Public Utilities Regulatory Powers Act
The Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act of 1978. Among other things, this federal legislation requires utilities to buy electric power from private "qualifying facilities," at an avoided cost rate. This avoided cost rate is equivalent to what it would have otherwise cost the utility to generate or purchase that power themselves. Utilities must further provide customers who choose to self-generate a reasonably priced back-up supply of electricity.
PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY POLICIES ACT. A federal law setting out rate design standards for consideration by states. PURPA requires utilities to buy power at equitable rates from businesses that generate it as a by-product of some other industrial process (cogeneration).
Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act. Signed in 1978, it requires utilities to purchase electricity generated by qualifying non-utility producers.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Polices Act of 1978 (PURPA) was enacted to encourage energy conservation and domestic energy production. Section 210 of PURPA requires utilities to purchase energy, at the utility's avoided cost, from renewable or cogeneration projects.
Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act. Signed into law on November 8, 1978 as the National Energy Act. PURPA is a broad statute aimed at expanding the use of co-generation and renewable energy resources. PURPA created a new class of power producers called "qualifying facilities" (QFs). PURPA requires utilities to buy power from non-utility generators who qualify under PURPA's criteria. QF generators include those power producers that use renewable and alternative energy sources such as hydro, wind, solar, geothermal energy, biomass, municipal solid waste or landfill gas fuel to generate power. Other QF producers include co-generators.
PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY POLICY ACT. A 1978 federal law that requires utilities to buy power from eligible cogeneration sources, small hydro or waste-fueled facilities, under contracts at an avoided cost rate. The utilities also must provide a back up supply of electricity to customers who choose self-generation.
Public Utilities Regualtory Policy Act. A regulatory act passed in the late 1970's. One of the principal issues was the implementation of requirements of power utilities to purchase energy from qualifying facilities which produce electricity using alternative energy sources. The utilities are required to pay the facilities a "fair price" - a rate above what it costs the facilities to generate the power, even if the utility could make the same power for a fraction of the cost.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act of 1978. Ratepayer Impact Measure (RIM) - A test which measures what happens to customer bills or rates due to changes in utility revenues and operating costs caused by a DSM program. The benefits for the RIM are the savings from avoided supply or other system costs. The costs for the RIM are the program costs incurred by the utility, the incentives paid to the participants, decreased revenues for any period when load has been decreased and increased supply costs for any period when load has been increased.
Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act. Passed in response to the unstable energy climate of the late 1970s. Sought to promote conservation of electric energy. Additionally, PURPA created a new class of non-utility generators, small power producers, from which, along with qualified cogenerators, utilities are required to buy power. PURPA was in part intended to augment electric utility generation with more efficiently produced electricity and to provide equitable rates to electric consumers. Utility companies are required to buy all electricity from “Qfsâ€â€”qualifying facilities—at avoided cost. Expanded participation of non-utility generators in the electricity market, and demonstrated that electricity from non-utility generators could successfully be integrated with a utility’s own supply. Requires utilities to buy whatever power is produced by Qfs (usually cogeneration or renewable energy).
Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act. In the USA only: this is part of the National Energy Act. PURPA is intended to encourage the conservation of energy, more efficient use of resources, and equitable energy rates. Some important measures relevant to The Solar Guide include sections on net metering and incentives for renewable energy.
Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act. A 1978 federal law that requires electric utilities to purchase electricity produced from certain efficient power producers (frequently using renewable energy or natural gas). Utilities purchase power at a rate equal to the costs they avoid by not generating the power themselves. State regulatory agencies establish the rate based on local conditions.
The Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, passed by the U.S. Congress. This statute requires States to implement utility conservation programs and create special markets for co-generators and small producers who meet certain standards, including the requirement that States set the prices and quantities of power the utilities must buy from such facilities. Return to Top of Glossary
PUBLIC UTILITY REGULATORY POLICIES ACT. US federal act passed in 1978 that requires electricity utilities to buy wholesale power from certain types of independent power producers that produce electricity with renewable resources.
see Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act
The Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, passed by the U.S. Congress. This statute requires States to consider the implementation of Utility Conservation Programs and create markets for cogenerators and small power producers who meet certain efficiency standards, including the requirement that States set the price of power the utilities must buy from such facilities based on avoided costs.
The U.S. Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978.