Monthly Archives: February 2018

CPES Policy Committee Update: February 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:

  • ISO New England Publishes 2018 Regional Electricity Outlook
  • ISO New England Publishes Quarterly Markets Report
  • 2018 CT Legislative Session: Energy and Technology Committee Information

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

ISO NEW ENGLAND PUBLISHES 2018 REGIONAL ELECTRICITY OUTLOOK
ISO New England has published its 2018 Regional Electricity Outlook (REO), an annual report looking at the trends and challenges affecting New England’s power system, as well as the innovative solutions the ISO is pursuing to ensure reliable electricity for the region’s homes and businesses—today and into the future. The 2018 REO, as well as webpages that highlight and expand on information and statistics in the report, are available on ISO’s website.   

ISO New England Publishes Quarterly Markets Report
The Fall 2017 Quarterly Markets Report (required by Market Rule 1, Appendix A, Section III.A.17.2.2) is now available on the ISO’s website. This report includes the following sections:

  • Executive Summary (Section 1)
  • Overall Market Conditions (Section 2)
  • Day-Ahead and Real-Time Markets (Section 3)
  • Forward Markets (Section 4)
  • Participation of Multi-Stage Generators in the Energy Market (Section 5)

CONNECTICUT

2018 CONNECTICUT LEGISLATIVE SESSION
The 2018 Regular Session of the Connecticut General Assembly convened on February 7, 2018.  General information about the Energy and Technology Committee is available at: https://www.cga.ct.gov/et/.

 

 

CPES NEP Series: Connecticut Siting Council 101

WRAP UP:

On Tuesday March 20, 2018 the Connecticut Power and Energy Society’s New Energy Professionals (NEP) Committee held its third 101 Series event, this time highlighting the role of the Connecticut Siting Council. Following up on the NEP’s earlier PURA and Legislative 101s, the Siting Council 101 event aimed to provide attendees with an introduction to the day-to-day operations of the Connecticut Siting Council, from a panel of Council Members and staff.  

Siting Council Executive Director Melanie Bachman led the panel with a general overview of the role of the Siting Council, its responsibilities and the various types of applications that come before the Council and the many challenges associated with siting certain projects. Supervising Siting Analysis Christina Walsh followed with a discussion regarding the technical aspects involved in preparing, submitting and analyzing an application before the Council and noted some of the particular details the Council often examines when reviewing applications. Council members Larry Lévesque and Robert Hannon both provided insights into each respective role on the Council and discussed how they bring unique perspectives to the overall Council review process. The panelists followed-up with a robust Q&A, further discussing common application pitfalls, the need to proactively engage the community and the ex-parte rules associated with Council review.

When: March 20, 2018 (Tuesday) Morning Meeting, 9:00am-11:00am
Where: PURA, 10 Franklin Square, New Britain, CT
Register Now!  Limited seating available.

Melanie Bachman: Melanie has been Connecticut Siting Council (CSC) Executive Director since May 2013, and CSC Staff Attorney since October 2008.  She is also a Member of the CPES Advisory Committee.  She was at the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney, Regionalized Infractions Adjudications from 2006-2008; Land Use and Real Estate Associate 2005-2008, Adjunct Faculty Legal Studies at Naugatuck Valley Community College 2005-2008.  She received her JD from UCONN Law (Environmental Law focus) and her BS in Business Management from Fordham University.

Christina Walsh: Christina has been Connecticut Siting Council (CSC) Supervising Siting Analyst since 2010, and employed by CSC since 2000.  She has a MS in Environmental Science from the University of New Haven, BS in Environmental Science from Marist College, and is the CSC designee for the Blue Plan Advisory Committee.

Bob Hannon: Bob is currently serving as a member on the Wetlands and Conservation Commission in Farmington, CT and has been actively employed at the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection since August 1993.  He has been a member of the Connecticut Bar since 1991.  Previous experience includes being President of an Atlanta, GA contract packaging company; Assistant Town Clerk in Berlin, CT; Community Development Planner with the Midstate Regional Planning Agency; Town Planner in Woodbury, CT; Senior Principal Planner in Manchester, CT; and having served on the Town of Farming Charter Revision commission.

Larry Levesque: Larry is an Attorney and Administrative Hearing Officer at the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority.  He previously was an Attorney in private practice, litigation, administrative proceedings and transactions representing municipalities, developers, businesses, and engineering firms.  He also served in the Hartford Corporation Counsel’s Office; was Research Associate to Land-Use Professor, UConn Law School.  He has a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from University of Illinois; a B.A. in Economics.  He is past Chairman of Planning Commission, New Britain; and former member of New Britain Board of
Finance.

CPES Policy Committee Update: February 20, 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:

  • ISO New England Publishes 2018 Regional Electricity Outlook
  • ISO 2018 State and Regional Profiles
  • Massachusetts will replace Northern Pass project if it doesn’t nab NH permit  
  • Energy and Technology Committee Bills of Interest
  • Recent PURA Dockets

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

ISO NEW ENGLAND PUBLISHES 2018 REGIONAL ELECTRICITY OUTLOOK
ISO New England has published its 2018 Regional Electricity Outlook (REO), an annual report looking at the trends and challenges affecting New England’s power system, as well as the innovative solutions the ISO is pursuing to ensure reliable electricity for the region’s homes and businesses—today and into the future. The 2018 REO, as well as webpages that highlight and expand on information and statistics in the report, are available on ISO’s website.   

ISO 2018 STATE AND REGIONAL PROFILES
ISO New England has updated its state and regional profiles, providing the latest information on supply and demand resources tied into the New England electric grid and state policies transforming the resource mix. The profiles are available on the ISO’s Key Grid and Market Stats webpage.

MASSACHUSETTS WILL REPLACE NORTHERN PASS PROJECT IF IT DOESN’T NAB NH PERMIT
Northern Pass was selected to help Massachusetts meet its clean energy goals, but the project was rejected by New Hampshire regulators, potentially hurting its construction timeline, which played a key role in the project’s selection.  Massachusetts will select Central Maine Power’s New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) transmission line to replace the Northern Pass project if it doesn’t secure a permit by New Hampshire by March 27, according to a press release from parent company Avangrid. Read the article here.

CONNECTICUT

2018 CONNECTICUT LEGISLATIVE SESSION
The 2018 Regular Session of the Connecticut General Assembly convened on February 7, 2018.  The following bills before the Energy and Technology Committee may be of interest:

PURA DOCKETS
On February 16, 2018, PURA established the following docket:
Docket No. 10-06-18RE01:  Application of Spark Energy, L.P. For An Electric Supplier License – Investigation Into Compliance With §16-245d(a)(2) 

On February 8, 2018, PURA established the following docket:
Docket No. 18-02-05:  Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA) Petition for PURA to Investigate the Business Practices of the Electric Supplier Mint Energy, LLC 

CPES Policy Committee Update: February 13, 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:

  • ISO’s Forward Capacity Auction
  • CT’s Net Metering Program
  • Energy and Technology Committee Information
  • PURA Docket No. 18-02-02:  Annual Reconciliation of the Conservation Adjustment Mechanisms

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

ISO’S FORWARD CAPACITY AUCTION
New England’s annual capacity auction for power system resources concluded Tuesday with sufficient resources to meet peak demand in 2021-2022, and preliminary results indicate the clearing price was the lowest in five years due to a surplus of capacity in the region. The auction is run by ISO New England Inc. to procure the resources that will be needed to meet consumer demand for electricity in three years. Finalized auction results, with resource-specific information, will be filed with FERC by the end of this month.  ISO’s press release with more information is available here.

CONNECTICUT

NET METERING PROGRAM
DEEP recommendation to revise and phase out Connecticut’s net metering program has been met with opposition.

 

2018 CONNECTICUT LEGISLATIVE SESSION
The 2018 Regular Session of the Connecticut General Assembly convened on February 7, 2018.  Information about the Energy and Technology Committee is available here. The committee’s bill record book is available here. 

PURA DOCKETS
On February 1, 2018, PURA established the following docket: Docket No. 18-02-02:  Annual Reconciliation of the Conservation Adjustment Mechanisms filed by: The Connecticut Light and Power Company, the United Illuminating Company, Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation, the Southern Connecticut Gas Company and Yankee Gas Services Company 

 

CPES Policy Committee Update: February 6, 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:

  • New RFP for Clean Energy
  • DEEP/PURA Determination on Millstone Study
  • NH Rejects Northern Pass Transmission, Throwing Project into Doubt
  • ISO Releases Web-Based Training Module on Energy Markets
  • CT Legislative Session will convene on February 7th
  • Energy and Technology Informational Meeting on February 8th and 13th at 1pm

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

NEW RFP FOR CLEAN ENERGY
On January 31, 2018 DEEP issued a final RFP for certain Class I resources: offshore wind, fuel cells, fuels cells paired with combined heat and power, and anaerobic digestion facilities. Energy storage may be co-located with projects. Proposals are due by April 1, 2018. DEEP anticipates selection of bidders in June 2018 and submittal of contracts to PURA for approval in the fall of 2018.

DEEP/PURA DETERMINATION ON MILLSTONE STUDY
A final determination was released on February 1, 2018 and concludes that under certain assumptions, the Millstone Generating Facility could face retirement, however, such risk cannot be determined without additional audited financial data. The final determination recommends moving forward with a multi-tiered procurement that offers favored pricing to Dominion if Dominion is able to submit financial data verifying Millstone’s retirement risk. Without a verified retirement showing, Dominion’s bid would be evaluated against the forecasted price of power. The conclusions reached in the final determination will now be considered by the Legislature in the upcoming Session.

NEW HAMPSHIRE REJECTS NORTHERN PASS TRANSMISSION, THROWING PROJECT INTO DOUBT
The New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee (SEC) yesterday unanimously rejected the Northern Pass transmission project, throwing the project’s future into doubt.The New Hampshire SEC’s decision to reject Northern Pass came as a surprise yesterday, only a week after Massachusetts gave the project a green light and a major role in its energy plans. The project has sparked backlash from residents in New Hampshire, and a lawyer for the siting board reportedly said that Eversource had failed to prove the transmission would not “unduly interfere with the orderly development of the region.” It is not clear yet what the decision will mean for the project. Even if Northern Pass appeals and ultimately wins, the process could set the project behind schedule. An expedited schedule is one reason Massachusetts selected the line — its schedule was two years shorter than other proposals. A spokesperson for the Massachusetts Attorney General said yesterday the decision “raises serious questions about this timetable.” That announcement follows Healey’s calls for an investigation into the process used to select Northern Pass.

ISO RELEASES WEB-BASED TRAINING MODULE ON ENERGY MARKETS
The ISO released a new training module: New England’s Energy Markets that provides a brief overview of the region’s wholesale electricity markets, explaining how and why they were formed and the role of each market in the broader wholesale marketplace. The training focuses on the ISO’s day-ahead and real-time energy markets, the financial settlement of the markets, and how they are monitored.  

The module is the fourth in a series of core modules. Click here to access this training in ISO-TEN, the ISO’s Training and Events Network. The three previous modules are available in the links below:

  1. Overview of the Bulk Power System and ISO New England
  2. Introduction to ISO New England System Operations
  3. Introduction to ISO New England System Planning

ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY NEWS:

Maine’s governor puts the kibosh on new wind power in the state

Will the country’s first mandatory residential demand charge slow the Massachusetts solar boom?

2018 CONNECTICUT LEGISLATIVE SESSION
The 2018 Regular Session of the Connecticut General Assembly convenes on February 7, 2018.  Information about the Energy and Technology Committee is available here.

ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY INFORMATIONAL MEETING 
On February 8th and 13th at 1:00pm the Energy and Technology Committee will hold a Stakeholders Status Report on Energy in Connecticut. Where are we? Where are we going?  (LOB Room 2D)