Resolution 2019-30876RESOLUTION NO. 2019 -30876
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE FLORIDA PUBLIC SERVICE
COMMISSION (THE "PSC ") TO SET MEANINGFUL ENERGY EFFICIENCY
GOALS IN THE 2019 FLORIDA ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND
CONSERVATION ACT ( "FEECA ") PROCEEDINGS, INCLUDING A
SPECIFIC PERCENTAGE GOAL; TO REPLACE THE RATEPAYER IMPACT
MEASURE TEST WITH A CRITICAL COST - EFFECTIVENESS TEST FOR
ELECTRIC EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS; TO ESTABLISH A STRONG
ENERGY EFFICIENCY RESOURCES STANDARD FOR THE STATE OF
FLORIDA AND ADOPT A STRONG DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES UTILITY REBATES; TO REQUIRE FLORIDA
ELECTRIC UTILITY COMPANIES TO SHARE WITH LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS ANONYMIZED ENERGY CONSUMPTION DATA AT THE
CENSUS BLOCK LEVEL TO ALLOW CITIES AND COUNTIES TO
EFFECTIVELY DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT THEIR OWN ENERGY
CONSERVATION PROGRAMS FOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES; TO
LEVERAGE FEDERAL WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
FUNDS TO PROVIDE GREATER ASSISTANCE TO LOW INCOME
HOMEOWNERS TO REQUIRE THAT MOST, IF NOT ALL, OF THE
NUMERIC ENERGY CONSERVATION GOALS BE MET THROUGH
PROGRAMS TO ASSIST LOW - AND MODERATE - INCOME HOUSEHOLDS;
AND TO ESTABLISH A RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION GOAL FOR
UTILITIES; AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT THIS
RESOLUTION AND THE COMMENTS SET FORTH HEREIN TO THE PSC
AND TO ALL FLORIDA MUNICIPALITIES.
WHEREAS, Florida is considered one of the most vulnerable areas of the country to
the consequences of global climate change, with southeast Florida being the most
vulnerable to the impacts of a changing climate, especially sea level rise; and
WHEREAS, in 1980, the Florida Legislature passed the Florida Energy Efficiency
and Conservation Act ( "FEECA ") to reduce peak electricity demand and energy
consumption; and
WHEREAS, in 2008, the Florida Legislature amended FEECA to include an
emphasis on cost - effective energy conservation measures; and
WHEREAS, FEECA requires that the Florida Public Service Commission ( "PSC ")
establish numeric energy conservation goals for Florida's largest utilities at least every five
(5) years; and
WHEREAS, the five Florida investor -owned utility companies currently subject to
FEECA are Florida Power & Light ( "FPL "), Duke Energy Florida LLC, Tampa Electric
1
Company, Gulf Power Company, and the two Florida public utility companies currently
subject to FEECA are Jacksonville Electric Authority ( "JEA ") and Orlando Utilities
Commission; and
WHEREAS, the upcoming 2019 FEECA hearings before the PSC, which will take
place on August 12 -16, 2019, present an opportunity for substantial improvement to
Florida's energy conservation goals; and
WHEREAS, according to the American Council for an Energy- Efficient Economy
( "ACEEE ") report, Florida's largest utilities have the third worst performance in the
southeastern United States in delivering energy conservation savings (measured as energy
saved as a percentage of annual kilowatt sales to customers), with an energy conservation
saving rate of 0.09 percent based on 2016 retail sales and 2017 net incremental savings;
and
WHEREAS, in 2017, ACEEE reported that the national energy conservation savings
average was 0.66 percent, which is more than seven times higher than Florida, and that
the energy conservation rates in California, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont
were 18 - 37 times higher than in Florida; and
WHEREAS, Florida is one of the only states to still rely heavily on the ratepayer
impact measure ( "RIM ") test as a cost- effectiveness test; and
WHEREAS, the RIM test does not provide a balanced cost- effectiveness test for
electric efficiency programs compared to other cost- effectiveness tests outlined in the
California Standard Practice Manual, which is widely followed by the industry; and
WHEREAS, the PSC should adopt a strong Demand Side Management Program
that includes utility rebates for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ( "EPA ") Energy Star
appliances, high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio ( "SEER ") rating air conditioners,
installation of high efficiency windows and doors, and Cool Roof Rating Council low -heat
absorbing roofing; and
WHEREAS, in addition, as many low- and moderate - income households continue to
struggle to afford electricity as temperatures increase and extreme heat waves become
more common, the PSC should leverage Federal Weatherization Assistance Program
funds to provide greater assistance to low- income homeowners throughout Florida; and
WHEREAS, energy conservation and efficiency programs and policies that promote
behavioral and operational changes by building owners and building occupants can not
only significantly reduce energy demand from the build environment, reduce greenhouse
gas emissions, and help building owners save money on bills, but also make the transition
to renewable energy more feasible and renewable generation targets more attainable; and
WHEREAS, currently, FPL's electricity generation and purchased power profile
indicates that only about 1.5% of its fuel mix was from solar energy in 2018; and
2
WHEREAS, to ensure that Florida's utilities are moving to lower- emissions and no-
emissions sources for electricity production, the PSC should establish a renewable energy
generation goal for utilities; and
WHEREAS, improved energy conservation goals will lead to more robust energy
efficiency and conservation programs and options for residential and commercial
customers, thereby providing economic, environmental, and public health benefits; and
WHEREAS, in addition, municipalities could more effectively design and implement
their own energy conservation programs for residents and businesses if Florida electric
utility companies provided the local governments with anonymized energy consumption
data at the census block level; and
WHEREAS, the City of Miami Beach (the "City ") is committed to collaborating with
its partners as it increases energy efficiency and expands consumption of electricity
generated from renewable sources, in order to reduce its greenhouse gas ( "GHG ")
emissions; and
WHEREAS, the City is a party to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate &
Energy, which is the world's largest cooperative effort among mayors and city leaders to
reduce GHG emissions, track progress, and prepare for the impacts of climate change;
and
WHEREAS, the City has taken steps to aggressively address climate change and to
reduce our community's carbon emissions, by completing annual greenhouse gas
inventory and providing a Property Assessed Clean Energy ( "PACE ") program for residents
and businesses; in addition, the City is in the process of developing a climate action plan
and setting greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets; and
WHEREAS, the City has also taken steps to reduce energy consumption, and
promote energy efficiency and renewable energy, by adopting policies such the Green
Building Ordinance and the Urban Heat Island Ordinance, which encourage sustainable
construction and energy efficiency, and supporting the Sierra Club's Ready for 100
campaign which challenges cities to set a target of 100% clean, renewable energy; and
WHEREAS, as such, the Mayor and City Commission hereby urge the PSC to set
meaningful energy efficiency goals in the 2019 FEECA proceedings that will eventually
meet the national average; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission further urge the PSC to establish a
strong Energy Efficiency Resources Standard for the State of Florida and adopt a strong
Demand Side Management Program that includes utility rebates; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission also urge the PSC to replace the
ratepayer impact measure (RIM) test with an alternative, more widely accepted cost -
3
effectiveness test for electric efficiency programs; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission further urge the PSC to require Florida
electric utility companies to share with local governments anonymized energy consumption
data at the census block level to allow cities and counties to effectively design and
implement their own energy conservation programs for residents and businesses; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission urge the PSC to leverage Federal
Weatherization Assistance Program funds to provide greater assistance to low income
homeowners and require that most, if not all, of the numeric energy conservation goals be
met through programs to assist low- and moderate- income households; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission further urge the PSC to establish a
renewable energy generation goal for utilities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND THE CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby urge the Florida Public Service Commission (the "PSC ") to set
meaningful energy efficiency goals in the 2019 Florida Energy Efficiency and Conservation
Act ( "FEECA ") proceedings, including a specific percentage goal; to replace the ratepayer
impact measure test with a critical cost - effectiveness test for electric efficiency programs;
to establish a strong Energy Efficiency Resources Standard for the State of Florida and
adopt a strong Demand Side Management Program that includes utility rebates; to require
Florida electric utility companies to share with local governments anonymized energy
consumption data at the census block level to allow cities and counties to effectively design
and implement their own energy conservation programs for residents and businesses; to
leverage Federal Weatherization Assistance Program funds to provide greater assistance
to low income homeowners; to require that most, if not all, of the numeric energy
conservation goals be met through programs to assist low- and moderate - income
households; and to establish a renewable energy generation goal for utilities; and direct the
City Clerk to transmit this Resolution and the comments set forth herein to the PSC and to
all Florida municipalities.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 17th day of July, 2019.
ATTEST:
ct 2c"cl
Rafael Granado, City Clerk
Dan Gelber, Mayor
(Sponsored by Commissioner Mark Samuelia
4
PROVED AS TO
RM & LANGUAGE
FOR EXECUTION
City Attorney
7
3 't
Date
MIAMI BEACH
Resolutions - C7 E
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: July 17, 2019
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE FLORIDA PUBLIC SERVICE
COMMISSION (THE "PSC ") TO SET MEANINGFUL ENERGY EFFICIENCY
GOALS IN THE 2019 FLORIDA ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND
CONSERVATION ACT ( "FEECA ") PROCEEDINGS, INCLUDING A
SPECIFIC PERCENTAGE GOAL; TO REPLACE THE RATEPAYER IMPACT
MEASURE TEST WITH A CRITICAL COST - EFFECTIVENESS TEST FOR
ELECTRIC EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS; TO ESTABLISH A STRONG
ENERGY EFFICIENCY RESOURCES STANDARD FOR THE STATE OF
FLORIDA AND ADOPT A STRONG DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES UTILITY REBATES; TO REQUIRE FLORIDA
ELECTRIC UTILITY COMPANIES TO SHARE WITH LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS ANONYMIZED ENERGY CONSUMPTION DATA AT THE
CENSUS BLOCK LEVEL TO ALLOW CITIES AND COUNTIES TO
EFFECTIVELY DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT THEIR OWN ENERGY
CONSERVATION PROGRAMS FOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES; TO
LEVERAGE FEDERAL WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
FUNDS TO PROVIDE GREATER ASSISTANCE TO LOW INCOME
HOMEOWNERS TO REQUIRE THAT MOST, IF NOT ALL, OF THE
NUMERIC ENERGY CONSERVATION GOALS BE MET THROUGH
PROGRAMS TO ASSIST LOW -AND MODERATE - INCOME HOUSEHOLDS;
AND TO ESTABLISH A RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION GOAL FOR
UTILITIES; AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT THIS
RESOLUTION AND THE COMMENTS SET FORTH HEREIN TO THE PSC
AND TO ALL FLORIDA MUNICIPALITIES.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the resolution
ANALYSIS
In 1980, the Florida Legislature passed the Florida Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act
(FEECA) to reduce peak electricity demand and energy consumption. Sections 366.82(2) and
366.82(6), Florida Statutes, require the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) to establish
goals for the FEECA utilities and review the goals at least every five years.
Page 274 of 1502
The five Florida investor -owned utilities currently subject to FEECA are: Florida Power & Light
(FPL), Duke Energy Florida LLC, Tampa Electric Company, Gulf Power Company, and Florida
Public Utilities Company. The two municipal utilities currently subject to FEECA are: JEA
(formerly Jacksonville Electric Authority) and Orlando Utilities Commission.
Historically, Florida utilities' energy efficiency spending falls well below both national and
southeastern states' averages. According to the American Council on an Energy- Efficient
Economy (ACEEE), in 2017, Florida's largest utilities had an average energy conservation
saving rate of 0.09 percent. In the same year, the national energy conservation savings average
was 0.66 percent; more than seven times higher than Florida.
Most states use some combination of the cost- effectiveness tests outlined in the California
Standard Practice Manual but Florida is one of the only states to still rely heavily on the
ratepayer impact measure (RIM) test as a cost - effectiveness test. The RIM test does not
provide a balanced cost - effectiveness test for electric efficiency programs compared to other
tests in the California Standard Practice Manual. Using other cost - effectivenss tests and
weighing them more evenly would provide a more transparent representation of energy
efficiency programs' costs and benefits.
Energy conservation and efficiency programs and policies that promote behavioral and
operational changes by building owners and building occupants can not only significantly reduce
energy demand from the build environment, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help
building owners save money on bills, but also make the transition to renewable energy more
feasible. To ensure that Florida's utilities are moving to lower- emissions and no- emissions
sources for electricity production, the PSC could establish a renewable energy generation goal
for utilities. FPL's electricity generation and purchased power profile indicates that only about
1.5% of its fuel mix was from solar in 2018. According to FPL's 2019 Ten Year Plant Site Plan,
FPL projects that approximately 15% of the total energy they deliver in 2028 will be from solar
energy. Moreover, FPL recently announced its '30- by -30' plan; a plan to install more than 30
million solar panels by 2030. The PSC establishing a renewable energy generation goal for
utilities would reinforce the current goals that many Florida utilities, including FPL, have already
set and provide a foundation for communities that also want to set up renewable goals. This
statewide goal would facilitate the collaboration between communities and utilities to reach their
renewable energy goals.
The City is committed to the adaptation and mitigation of climate change and has taken steps to
reduce our community's carbon emissions by completing annual greenhouse gas inventories,
providing a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program for residents and businesses,
commencing the development of a climate action plan and greenhouse gas emissions
reduction targets, and adopting policies such the Green Building Ordinance and the Urban Heat
Island Ordinance which encourage sustainable construction and energy efficiency. In addition,
the City supports the Sierra Club's Ready for 100 campaign which challenges cities to set a
target of 100% clean, renewable energy.
The City is also a party to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, which is the
world's largest cooperative effort among mayors and city leaders to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, track progress, and prepare for the impacts of climate change.
Page 275 of 1502
The City continues to adapt to the effects of climate change and implement programs and
policies that aim to mitigate climate change. Through a collaborative effort with local and
regional stakeholders, these efforts will yield a greater impact. Our utility is critical in the success
of the goals and targets we set regarding climate action and we hope that our utility's future
plans, and Florida utilities' future plans as a whole, support our municipality's low- emission
ambitions and the goals of other regional partners and cities and counties across Florida.
CONCLUSION
The Administration recommends the Mayor and City Commission to approve the Resolution.
Legislative Tracking
Environment and Sustainability
Sponsor
Commissioner Mark Samuelian
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
D Resolution PSC FEECA
Page 276 of 1502