached among the Company, the Attorney General of Massachusetts, and the Low-Income Weatherization and Fuel Assistance Program Network. Construction of the solar generating facility is expected to be completed by the end of November 2017. Fitchburg – Energy Diversity – Governor Baker signed into law H4568 “An Act to Promote Energy Diversity” on August 8, 2016. Among many sections in the bill, the primary provision adds new sections 83c and 83d to the 2008 Green Communities Act. Section 83c requires every electric distribution company (EDC), including Fitchburg, to jointly and competitively solicit proposals for at least 400 MW’s of offshore wind energy generation by June 30, 2017, as part of a total of 1,600 MW of offshore wind the EDCs are directed to procure by June 30, 2027. The procurement requirement is subject to a determination by the MDPU that the proposed long-term contracts are cost-effective. Section 83d further requires the EDCs to jointly seek proposals for cost effective clean energy (hydro and other) long-term contracts via one or more staggered solicitations, the first of which shall be issued not later than April 1, 2017, for a total of 9,450,000 megawatt-hours by December 31, 2022. Emergency regulations implementing these new provisions, 220 C.M.R. § 23.00 et seq. and 220 C.M.R. § 24.00 et seq. were adopted by the MDPU on December 29, 2016, and adopted as final regulations on March 8, 2017. The EDCs issued the RFP for Long-Term Contracts for Clean Energy Projects, pursuant to Section 83d on March 31, 2017 and project proposals were received on July 27, 2017. The EDCs issued the RFP for Long-Term Contracts for Offshore Wind Energy Projects pursuant to Section 83c on June 29, 2017. Fitchburg – Clean Energy RFP – Pursuant to Section 83a of the Green Communities Act in Massachusetts and similar clean energy directives established in Connecticut and Rhode Island, state agencies and the electric distribution companies in the three states, including Fitchburg, issued an RFP for clean energy resources (including Class I renewable generation and large hydroelectric generation) in November 2015. The RFP sought proposals for clean energy and transmission projects that can deliver new renewable energy to the three states. Project proposals were received in January 2016. Selection of contracts concluded during the fourth quarter of 2016 and contract negotiations concluded during the second quarter of 2017. On September 20, 2017, Fitchburg, along with the other three EDCs, filed for approval of the purchase power agreements which were negotiated as a result of the joint solicitation. This matter remains pending. Fitchburg – Other – On August 25, 2017, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources’ (“DOER”) Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program regulations were finalized. These regulations were promulgated pursuant to Chapter 75 of the Acts of 2016, which required the DOER to establish a new solar incentive program. The regulation is designed to support the continued development of an additional 1,600 MW of solar renewable energy generating sources via a declining block compensation mechanism, and is the product of an extensive stakeholder process that began last spring and involved over 40 public meetings and two written public comment periods. On September 12, 2017, the Massachusetts electric utilities jointly filed a model SMART tariff with the MDPU to implement the program and propose a cost recovery mechanism. This filing remains pending. In the interim, the current program for solar renewable energy credits, known as SREC-II, remains in effect for all eligible solar facilities. On May 11, 2016, the MDPU issued an Order commencing a rulemaking proceeding to adopt emergency regulations amending 220 C.M.R. § 18.00 et seq. (“Net Metering Regulations”). Specifically, the MDPU amended its Net Metering Regulations to implement the net metering provisions of An Act Relative to Solar Energy, St. 2016, c. 75, §§ 3-9, and to make additional clerical changes to the Net Metering Regulations. On July 15, 2016, the MDPU issued an order approving Final Net Metering Regulations. Fitchburg’s tariff, filed in compliance with the new regulations, was approved on February 7, 2017. In December 2013, the MDPU opened an investigation into Modernization of the Electric Grid. The stated objective of the Grid Modernization proceeding is to ensure that the electric distribution companies “adopt grid modernization policies and practices.” In June 2014, the MDPU issued its first Grid Modernization order, setting forth a requirement that each electric distribution company submit a ten-year strategic Grid Modernization Plan (GMP). As part of the GMP, each company must include a five-year Short-Term Investment Plan (STIP), which must include an approach to achieving advanced metering functionality within five years of the Department’s approval of the GMP. The filing of a GMP is a recurring obligation and must be updated as part of subsequent base distribution rate cases, which by statute must occur no less often than every five years. Capital investments contained in the STIP are eligible for pre-authorization, meaning that the MDPU will not revisit in later filings whether the Company should have proceeded with these investments. Fitchburg and the Commonwealth’s three other electric distribution companies filed their initial GMPs on August 19, 2015. These filings are currently under MDPU review and remain pending. On January 28, 2016 the MDPU approved Fitchburg’s Three-Year Energy Efficiency Plan for 2016-2018, subject to limited modifications and directives in the Order. The Department found that the savings goals included in each Three-Year Plan are reasonable and are consistent with the achievement of all available cost-effective energy efficiency; approved each Program Administrator’s program implementation cost budget for the Three-Year Plans; approved the performance incentive pool, mechanism, and payout rates; found that all proposed energy efficiency programs are cost-effective; found that funding sources are reasonable and that each Program Administrator may recover the funds to implement its energy efficiency plan through its Energy Efficiency Surcharge; and found that each Program Administrator’s Three-Year Plan is consistent with the Green Communities Act, the Guidelines, and Department precedent. FERC Transmission Formula Rate Proceedings – Pursuant to Section 206 of the Federal Power Act, there are several pending proceedings before the FERC concerning the justness and reasonableness of the Return on Equity (“ROE”) component of the ISO-New England, Inc. Participating Transmission Owners’ Regional Network Service and Local Network Service formula rates. On April 14, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued an opinion vacating a decision of the FERC with respect to these formula rates, and remanded it for further proceedings. The FERC had found that the Transmission Owners existing ROE was unlawful, and had set a new ROE. The Court found that the FERC had failed to articulate a satisfactory explanation for its orders. At this time, the ROE set in the vacated order will remain in place until further FERC action is taken. Fitchburg and Unitil Energy are Participating Transmission Owners, although Unitil Energy does not own transmission plant. To the extent that these proceedings result in any changes to the rates being charged, a retroactive reconciliation may be required. The Company does not believe that these proceedings will have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. Legal Proceedings The Company is involved in legal and administrative proceedings and claims of various types, which arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company believes, based upon information furnished by counsel and others, that the ultimate resolution of these claims will not have a material impact on its financial position, operating results or cash flows. In early 2009, a putative class action complaint was filed against Unitil’s Massachusetts based utility, Fitchburg, in Massachusetts’ Worcester Superior Court (the “Court”), (captioned Bellermann et al v. Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Company). The Complaint seeks an unspecified amount of damages, including the cost of temporary housing and alternative fuel sources, emotional and physical pain and suffering and property damages allegedly incurred by customers in connection with the loss of electric service during the ice storm in Fitchburg’s service territory in December 2008. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court issued an order denying class certification status in July 2016, though the plaintiffs’ individual claims remain pending. The Company continues to believe that this suit is without merit and will continue to defend itself vigorously. Based upon information furnished by counsel and others, the Company believes that the ultimate resolution of this suit will not have a material impact on its financial position, operating results or cash flows. The Town of Lunenburg filed a separate action in the Court arising out of the December 2008 ice storm. The Court granted the Company’s Motion for Summary Judgment on all counts in December 2016 and dismissed the Town’s complaint. The Town filed a notice of appeal, but failed to perfect its appeal with the Court in a timely manner. A motion to dismiss for failure to perfect the appeal was granted by the Massachusetts Appeals Court in August 2017.

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