The Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) was enacted in response to the energy crisis of the 1970s to encourage cogeneration and renewable resources, and to promote and encourage conservation of electricity. Since its adoption, PURPA has been changed or updated a few times. Most recently, it was updated through amendments to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Those amendments require electric utilities that are eligible for federal funding to hold a hearing to consider how we promote demand response and transportation electrification. Nodak Electric Cooperative already has policies that support these new PURPA standards, but we welcome your comments and recommendations on how we can improve what we are doing in these two areas. Your board of directors will consider all comments as part of its review of improvements to Nodak’s policies for compliance with these new PURPA standards. If you are interested in providing comment for the board’s consideration, it needs to be received in our office by Sept. 15, 2023.

Notice Of Hearing To Consider The Adoption Of Standards Under The Infrastructure Investment And Jobs Act

Pursuant to amendments included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (the “Act”) to the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, 16 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq., as amended, the Board of Directors of Nodak Electric Cooperative Inc. (hereafter the “Cooperative”) will hold a paper hearing on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at 4000 32nd Ave S, Grand Forks, ND 58201, to consider the following:

1. Whether the Cooperative will:
   a. promote the use of demand-response and demand flexibility practices by commercial, residential, and industrial consumers to reduce electricity consumption during periods of unusually high demand; and,
   b. establish rate mechanisms for the timely recovery of the costs of promoting demand-response and demand flexibility practices. 16 U.S.C. § 2621(d)(20).
2. Whether the Cooperative will consider measures to promote greater electrification of the transportation sector, including establishing rates that:
   a. promote affordable and equitable electric vehicle charging options for residential, commercial, and public electric vehicle charging infrastructure;
   b. improve the customer experience associated with electric vehicle charging, including by reducing charging times for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles;
   c. accelerate third-party investment in electric vehicle charging for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles; and,
   d. appropriately recover the marginal costs of delivering electricity to electric vehicles and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. 16 U.S.C. § 2621(d)(21). 

All members of the Cooperative may participate by submitting written comments for consideration of the Board by delivering to the Cooperative at the address set forth below by close of business on September 15, 2023, a written statement detailing their position relative to the adoption of one or both of the above-proposed standards and any response to the written position of the Cooperative staff relative to all of the standards which will be available on or before August 1, 2023. Procedural rules and other information relating to the proceedings and how to participate may be obtained on the Cooperative’s website at www.nodakelectric.com, or through a written request mailed to the following address:

Nodak Electric Cooperative
ATTN: PURPA Proceedings
4000 32nd Ave. S
Grand Forks, ND 58201