The Public Service Commissioner who spearheaded a new policy that streamlines the process for large projects like data centers to access the energy they need is clearing up some misconceptions about the new policy. The policy states that utilities looking to build infrastructure to power those projects no longer have to prove that the generation is the cheapest and most reliable on the market. The Alliance for Affordable Energy says residential customers will see their utility bills skyrocket as a result, but Commissioner J.P. Coussan says that’s not true.
“There is a foundational prudence review as part of this process. And part of prudence, is ensuring that you’re getting the lowest possible cost on this deal,” Coussan said.
Coussan says there are still safeguards in place to keep utility costs from spiraling out of control.
“It doesn’t take a year, and it doesn’t take the market-based mechanism order that we’re suspending to figure out if we’re getting the best cost,” Coussan explained.
Coussan says the new policy is not a rubber stamp for utility companies to charge what they want to charge in order to expedite these big projects.
“It does not give up the general path of the general order, which is doing our due diligence and showing that we’re getting some of the best costs out of this project,” Coussan said.
