Fuel Mix and Emissions Disclosure

Summary

Montana's 1997 restructuring law included requirements for the provision of information to consumers about electricity supply services. The Montana Public Service Commission proposed rules on November 8, 1999 calling for the disclosure of fuel mix and environmental impact information. These regulations have yet to be implemented. The proposed environmental disclosure regulations would require retail electricity suppliers to disclose information on fuel mix and emissions in a standard format at least twice a year along with product offers and advertisements. Under the proposed rules, electricity providers that do not make claims about specific purchases may disclose fuel mix data for net system power for the previous calendar year. Suppliers that make a "claim of specific purchases" or make a "claim-based sale" must provide data on the projected fuel mix for the coming year or compare fuel mix data with net system power for the previous calendar year. Renewable resources can be disclosed as a single resource category. Retail suppliers are also required to disclose carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides emissions as well as the amount of spent nuclear fuel generated compared to the regional average, as represented by net system power. Hydro resources must be presented as a percentage of non-low-impact hydro used. The promulgation of final rules may be delayed because the original timetable for retail access has been modified.