Category Archives: renewable

CPES Policy Committee Update: March 19, 2019

This update features policy, regulatory, legislative, and regional developments in Connecticut and New England. The policy updates are compiled by the CPES New Energy Professionals Team. If you are interested in learning more about the New Energy Professionals, the Policy Committee, or if you have ideas for future policy updates, we would welcome your input and feedback. Please send comments to Kathryn Dube, CPES Executive Director, via email: kdube@ctpower.org.

In this Update:

  • Energy & Technology Committee Meeting: March 19
  • PURA Docket Number 19-03-10
  • Off shore wind measures advance out of committee
  • Dominion to keep Connecticut Millstone nuclear plant in service
  • Hartford Courant “At New London’s State Pier, wind power gives Connecticut its next economic development opportunity
  • 2018 Report of the Consumer Liaison Group Published
  • ISO New England Press Release on 2018 Wholesale Electricity Prices

CONNECTICUT

LEGISLATIVE
ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
The Energy & Technology Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly will hold a Committee Meeting on March 19 at 10:30 AM in Room 2B of the Legislative Office Building. The Bill Record Book, which contains proposed House and Senate bills, is available here.

PURA DOCKET
On March 12, 2019, PURA established Docket No. 19-03-10: 2019 PURA Report to the General Assembly Concerning Lost and Unaccounted for Gas

INDUSTRY

OFF SHORE WIND MEASURES ADVANCE OUT OF COMMITTEE
The co-chairs of the Energy & Technology Committee announced that two off shore wind important measures moved out committee. The legislation, SB 875, An Act Expanding Connecticut’s Offshore Wind Energy Portfolio, would expand offshore wind energy and HB 7156, An Act Concerning The Procurement Of Energy Derived From Offshore Wind, would authorize the procurement of energy derived from offshore wind. Article 

DOMINION TO KEEP CONNECTICUT MILLSTONE NUCLEAR PLANT IN SERVICE
Dominion Energy Inc said on Friday that it reached a 10-year agreement with Connecticut utilities that will keep the state’s only nuclear power station in service. Read article here

HARTFORD COURANT “AT NEW LONDON’S STATE PIER, WIND POWER GIVES CONNECTICUT ITS NEXT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY” Read the full story here.

INDUSTRY

2018 REPORT OF THE CONSUMER LIAISON GROUP PUBLISHED
The report, prepared jointly by the Consumer Liaison Group (CLG) Coordinating Committee and ISO New England highlights the 2018 activities of the CLG and provides an update on other consumer-related, wholesale electricity industry topics. 

ISO NEW ENGLAND PRESS RELEASE ON 2018 WHOLESALE ELECTRICITY PRICES
ISO-NE’s average wholesale electricity price in 2018 rose over the 2017 price, but still ranked as the six-lowest since the current wholesale markets were implemented in 2004. Read more in the press release.

 

 

CPES Policy Committee Update: September 19, 2016

This update features policy, regulatory, legislative, and regional developments in Connecticut and New England. The policy updates are compiled by a team recently formed with support from CPES, known as the New Energy Professionals. If you are interested in learning more about the New Energy Professionals, the Policy Committee, or if you have ideas for future policy updates, we would welcome your input and feedback. Please send comments to Paul Brady, CPES Executive Director, via email: pbrady@ctpower.org.

This week’s features:

  • PURA re-opens the Residential Billing Docket and Eversource seeks to reopen docket on interconnection guidelines.
  • ISO-NE Completes Study on Wind Resources
  • Looking Ahead to the Next Legislative Session – Schedules and Key Links

 

CONNECTICUT REGULATORY

PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY NEW DOCKETS:

On September 14, 2016, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority initiated the following proceeding, which may be of interest to you:

  • Docket No. 14-07-19RE02:  PURA Investigation into Redesign of the Residential Electric Billing Format – Incidental Residential Accounts and Summary Information

Also, on September 8, 2016, Eversource filed a motion to reopen Docket No. 03-01-15 DPUC Investigation into the Need For Interconnection Standards for Distributed Generation, seeking  PURA approval of new interconnection guidelines for small (sub 20kW) generation systems. Eversource’s motion and the proposed interconnection standards are available here.

 

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

ISO New England Completes Studies on the Economic Impacts of Adding More Wind Resources to the Grid

ISO New England recently completed three studies requested by regional stakeholders in 2015. The studies focus on the economic impacts of adding more wind resources to the regional power system under a variety of hypothetical scenarios. The studies looked at:

  • The potential economic effects of developing offshore wind
  • Upgrading transmission at three interfaces in Maine to remove potential bottlenecks and enable the development of more onshore wind and imports from New Brunswick, Canada
  • Easing a transmission bottleneck farther north in the Keene Road area of Maine to enable increasing wind development in the local area

The final results of the studies are available on the ISO’s Planning Advisory Committee webpage.  For more information, visit the ISO Newswire.

 

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

CONNECTICUT LEGISLATION:

The 2016 Connecticut regular session ended on May 4, 2016.  The 2017 Connecticut regular session begins January 4, 2017.

Information about the Energy and Technology Committee, including committee meetings and public hearings, is available at: https://www.cga.ct.gov/et/.

 

MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATION:

The 2015-2016 Massachusetts formal session ended on July 31, 2016.  The 2017-2018 Massachusetts session begins January 4, 2017.

Information about the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, including hearings and bills in committee, is available at: https://malegislature.gov/Committees/Joint/J37.

CPES Policy Committee Update: August 23, 2016

This update features policy, regulatory, legislative, and regional developments in Connecticut and New England. The policy updates are compiled by a team recently formed with support from CPES, known as the New Energy Professionals. If you are interested in learning more about the New Energy Professionals, the Policy Committee, or if you have ideas for future policy updates, we would welcome your input and feedback. Please send comments to Paul Brady, CPES Executive Director, via email: pbrady@ctpower.org.

This week’s features:

  • MA Supreme Court Strikes Down DPU Order on Authority
  • Op-Ed Block Island Wind Farms

 

Regional & Industry Developments

MA Supreme Court Pushes Back on DPU Authority

On August 17, 2016, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court struck down an order issued by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities last October which found that the Department has pre-existing authority to review and approve contracts for natural gas pipeline capacity filed by electric distribution companies.  The Court ruled that the Department erred in interpreting Massachusetts law as authorizing it to review and approve ratepayer-backed, long-term contracts by electric distribution companies for natural gas capacity. The Court concluded that the order is invalid “because, among other things, it would undermine the main objectives of the [Restructuring Act of 1997] and re-expose ratepayers to the types of financial risks from which the Legislature sought to protect them.”

The Court’s decision is available at: http://www.mass.gov/courts/docs/sjc/reporter-of-decisions/new-opinions/12051.pdf

 

(CT/RI) Op-Ed: Block Island Wind Farm: Windfall for the politically connected

Under the deal engineered by Carcieri, Rhode Island’s regulated utility, National Grid, will be required to pay 24.4 cents per kilowatt hour for the windmill power — more than twice current market rates.

Sweetening the deal even more, there are price escalators of 3.5 percent a year, so that by the end of the 20-year contract period, National Grid will be paying 50 cents per kilowatt hour from the wind farm.

http://www.theday.com/local-columns/20160820/block-island-wind-farm-windfall-for-politically-connected

 

 

CPES Policy Committee Update: August 9, 2016

This update features policy, regulatory, legislative, and regional developments in Connecticut and New England. The policy updates are compiled by a team recently formed with support from CPES, known as the New Energy Professionals. If you are interested in learning more about the New Energy Professionals, the Policy Committee, or if you have ideas for future policy updates, we would welcome your input and feedback. Please send comments to Paul Brady, CPES Executive Director, via email: pbrady@ctpower.org.

This week’s features:

  • PURA looking to issue new regulations on the Renewable Portfolio Standard
  • NY PSC approves new REC and ZEC requirements
  • Energy bill passes in MA seeking to diversify generation

 

Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority

RPS Docket Opened

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) has opened a docket aimed at issuing new regulations regarding the Renewable Portfolio Standard (“RPS”) certification and compliance process. According to PURA’s recently opened docket notification, the new regulations “will (A) revise Conn. Agencies Regs. §16-245a-1 (annual RPS compliance by load serving entities); (B) revise Conn. Agencies Regs. §16-245a-2 (application for qualification Class I, II and III renewable energy facilities); and (C) develop rules and disclosure forms for voluntary green products.”  Any regulations promulgated by PURA must ultimately pass legislative review before being made final. The docket, Docket No. 16-08-23 – PURA Promulgation of Regulations Concerning RPS and Voluntary Green Products is available by clicking here.

 

Regional & Industry Developments

New York Approves 50% Renewable by 2030

On August 1, 2016, the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) issued an order approving the state’s Clean Energy Standard, requiring electricity providers in New York to obtain a targeted number of renewable energy credits (RECs) from renewable energy sources and zero-emissions credits (ZECs) from nuclear energy sources each year. In the order, the PSC adopted the 2015 State Energy Plan goal that 50% of New York’s electricity is to be generated by renewable sources by 2030.

For more information, see the PSC’s final order here.

 

Legislative Affairs

MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATION:

The 2015-2016 Massachusetts formal session ended on July 31, 2016.  The 2017-2018 Massachusetts session begins January 4, 2017.

On July 31, 2016, the following bill passed both chambers that may be of interest to you:

Information about the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, including hearings and bills in committee, is available at: https://malegislature.gov/Committees/Joint/J37

 

CONNECTICUT LEGISLATION:

The 2016 Connecticut regular session ended on May 4, 2016.  The 2017 Connecticut regular session begins January 4, 2017.

Information about the Energy and Technology Committee, including committee meetings and public hearings, is available at: https://www.cga.ct.gov/et/

CPES Policy Committee Update: May 10, 2016

This update features policy, regulatory, legislative, and regional developments in Connecticut and New England. The policy updates are compiled by a team recently formed with support from CPES, known as the New Energy Professionals. If you are interested in learning more about the New Energy Professionals, the Policy Committee, or if you have ideas for future policy updates, we would welcome your input and feedback. Please send comments to Paul Brady, CPES Executive Director, via email: pbrady@ctpower.org.

This week’s features:

  • Utilities Announce New Residential Rates
  • 2016 Legislative Session Wrap-Up
  • ISO NE Issues Regional Overview

 

CONNECTICUT POLICY/REGULATORY UPDATE:  CT Public Utilities Regulatory Authority

New Residential Generation Rates Announced for July 1st

The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) has approved revised generation rates for Eversource and United Illuminating (UI) standard service customers. Based on the results of competitive auctions held earlier this year, effective July 1, 2016, Eversource’s residential generation rate will decrease from 9.555 cents per kWh to 6.606 cents per kWh. UI’s residential generation rate will decrease from 10.7358 cents per kWh to 8.0224 cents per kWh. The new standard service rates represent an approximately 20% and 12% reduction, respectively, when compared to rates last year. The PURA Dockets associated with the new rates are available at the following links: Eversource, UI.

 

CONNECTICUT LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Information about the Energy and Technology Committee, including committee meetings and public hearings, is available at: https://www.cga.ct.gov/et/.

The 2016 regular session ended on May 4, 2016.  During the session, both the Senate and House of Representatives passed the following bills that may be of interest to you:

  • S.B. No. 272:  AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF MICROGRID GRANTS AND LOANS FOR CERTAIN DISTRIBUTED ENERGY GENERATION PROJECTS.
  • S.B. No. 334:  AN ACT CONCERNING REVISIONS TO CERTAIN ENERGY PURCHASING POOL AND LIFE-CYCLE COST ANALYSES STATUTES.
  • S.B. No. 366:  AN ACT CONCERNING ADMINISTRATION OF THE CONNECTICUT GREEN BANK, THE PRIORITY OF THE BENEFIT ASSESSMENTS LIEN UNDER THE GREEN BANK’S COMMERCIAL SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PROGRAM AND THE GREEN BANK’S SOLAR HOME RENEWABLE ENERGY CREDIT PROGRAM.
  • S.B. No. 394:  AN ACT CONCERNING AUTHORIZATIONS RELATING TO VIRTUAL NET METERING FOR CERTAIN ZERO OR LOW EMISSION GENERATION PROJECTS.
  • H.B. No. 5242:  AN ACT CONCERNING AGRICULTURAL VIRTUAL NET METERING.
  • H.B. No. 5427:  AN ACT CONCERNING THE SHARED CLEAN ENERGY FACILITY PILOT PROGRAM.
  • H.B. No. 5496:  AN ACT CONCERNING CERTAIN VIRTUAL NET METERING FACILITIES.
  • H.B. No. 5510:  AN ACT CONCERNING ELECTRIC AND FUEL CELL ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

 

Regional and Industry Developments

ISO New England Releases Overview of the Wholesale Electricity Markets

Now available on the ISO New England website is an overview of the region’s wholesale electricity markets, which were built on several key principles, including competition, efficiency, and transparency. These markets are securing reliable electricity at competitive prices and helping usher in a cleaner, greener grid. To access this overview, please click here .