JACKSON— The Mississippi Public Service Commission conducted the monthly docket meeting Tuesday to discuss pending matters on the docket. The meeting was held telephonically to comply with Executive Order 1466 and state and federal social distancing guidelines.
One of the agenda items considered by the Commission was the Joint Petition for Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity filed by Entergy Mississippi, LLC and Sunflower County Solar Project, LLC (SCSP) in December 2018, for authorization for SCSP to construct and for Entergy Mississippi to acquire, own, operate, improve, and maintain a solar photovoltaic facility in Sunflower County near the city of Ruleville, Mississippi. The 100 megawatt to-be-constructed facility is a “greenfield” project and is expected to occupy approximately 1,000 acres. County, municipality and business leaders across Sunflower County have expressed their support for this project.
“I am excited to join my fellow Commissioners in unanimously supporting the Sunflower County Solar Project,” Commissioner Bailey said. “This project will expand the tax base for Sunflower County, create jobs in the Central District and provide Entergy customers all across the state with the net benefits from a cost-competitive, clean energy resource. I hope this is the first of many more projects in the Central District that will diversify our energy resources, integrate innovative technologies and create resiliency across the electric generation fleet.”
Another matter taken up by the Commission was a review of the Order passed by the Commission on March 15 that temporarily suspended disconnections of certain utility services for 60 days, including water, sewer, electricity and gas services. The original action was taken in response to Governor Tate Reeves’s Declaration of a State of Emergency on March 14, 2020, and requests by the Mississippi State Department of Health and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency regarding the spread of COVID-19. The Order required the Commission to revisit the matter 30 days after passage.
“Today, the Commission voted to keep in place through at least May 14 the Order suspending utility disconnections. We recognize this could potentially place a burden on utility companies following the 60 days. I thank these utilities for taking additional measures to help customers during this time as we all continue to work together through the COVID-19 health emergency,” Commissioner Bailey said. “I also want to remind customers that in no way does this temporary order eliminate their responsibility of paying their bills. But in times of economic hardship, this order has provided customers with additional time and opportunities to work with their service providers to set up payment plans to avoid extreme balances at the end of the 60 days.”
