Tag Archives: Policy

CPES Policy Committee Update: September 4, 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:

  • Governor Lamont Signs Executive Order Strengthening Connecticut’s Efforts to Mitigate Climate Change
  • DEEP and PURA Issue Draft Outline for Value of Distributed Energy Resources Study
  • PURA Issues Interim Decision Approving Millstone PPA
  • CT Mirror: CT offshore wind may face some rough seas
  • HBJ: CT expects $82.4M for winter assistance program
  • Register Now for ISO-NE’s 2019 Regional System Plan Public Meeting – September 12, Boston
  • Utility Dive: Rhode Island issues 10-year tax credit to draw offshore wind business

CONNECTICUT

Governor Lamont Signs Executive Order Strengthening Connecticut’s Efforts to Mitigate Climate Change
Governor Ned Lamont announced that he has signed an executive order strengthening Connecticut’s ongoing efforts to combat the effects of climate change and ensure that the state’s communities are as resilient as possible to rising sea levels and increasingly powerful storms.

DEEP and PURA Issue Draft Outline for Value of Distributed Energy Resources Study
Review the draft outline here. Comments are being accepted until September 18.

PURA Issues Interim Decision Approving Millstone PPA
PURA issued an interim decision approving the 10 year PPA between Dominion.  A final decision is anticipated on September 18.

CT Mirror: CT offshore wind may face some rough seas

HBJ: CT expects $82.4M for winter assistance program

INDUSTRY

Register Now for ISO-NE’s 2019 Regional System Plan Public Meeting – September 12, Boston
The 2019 Regional System Plan (RSP) public meeting is scheduled for September 12 at the Westin Copley Place, Boston, MA from 11:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. At this meeting, the ISO will present the final draft of, and receive feedback on, the 2019 RSP. The meeting will also include a keynote address from Damir Novosel, president and founder of Quanta Technology, and a panel discussion entitled, “Transition to the Grid of the Future: Adapting to Disruptive Technologies.” Registration is required and available on ISO-TEN.

Utility Dive: Rhode Island issues 10-year tax credit to draw offshore wind business

CPES Policy Committee Update: February 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 Public Hearings: Feb 19 and Feb 21
  • PURA established Docket No. 19-02-13:  Declaratory Ruling Regarding Licensed Electric Supplier Practices of Altering the Prices in Fixed-Price Contracts
  • Consumers in Retail Competition Markets Saved $300B Over the Past Decade, Trade Group Says
  • Speaker Announced for ISO-NE March CLG Meeting: Jeffrey Grybowski, Co-CEO Ørsted US Offshore Wind
  • ISO-NE Announces Spring 2019 Market Training Classes
  • 2nd Circuit Sides With Direct Energy Services in Rate Hike Dispute
  • Vistra Energy to Expand Retail Business with $328M acquisition
  • Future US Electricity Generation Mix Will Depend Largely on Natural Gas Prices

CONNECTICUT

LEGISLATIVE
ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
The Energy & Technology Committee will hold the following public hearings:
                 -Tuesday, February 19, 10:15 am in room 1E of the LOB Agenda
                 – Thursday, February 21, 10:00 am in Rm 1B of the LOB Agenda  

The Bil Record Book, which contains proposed House and Senate bills, is available here.

REGULATORY
On February 11, 2019, PURA established Docket No. 19-02-13:  Declaratory Ruling Regarding Licensed Electric Supplier Practices of Altering the Prices in Fixed-Price Contracts

REGIONAL/INDUSTRYCONSUMERS IN RETAIL COMPETITION MARKETS SAVED $300B OVER THE PAST DECADE, TRADE GROUP SAYS
Electricity prices in many states with retail choice are high, but RESA’s analysis concludes they are moving lower, as consumers reap the benefits of cheap natural gas and lower electricity demand. But the same cannot be said for states with monopoly utility structures. MORE

SPEAKER ANNOUNCED FOR ISO-NE MARCH CLG MEETING: JEFFREY GRYBOWSKI, CO-CEO ØRSTED US OFSHORE WIND
Jeffrey Grybowski, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Ørsted US Offshore Wind, will give the keynote address at the March 14th meeting of the Consumer Liaison Group (CLG) at the Omni Providence Hotel. Following, a panel will discuss Transforming the Power Sector: Customer Choice in a Changing Energy Landscape. 

ISO-NE ANNOUNCES SPRING 2019 MARKET TRAINING CLASSES
ISO-NE’s Customer Training will hold Introduction to Wholesale Electricity Markets April 29- May 3 and Intermediate Wholesale Electricity Markets June 11-13.  Learn more and register here.

2ND CIRCUIT SIDES WITH DIRECT ENERGY SERVICES IN RATE HIKE DISPUTE
Connecticut resident Gary Richards had sued private electricity supplier Direct Energy Services LLP, claiming it unfairly hiked prices by switching from a fixed to variable rate. A Second Circuit panel, ruling 2-1, upheld a lower court ruling that sided with the electricity supplier. MORE

VISTRA ENERGY TO EXPAND RETAIL BUSINESS WITH $328M ACQUISITION
Vistra Energy Corp. has entered into an agreement to acquire Crius Energy Trust for about $328 million, the company announced in a news release Thursday. The move comes as Irving-based Vistra (NYSE: VST) seeks to expand its retail business. With the acquisition of Crius Energy, Vistra would serve 19 states and the District of Columbia in the electricity and natural gas product market for residential and small business customers. MORE

FUTURE US ELECTRICITY GENERATION MIX WILL DEPEND LARGELY ON NATURAL GAS PRICES
The mix of fuels used to generate electricity in the US has changed in response to differences in the relative costs of electricity-generating technologies and their fuels. EIA’s Annual Energy Outlook 2019 shows that projected generation and capacity is significantly influenced by natural gas prices. MORE

 

 

CPES Policy Committee Update: December 18, 2018

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:

  • FERC accepts ISO-NE proposal to retain retiring resources for fuel security
  • ISO-NE announces 2019 classroom and webinar training schedule
  • Report Published by GC3 on Strategies for CT to Reduce GHGs
  • NYISO Recently Launched New Website
  • Lamont Transition Energy Report
  • PURA issues Final Decision declaring Millstone Power Station “At Risk” of Premature Retirement 
  • Connecticut Water merger tentatively rejected
  • Recent PURA Updates

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY

FERC ACCEPTS ISO-NE PROPOSAL TO RETAIN RETIRING RESOURCES FOR FUEL SECURITY
Dec. 3, FERC issued an order accepting ISO-NE’s interim tariff changes to retain resources seeking retirement on the basis of fuel-security reliability need.

ISO-NE ANNOUNCES 2019 CLASSROOM AND WEBINAR TRAINING SCHEDULE
ISO’s 2019 Wholesale Energy Markets and Forward Capacity Markets classroom sessions are scheduled.

REPORT PUBLISHED BY GC3 ON STRATEGIES FOR CT TO REDUCE GHGS
Early this month, the Governor’s Council on Climate Change (GC3) released a draft of their analysis Building a Low Carbon Future for Connecticut: Achieving a 45% GHG Reduction by 2030.

NYISO RECENTLY LAUNCHED NEW WEBSITE
Click here to visit the new website

CONNECTICUT

LAMONT TRANSITION ENERGY REPORT
The Energy Transition Policy Committee provided the following update yesterday at at Curtis Packaging in Sandy Hook. Report

PURA ISSUES FINAL DECISION DECLARING MILLSTONE POWER STATION “AT RISK” OF PREMATURE RETIREMENT 
The final decision by the state Public Utilities Regulatory Authority found that the Waterford facilities are “at risk of retirement.” Dominion’s bids in the DEEP Zero Carbon RFP will be judged on their price, as well as environmental and economic attributes.

CONNECTICUT WATER MERGER TENTATIVELY REJECTED
PURA issued a Proposed Final Decision rejecting the proposed $1.1 billion merger of Clinton-based Connecticut Water Service and California-based SJW Group. The tentative rejection of SJW Group’s proposed acquisition of Connecticut Water came in the form a 33-page draft ruling in which commissioners with the state’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority expressed concern about how the deal would affect local ratepayers. PURA granted an extension of time requested by Connecticut Water Service and SJW Group to file supplemental information on or before December 14th.

RECENT PURA UPDATES
On December 13, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 19-06-01:  Annual Review of Connecticut Electric Suppliers’ and Electric Distribution Companies’ Compliance with Connecticut’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards in the Year 2018 

On December 10, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 18-12-12:  Conn. Gen. Stat. § 16-262c(c) Reports

CPES Policy Committee Update: October 3, 2018

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:

  • Second Circuit Upholds NY Nuke Plant Subsidies
  • FERC Technical Conference on Winter Operations and Market Performance in RTOs/ISOs
  • Upcoming ISO-NE Training Opportunities
  • Regulators back Millstone assertion of ‘at risk’ status
  • Zero Carbon RFP
  • Recent PURA Dockets

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY

SECOND CIRCUIT UPHOLDS NY NUKE PLANT SUBSIDIES
The Second Circuit on Thursday upheld subsidies offered by New York state to prop up struggling nuclear power plants, joining the Seventh Circuit in concluding that such subsidies don’t usurp Federal Energy Regulatory Commission authority over wholesale electricity markets. More info

FERC TECHNICAL CONFERENCE ON WINTER OPERATIONS AND MARKET PERFORMANCE IN RTOs/ISOs
FERC will hold a technical conference on October 18 in Washington, D.C. to hear from the RTOs/ISOs on their efforts for ensuring reliable and economic system performance during the 2018-2019 winter season.  A live webcast will be available for the meeting.  For details, see notice or FERC website.

UPCOMING ISO-NE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
Registration is open for ISO New England’s fall 2018 market training classes and webinars. Link to full calendar.

CONNECTICUT

REGULATORS BACK MILLSTONE ASSERTION OF ‘AT RISK’ STATUS
Millstone Power Station’s push for a competitive edge in the state’s zero carbon electricity auction recently gained a boost from regulators and a consumer advocacy agency, who backed Dominion Energy’s assertion that the nuclear plant could face premature closure. Link to article.

ZERO CARBON RFP
DEEP has received more than 100 bids for solar, wind, hydro and nuclear facilities in the Zero Carbon RFP. Evaluation will take several months, and DEEP is expected to announce selection of winners in Winter 2018/2019. Link to article.

RECENT PURA DOCKETS
On September 19, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 08-09-14RE02:  Application of Discount Power, Inc. for an Electric Supplier License – Investigation Into Marketing 

CPES Policy Committee Update: August 28, 2018

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:

  • EPA Proposal to Replace the Clean Power Plan
  • Federal Hearing Explores Energy Sector Application of Blockchain
  • ISO New England Updates Battery Storage Projections  

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY

EPA PROPOSAL TO REPLACE THE CLEAN POWER PLAN
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently released its plan to replace 2015’s Clean Power Plan . The plan is subject to a 60-day comment period.   To read the proposal, visit EPA’s website.

FEDERAL HEARING EXPLORES ENERGY SECTOR APPLICATION OF BLOCKCHAIN
The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources held a hearing on August 21st, Energy Efficiency of Blockchain and Similar Technologies, to discuss the energy efficiency of blockchain and similar technologies and the cybersecurity possibilities of such technologies for energy industry applications.   The recorded webcast and witness testimonies are archived on the committee’s webpage. 

ISO NEW ENGLAND UPDATES BATTERY STORAGE PROJECTIONS   
Grid-scale (also called utility-scale) battery storage is coming on fast in New England, according to ISO-NE.  By 2022, currently proposed new projects could add almost 850 MW of battery storage capacity in the region- an increase of 4,000% from the 19 MW currently on line.  To learn more about state efforts spurring storage resources, the different technologies, and how they participate in ISO’s markets, visit ISO’s webpage. 

CONNECTICUT

PURA HEARING ON MILLSTONE “AT-RISK” DETERMINIATION
On Wednesday, August 29th at 10:00 a.m., PURA will hold a hearing to review Dominion’s petition to be deemed an “existing resource confirmed at risk”, for purposes of the DEEP RFP.  More information is available in the Notice of Hearing.

REQUEST FOR COMMENTS IN PURA’s GRID MODERNIZATION DOCKET 
Comments are due August 22nd to PURA under Docket #17-12-03 “PURA Investigation into Distribution System Planning of the Electric Distribution Companies.  The request for written comment poses a series of questions regarding distributed energy resources, electrification, and distribution system planning that PURA is seeking public input on. 

PURA DOCKET NO. 18-08-14: REVIEW OF THE COMBINED HEAT AND POWER PROJECT SOLICITATION  
On August 7, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 18-08-14: PURA Review of the Combined Heat and Power Project Solicitation Pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. §16-258e