3360 Energy Resource Conservation/Dvlmt Comm
Program Descriptions

10 - REGULATORY and PLANNING PROGRAM

The Regulatory and Planning program facilitates markets in providing adequate statewide energy supplies. The program develops long-range projections for future energy supplies and demand, maintains current information on statewide electrical generation, transmission, natural gas, and fuels markets. Additionally, this program certifies power plant sites and designates transmission line corridors, monitors new energy facilities and fuel infrastructure for compliance and for supply and distribution adequacy consistent with state energy policies. Further, the program develops state energy policy based on the economic, financial, security, safety, and environmental implications of supply, demand, and price assessments, and monitors energy markets to ensure competitive prices and to prevent potential market abuses.

10.10 - Power Plant Site Certification and Transmission Line Corridor Designation Program

The Power Plant Site Certification and Transmission Line Corridor Designation program is responsible for: reviewing power plant siting applications; ensuring power plant developers comply with conditions of certification and all applicable laws and regulations during the construction and operation of power plants; reviewing applications for designation as transmission line corridors; evaluating constraints and opportunities for energy resource development; and analyzing reliability, efficiency, and environmental performance issues related to power plants and the state electricity transmission grid.

10.20 - Electricity Resource Planning

The Electricity Resource Planning program is responsible for evaluating current and future electricity supply market trends and infrastructure needs; assessing the adequacy of electricity supplies; and analyzing regulations and environmental issues related to electricity. Additionally this program addresses transmission line planning and permitting barriers and provides information and recommendations to state agencies, electricity market participants, and the public. The natural gas program component is responsible for evaluating current and future natural gas market trends and infrastructure needs, assessing the adequacy of natural gas supplies, analyzing regulations and environmental issues related to natural gas, and leading interagency work groups to monitor short-term natural gas market trends.