Clean Heat Standard

On May 24, 2023, Act 18 of 2023 became effective. The Act states that “it is the intent of the General Assembly that the Clean Heat Standard be designed and implemented in a manner that achieves Vermont’s thermal sector greenhouse gas emissions reductions necessary to meet the requirements of [the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2020], minimizes costs to customers, protects public health, and recognizes that affordable heating is essential for Vermonters.”

Act 18 directs the Vermont Public Utility Commission (“Commission”) to design a potential Clean Heat Standard and to file its recommendations with the Vermont General Assembly by January 15, 2025. This website is an informational resource for public use designed to share information, increase understanding, and encourage public involvement in this process. The Commission encourages everyone to participate in these proceedings by submitting public comments, becoming a participant and contributing to ongoing discussions, and attending workshops. Your perspective and ideas will help the Commission best design the proposed rule.

The Commission intends for this website to help centralize and simplify publicly available information related to the design of the potential Clean Heat Standard. All materials on this page are for informational use only. Orders, which are documents signed by the Commissioners and issued by the Clerk of the Commission, are the official means of communicating the Commission’s decisions. We will provide links to all Orders on this website. In addition, all Orders, and all forms of stakeholder and public input, can be found on the Commission’s online filing and case management system, ePUC.

Jump to: Requests for Input | Recent Orders | Advisory Group Materials

Process Updates

This section is intended to help users navigate the Commission’s proceedings to implement Act 18. The subsection “Requests for Input” contains a list of instances where the Commission seeks feedback from the public. The subsection “Recent Orders” contains a list of Orders that have been issued by the Commission in relation to its work under Act 18.

Last Updated: 12/7/2023

Requests for Input

OPEN – Request for Comments on Clean Heat Credit Ownership
Case No. 23-2220-RULE
Document Title: Order Requesting Comments on Clean Heat Credit Ownership
Issued: Nov. 17, 2023 | Closes: Dec. 8, 2023 | Workshop to be held on Dec. 15

PAST – Request for Comments on Revenue Streams
Case No. 23-2220-RULE
Document Title: Order Seeking Recommendations for Annual Funding Report
Issued: Nov. 3, 2023 | Closes: Dec. 4, 2023

PAST – Request for Comments on Technical Advisory Group Procedures
Case No. 23-2220-RULE
Document Title: Order Seeking Comments on Technical Advisory Group Procedures
Issued: Nov. 16, 2023 | Closes: Nov. 27, 2023

PAST – Request for Comments on Annual Registration Form
Case No. 23-2220-RULE
Document Title: Order Seeking Recommendations for Annual Registration Form
Issued: Oct. 23, 2023 | Closed: Nov. 6, 2023

PAST – Request for Schedule Recommendations on Default Delivery Agent(s)
Case No. 23-2221-INV
Document Title: Order Addressing Case Scope and Procedures and Seeking Recommendations for Schedule
Issued: Oct. 23, 2023 | Closed: Nov. 6, 2023

PAST – Request for Comments on Early Action Credits
Case No. 23-2220-RULE
Document Title: Order Requesting Comments on Early Action Credits
Issued: Sept. 18, 2023 | Closed: Oct. 19, 2023

PAST – Request for Comments on Organization of the Proceeding and Recommendations for Advisory Groups
Case No. 23-2220-RULE
Issued: June 30, 2023 | Closed: Aug. 4, 2023
Document Title: Order Opening Proceeding to Design the Potential Clean Heat Standard

PAST – Request for Comments on Organization of the Proceeding and Recommendations for Advisory Groups
Case No. 23-2221-INV
Issued: June 30, 2023 | Closed: Aug. 4, 2023
Document Title: Order Opening Investigation

Recent Orders

Order Creating Topic Tag System for Clean Heat Standard Cases
Issued: November 20, 2023, in Cases No. 23-2220-RULE & No. 23-2221-INV

Order Granting Extension of Comments on suggested revenue streams
Issued: November 20, 2023, in Case No. 23-2220-RULE

Order Requesting Comments on Clean Heat Credit Ownership
Issued: November 17, 2023, in Case No. 23-2220-RULE

Order Announcing Appointees to the Technical and Equity Advisory Groups
Issued: November 16, 2023, in Case No. 23-2220-RULE

Order Seeking Comments on Technical Advisory Group Procedures
Issued: November 16, 2023, in Case No. 23-2220-RULE

Order Seeking Recommendations for Funding Report
Issued: November 3, 2023, in Case No. 23-2220-RULE

Order Seeking Recommendations for Annual Registration Form
Issued: October 23, 2023, in Case No. 23-2220-RULE

Order Addressing Case Scope and Procedures and Seeking Recommendations for Schedule
Issued: October 23, 2023, in Case No. 23-2221-INV

Order Requesting Comments on Early Action Credits
Issued: September 18, 2023, in Case No. 23-2220-RULE

Order Granting Extension of First Comment Deadline
Issued: July 20, 2023, in Case No. 23-2220-RULE

Order Granting Extension of First Comment Deadline
Issued: July 20, 2023, in Case No. 23-2221-INV

Order Opening Investigation
Issued: June 30, 2023, in Case No. 23-2221-INV

Order Opening Proceeding to Design the Potential Clean Heat Standard
Issued: June 30, 2023, in Case No. 23-2220-RULE

Advisory Group Materials

The Commission has established two advisory groups to assist in the creation of the potential Clean Heat Standard – an Equity Advisory Group and a Technical Advisory Group. To promote transparency in all aspects of this work, the Commission will post materials from the two advisory groups here. You can learn more about the advisory groups and their role under the “How-Tos and Explainers” section of this website.

Advisory Group Members

Advisory Group Meetings

Technical Advisory Group - Dec. 11, 2023, 1 - 4 pm ET
Meeting Notice | Meeting Link | Meeting Materials

Equity Advisory Group - Nov. 29, 2023, 1 - 4 pm ET
Meeting Notice | Meeting Minutes

CHS Quick Links

Act 18 (2023) – This is the law that directs and governs the Commission’s work on the potential Clean Heat Standard.

PUC Case No. 23-2220-RULE – This is the case in ePUC where the Commission is working to develop the rules and procedures that would govern the potential Clean Heat Standard.

PUC Case No. 23-2221-INV – This is the case in ePUC where the Commission is working to establish the details and parameters of the potential Default Delivery Agent(s). This case will focus on (1) developing the costs and quantities of clean heat credits to be generated by one or more Default Delivery Agent(s), and (2) defining parameters regarding the appointment of Default Delivery Agent(s). The solicitation, review, and appointment of DDAs will occur in a different, yet-to-be-opened case.

Vermont Statutes Annotated (V.S.A.) – This is an online version of Vermont’s laws provided by the Vermont Legislature.

How-Tos and Explainers

How to Use ePUC – This page contains resources that explain how to use ePUC, the Commission’s online filing and case management system.

Public Participation – This page provides an overview of the Public Utility Commission and how people can participate in ongoing proceedings like the development of the potential Clean Heat Standard. People are encouraged to file public comments or become participants to contribute to the proceedings.

Proceeding Structure – At present, the Commission plans to complete its Act 18 work in three cases: 23-2220-RULE and 23-2221-INV, as explained above, and a yet-to-be-opened case for the solicitation, review, and appointment of at least one Default Delivery Agent.

Using Topic Tags – The Clean Heat Standard cases have and will continue to generate a large number of documents. To make these cases more navigable in ePUC, the Commission has created a topic-labeling system as explained in this Order.

How to Get Involved – The Commission welcomes all feedback related to the design and implementation of the potential Clean Heat Standard. To have your voice heard by the Commission, please file public comments or request to be made a participant in either or both cases (23-2220-RULE, 23-2221-INV). Feedback is most helpful when it is specific (related to a distinct aspect of the Commission’s work), actionable (provides a suggestion on what the Commission should do to address a concern), and timely (is submitted during a request for comments on the topic or before the Commission addresses the topic). If you only want to be notified of new filings and orders in the case(s), you can alternatively “subscribe” to the proceeding(s).

Advisory Groups – Act 18 directs the Commission to establish an Equity Advisory Group and a Technical Advisory Group to help the Commission design and implement the potential Clean Heat Standard. The requirements and responsibilities of the groups can be found at 30 V.S.A. §8129 (for the Equity Advisory Group) and 30 V.S.A. §8128 (for the Technical Advisory Group). We will provide materials related to the advisory groups under the Advisory Group Materials section of this page.

Key Terms – This glossary of terms includes definitions of commonly used words and phrases related to Commission business. This definitions section of Act 18 defines important words and phrases related to the potential Clean Heat Standard.

Press Releases and Announcements

Announcement of Website to Boost Accessibility of Clean Heat Proceedings

Announcement of a Request for Proposal for an Emissions Analysis Consultant

Press Release Announcing Seeking Members to Serve on Advisory Groups

Announcement of a Request for Proposal for a Public Engagement Facilitator

Press Release Announcing Opening of Proceedings on Potential Clean Heat Standard

Fuel Dealer Registry

30 V.S.A. §8124(b)(1) requires that each entity selling fuel into or in Vermont register annually with the Commission. The first deadline is January 31, 2024. The registration form and information required in the registration will be linked here.

30 V.S.A. §8124(b)(4) requires the Commission to publish annually a list of registered entities on our website. When that list is created, it will be posted here.