Efficiency Maine

Revenues Generated for the Efficiency Maine Trust

System Benefit Charge - Electricity: A system benefit charge is included in the electric rates of Maine’s transmission & distribution utilities collected by Maine Public Utilities Commission at a fixed rate of 0.145¢ per kilowatt hour. That fixed rate is the rate that electric customers contribute to Efficiency Maine via their electric bills. This charge is paid by all but the very largest industrial customers. The revenues collected by each company are paid to the PUC on a quarterly basis and then distributed to Efficiency Maine Trust to be used for electric efficiency and conservation.

(During Fiscal Year 2011, the amount of Year-to-Date revenues collected through December 31, 2010, were $3,598,484.38)

System Benefit Charge – Solar and Wind: Assessments are levied on each solar and wind generator, and collected by Maine Public Utilities Commission through an assessment on transmission and distribution utilities for a system benefit charge at a fixed rate of .005¢ per kilowatt hour. That fixed rate is the rate solar and wind customers contribute to Efficiency Maine. The revenues are paid to the PUC on a quarterly basis and then distributed to Efficiency Maine Trust for solar and wind energy rate program.

(During Fiscal Year 2011, the amount of Year-to-Date revenues collected through December 31, 2010, were $154,370.00.)

The authority for this Solar and Wind assessment expired on December 31, 2010. New legislation is required to authorize an assessment for collection of these fees after January 1, 2011.

System Benefit Charge – Natural Gas: Assessments are levied on each natural gas distribution company serving at least 5,000 customers and are collected by Maine Public Utilities Commission from those gas utilities at a rate of 3% of the gas utility’s delivery revenues, which revenue does not include the cost of gas. That 3% rate is the rate that natural gas customers contribute Efficiency Maine via their gas utility bills. Each natural gas utility pays the revenues it has collected from customers to the PUC on a quarterly basis, and then those are distributed to the Efficiency Maine Trust.

(During Fiscal Year 2011, the amount of Year-to-Date revenues collected through December 31, 2010, were $53,269.97)

Voluntary Renewable Resource Revenue: Any voluntary payments made by utility company customers are collected and distributed by the utility companies directly to Efficiency Maine.

(During Fiscal Year 2011, the amount of Year-to-Date revenues collected, through December 31, 2010, were $62,116.92)

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) Auction proceeds: Proceeds from quarterly auctions of Maine’s carbon dioxide allowance by Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Inc. are also collected for the benefit of Efficiency Maine.

(During Fiscal Year 2011, the amount of Year-to-Date revenues collected, through December 31, 2010, were $3,071,689.56)

Forward Capacity Market revenues: These revenues are the monthly revenues received from ISO-New England as a result of Efficiency Maine’s participation in the forward capacity market. ISO-NE bids out participation in increases to the electrical capacity through either additional generation capacity or reduction in demand. Efficiency Maine participates through demand reductions. Bids are forward looking at three-year intervals, and we can complete and operationalize the demand reductions from the first auction.

(During Fiscal Year 2011, the amount of Year-to-Date revenues collected from this forward-capacity-market mechanism, through December 31, 2010, were $1,001,370.27)

American Reinvestment Recovery Act (ARRA): Efficiency Maine also receives revenue funding from the federal stimulus monies. That funding stream expires in 2012.

(During Fiscal Year 2011, the amount of Year-to-Date revenues collected as a result of ARRA, through December 31, 2010, were $5,145,617.01)

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Block Grant: Efficiency Maine has also received block-grant funds from the Department of Energy. Those funds come with the stipulation that at least 60% of the grant funds must be passed through to municipal and county governments for energy-efficiency improvements.

(During Fiscal Year 2011, the amount of Year-to-Date revenues collected from DOE, through December 31, 2010, were $2,366,133.55)

Settlement Agreement in 2008-255: By virtue of a settlement agreement between CMP and several parties in a PUC case, Docket No. 2008-255, the Maine Power Reliability Program Transmission Case, Iberdola, CMP’s shareholders will contribute a total of $17 million over nine years to Efficiency Maine for three purposes – low-income home weatherization, large customer energy efficiency, and other purposes at Efficiency Maine’s discretion. This funding begins in 2012.

Alternative compliance payment: means a certain dollar amount per kilowatt-hour set by the PUC that a competitive electricity provider may pay to the commission to satisfy the portfolio requirements of the governing statute. The PUC sets the rate by January 31 each year, and then calculates and assesses the amount due to the provider. The funds received are set aside in the Renewable Resource Fund administered by Efficiency Maine be used to fund research, development and demonstration projects related to renewable energy technologies.

(During Fiscal Year 2011, the amount of Year-to-Date revenues collected, through December 31, 2010, were $319,252.42.)