Recent Updates to the Green-e Energy Code of Conduct

Webinar Aired September 2, 2015:

Green-e Energy recently updated the Green-e Energy Code of Conduct (formerly the Green-e Energy Code of Conduct and Customer Disclosure Requirements) to include new timelines for communications and deadlines, updated requirements for product content labels, and more. This webinar will review recent changes and answer questions from participants.

Transcript

1. Recent Updates to the Green-e Energy Code of Conduct What they mean for your program September 2, 2015 Robin Quarrier Chief Counsel 415-568-4285 Robin.quarrier@resource-solutions.org Sarah Busch Green-e Analyst and Partnerships Specialist 415-568-4284 Sarah.busch@resource-solutions.org
2. Download the New Code of Conduct http://www.green-e.org/getcert_re_stan.shtml And follow along……
3. Register for our Double Claims Webinars http://www.resource-solutions.org/events.html Preventing Double Claims: Part 1 (for Green-e Participants) Sept 23rd Preventing Double Claims: Part 2 (for Generators and project developers) Sept 30th
4. Outline 1. Deadlines and Implementation 2. Purpose of Changes and Structure 3. Timeline of Green-e Energy Processes 4. Product Content Labels and Price Terms and Conditions 5. Substantial Changes in Supply 6. Changes to Commercial Products 7. REC Disclosure Language 8. Emissions Avoidance Value of Renewable Energy Products 9. Emissions Avoidance Value of Biomass 10. Statements Implying Carbon Neutrality 11. Products with Special Features & etc. 12. Questions
5. Deadlines and Implementation •Date of update. July 24, 2015 •Required compliance for existing contracts. July 24, 2016 •Required compliance for new contracts. Immediately •Date of last update. November 6, 2013. •Impacts on MCR •Corrective guidance, but held to the looser of 2 standards
6. Purpose of Changes and Structure •Ease of Use •Organized by marketing type •Requirements only •Glossary moved •Guidance document on the way •New Timeline
7. Timeline of Green-e Energy Processes •Page 4-6 •Green-e Energy important dates •Annual invoicing •Verification •MCR •Quarterly Advisory Committee Calls •March 1st – current year’s Prospective PCL available on website/delivery •August 1st – previous year’s Historic PCL available on website/delivery
9. Product Content Labels and Price Terms and Conditions •Required mailing as part of the “Welcome Packet” •Include enrollment level •Prospective PCL, Historic PCL, and Price Terms & Conditions must be on website (if product referenced in website) •Flexibility on display (fully visible or hyperlinks)
10. Product Content Labels (continued) •No required Price Terms and Conditions templates •Required use of templates for the Product Content Label •What does this mean? Slight changes, rounding of edges? •Applies to Prospective and Historic PCL •All templates can include both Prospective and Historic information • Prospective PCL and Historic PCLs must be updated annually • Current year’s Prospective PCL: By March 1 • Previous year’s Historic PCL: By August 1
11. Product Content Labels (continued) •Describing resource locations using “and” and “or” •National resources must be from the lower 48 states •Alaska and other noncontiguous regions MUST be called out •RPS resources must be called out •Uncertified resources must be clearly separated from the certified resources •Clear title and clear labeling on websites
14. Substantial Changes in Supply •Must provide benefit to customers •4-10% change fill out the worksheet •Changes greater than 10% require the worksheet and Green-e Board approval •Process for resolving problems with ineligible supply •Notification •Fix with new resources •Decertification
15. Substantial Changes in Supply (continued) •Page 10 •Geographic requirements •REC disclosure language •Supply as described •When purchasing wholesale, ask for particular resources if you are supplying a certified product to your own customers
16. Changes for Commercial Products •Product Content Labels •Multiple-mix product Historic PCLs are not required to be posted online. •Marketing Compliance Review •Starting August 2016
17. REC Disclosure Language •Page 32 and 33 •Long and Short Disclosures are both shorter •Long REC disclosure language should be on the website •May refer to RECs as “renewable energy” throughout marketing until the time of sale (where REC disclosure must be displayed)
18. Emissions Avoidance Value of Renewable Energy Products •Talk about avoided grid emissions •By purchasing the product you are able to report zero scope 2 emissions •By purchasing the product you are reducing your GHG footprint compared to regular electricity service. •Carbon equivalencies are ok •Avoid using the word “offset” as a verb •Generation of the product did not cause direct greenhouse gas emissions •Statements about the product causing global reductions in emissions are not permitted •Don’t talk about emissions reductions resulting from the purchase of the product
19. Emissions Avoidance Value of Biomass •Biomass may not be marketed as “zero emissions” •If quantifying biomass emissions, include: “Green-e Energy does not certify or verify carbon emissions claims or methodologies for calculating emissions related to biomass.”
20. Statements Implying Carbon Neutrality •Green-e Energy does not support or endorse, carbon neutrality claims •Use of carbon neutrality claims require “Green-e Energy does not verify this claim”
21. Products with Special Features & etc. •It must be clear who is selling the product •The product must have the same name in disclosures and marketing •Disclaimers may be needed if donations are made as part of the product •Control over marketing materials •Does not prevent utilities from hiring marketing companies, •Does require companies (including hubs from hub and spoke) to approve all marketing about the product
22. Questions?
23. Robin Quarrier Chief Counsel 415-568-4285 Robin.quarrier@resource-solutions.org Sarah Busch Green-e Analyst and Partnerships Specialist 415-568-4284 sarah.busch@resource-solutions.org CONTACT