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the plans submitted by the utilities in August 2015.The the December 2017 Order,the Department has opened Compact held community and stakeholder meetings two related proceedings that the Compact is about what is being proposed and the implications for participating in regarding performance metrics and the the energy future of Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard. Monthly Minimum Reliability Charge (MMRC) There were several key areas of concern that the outreach and education plan.Additionally,the Compact Compact and engaged stakeholders identified,mainly filed an amicus brief with the MA Supreme Judicial centered around the fact that Eversource' grid Court (SIC), supporting other parties' appeals of the modernization plan was mostly grid-facing and did not approved return on equity rate and MMRC. The SJC offer many opportunities to engage customers with a has not ruled on the appeals as of December 2018. modernized grid. The Compact was an active participant in the DPU docket and retained experts to The Compact also participated in regulatory analyze Eversource's plan and present expert witness proceedings at the DPU related to the retail electric testimony, submitted information requests to market,pushing for policies that promote a competitive Eversource,and submitted briefs.The DPU issued their power supply market while ensuring common-sense grid modernization orders in May 2018, approving protections for consumers. some of the utilities'requests but deferring decisions on customer-facing technologies (such as advanced ENERGY EFFICIENCY metering infrastructure) to future proceedings. The Jan.-Dec. #of Customer kWh Rebates/Incentives Compact will seek to participate in future grid 2018 Participants Savings Saved Paid to Customers modernization proceedings at the DPU to advocate for Low Income 64 $20,367.20 101,836 $91,966.86 the interests of Cape and Vineyard customers. Residential 2,714 $302,114.80 1,510,574 $949,334.71 In December 2017, the DPU issued an order on Commercial 78 $95,120 475,600 $263,618.80 Eversource's rate case, which was filed in January Total 2,856 $417,602 2,088,010 $1304,920.37 2017. This was Eversource's first fully-litigated rate Funding for the energy efficiency programs (i.e. case since the 1980's.Rate case proceedings determine energy audits for homes and businesses,rebates on the the charges that Eversource is allowed to impose on the purchase of energy efficient appliances and energy distribution side of the electric bill, which affect all education in our schools) comes from the monthly residents and businesses on Cape Cod and Martha's customer "energy conservation" charge on each Vineyard.The Compact was an active participant in this customers' electric bill, which is multiplied by the proceeding as well. The Compact's concerns with the number of kilowatt hours used during the month proposal were: (1) the proposal to increase customer ($0.02109 for residential customers and $0.0078 for charges and impose new demand charges, which commercial and industrial customers). decrease customers'ability to manage their bills;(2)the 10.5% return on equity sought by the company,which Other Cape Light Compact Efforts Include: is higher than the national average for a regulated utility; (3) the proposal to shift approximately $30 053 ENERGY STAR® qualified homes were built million per year of costs from Western MA customers in the Town of Mashpee. (and Eastern MA commercial customers)on to Eastern . Cape Light Compact continues to support energy MA residential customers,which includes the Cape and education in Mashpee High School and Quashnet Vineyard. Unfortunately,the DPU approved increased School through classroom visits,teacher workshops, customer charges and demand charges, a 10% rate of energy education curriculum and free materials all return,and the cost shift from Western MA and Eastern aligned with the state NGSS and STEM initiatives. MA commercial customers on to Eastern MA Mashpee Middle School participated in the residential customers.However,the participation of the Compact's Be Energy Efficient Smart (BEES) Compact and other intervenors resulted in a lower program with the assistance of the Compact's approved customer charge than Eversource proposed,a energy education staff,and again this year,students rejection of consolidated Transition charges (saving from Mashpee High School held an energy carnival Cape & Vineyard customers approx. $8M/year), and for the students at Quashnet School under the rejection of the consolidation of commercial and leadership of BEES lead teacher Amanda Hough. industrial rate classes which would have had steep bill impacts for some Cape & Vineyard customers. Since Engineering reviews were completed at Mashpee Public Schools. 106