Category Archives: Connecticut Power and Energy Society (CPES)

CPES Policy Committee Update: February 12, 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 on February 14
  • Revolution Wind PPA Filed at Rhode Island PUC
  • Retail Energy Supply Association: Analysis Reveals Retail Electric Suppliers Could Have Saved Connecticut Consumers More than $14 Million in the First Month of 2019
  • ISO-NE capacity prices fall amid controversy over Vineyard Wind participation
  • Residential solar and storage breaks new ground as Sunrun wins ISO-NE capacity contract
  • DOE rolls back Obama-era lightbulb standards
  • Next Consumer Liaison Group Meeting March 14, Providence
  • New England’s Forward Capacity Auction Closes with Adequate Power System Resources for 2022-2023
  • The Rise of Microgrids and DERs: Out of Competition Came Innovation

LEGISLATIVE

ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
The next Energy & Technology Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 14th at 3:15 pm. The agenda will be announced on February 13th on the CGA website.

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

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY

REVOLUTION WIND PPA FILED AT RHODE ISLAND PUC
A proposed PPA was filed with the RIPUC on Thursday for the Revolution Wind Project. Under the contract, National Grid would pay Deepwater, now part of Danish-owned Orsted U.S. Offshore Wind, a flat rate over 20 years of 9.8 cents per kilowatt hour for power from its Revolution Wind Farm, a 400-megawatt project proposed in Rhode Island Sound. The deal is projected to save Rhode Island about $90 million in energy costs over the life of the contract, or about 50 cents per month for the typical electric customer in the state. Read more

RETAIL ENERGY SUPPLY ASSOCIATION: ANALYSIS REVEALS RETAIL ELECTRIC SUPPLIERS COULD HAVE SAVED CONNECTICUT CONSUMERS MORE THAN $14 MILLION IN THE FIRST MONTH OF 2019
Connecticut residential energy customers could have saved more than $14 million dollars in just the first month of 2019 and received greater value for their energy dollars such as renewable energy, fixed price plans, and loyalty rewards by shopping for electricity from competitive retail electric suppliers, according to data released today by the Retail Energy Supply Association (RESA). The analysis upends a report by the Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC) that recommends denying Connecticut consumers the right to choose who they buy their electricity from, leaving them captive to utility monopoly supply service. Read more

ISO-NE CAPACITY PRICES FALL AMID CONTROVERSY OVER VINEYARD WIND PARTICIPATION
In ISO-NE’s capacity auction this year, a limited amount of renewable resources were allowed to apply for special “renewable technology resource (RTR)” that would allow them to be exempt from the market’s price floor, the Minimum Offer Price Rule. Vineyard Wind sought RTR status, but was prohibited by a provision in ISO-NE’s tariff that limited RTR status to resources within the physical borders of a New England state. FERC declined to act on Vineyard Wind’s request or emergency motion in advance of FCA13. to file an emergency request for an auction delay. Read more

RESIDENTIAL SOLAR AND STORAGE BREAKS NEW GROUND AS SUNRUN WINS ISO-NE CAPACITY CONTRACT
ISO-NE on Monday became the first capacity market to accept an aggregated residential solar-plus-storage bid, awarding Sunrun for 20 MW of distributed grid capacity to be online in 2022. Read more

DOE ROLLS BACK OBAMA-ERA LIGHTBULB STANDARDS
The U.S. Department of Energy released a plan that would rescind lightbulb standards projected to save double the energy of any other efficiency regulation in history. The notice of proposed rulemaking, which has not yet been published in the Federal Register, would nullify Obama-era rules that would have expanded the types of lighting covered by stricter efficiency levels. Those higher levels were set to take effect in January 2020, according to federal law. Read more

NEXT CONSUMER LIASON GROUP MEETING MARCH 14, PROVIDENCE
The next meeting of the Consumer Liaison Group (CLG) will be held on March 14 at the Omni Providence Hotel. The topic will be, “Transforming the Power Sector: Customer Choice in a Changing Energy Landscape.”

NEW ENGLAND’S FORWARD CAPACITY AUCTION CLOSES WITH ADEQUATE POWER SYSTEM RESOURCES FOR 2022-2023
New England’s annual capacity auction for power system resources concluded Monday with sufficient resources to meet peak demand in 2022-2023, and preliminary results indicate the clearing price was the lowest in six years. Press release.

THE RISE OF MICROGRIDS AND DERS: OUT OF COMPETITION CAME INNOVATION
What was the impetus for the rise of microgrids and distributed energy resources? What role did competition play? A new special report from Microgrid Knowledge and NRG Energy explores the industry’s evolution. Here’s a look inside the history of electric competition.

CPES Policy Committee Update: January 29, 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:

  • CT Energy & Technology Committee Schedules Informational Hearings
  • ISO-NE Publishes 2018 Electric Energy Data
  • EIA releases New England Dashboard to Track Energy Market Conditions

LEGISLATIVE
CT ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE SCHEDULES INFORMATIONAL HEARINGS
The CT General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Energy & Technology has scheduled three informational hearings.  See the committee calendar for the agendas

  • 1/31, 2:15 p.m. E&T Committee Informational Meeting for Generators, agenda
  • 2/5, 12:30 p.m. E&T Committee Meeting 
  • 2/5, 1:45 p.m. E&T Committee Info Meeting for Regulators and Utilities

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

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY

ISO-NE PUBLISHES 2018 ELECTRIC ENERGY DATA 
The total amount of energy and the sources of energy the New England region used in 2018 to satisfy demand are now available on the ISO’s Resource Mix webpage.

EIA RELEASES NEW ENGLAND DASHBOARD TO TRACK ENERGY MARKET CONDITIONS
To increase customer understanding of weather-related energy issues in New England, the U.S. Energy Information Administration now has an interactive dashboard showing energy market conditions.

EIA will update the New England Dashboard every day by 10:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, including on weekends. The dashboard includes detailed regional information on temperatures; various fuel prices; locational marginal prices; the status of the electric grid, outages, and available capacity; current and projected load; liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports; electricity generation fuel mix; inter-regional electric transmission and natural gas flows; and petroleum product stocks.

2019 Annual Legislative Preview | February 5, 2019 | UCONN School of Law

Hosted by Connecticut Power and Energy Society (CPES) and Connecticut Bar Association’s (CBA) Energy Section

Policymakers share preview of energy priorities for 2019 legislative session

Transitioning to a renewable energy future, promoting economic opportunities for Connecticut ports, and keeping electricity rates as low as possible top the list of priorities for legislators overseeing energy policy in Connecticut

On February 5th, the leaders of the General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Energy and Technology (E&T) offered a preview of their priorities for the 2019 legislative session in an annual gathering with members of the Connecticut Power and Energy Society (CPES) and the Connecticut Bar Association’s Energy, Public Utility and Communications Law Section (CBA). The panel included E&T Co-chairs Sen. Norm Needleman and Rep. David Arconti, and Ranking Members Sen. Paul Formica and Rep. Charlie Ferraro. They related their perspectives on energy to their experience as energy users in the business world and as local elected officials. The event took place at the UCONN School of Law in Hartford.

The panel touted economic opportunities for Connecticut’s ports as offshore wind is being developed in the federal waters of southern New England. Connecticut’s coastal cities of New London and Bridgeport are prime locations to benefit from the emerging industry, they said, and better options than shipping equipment from countries in Europe.

The panel discussed the need to balance support for renewable energy and bringing down costs for electric ratepayers.

Reaching the state’s current goal of achieving 40 percent renewable energy by 2040 will be a challenge, one lawmaker observed, but the panel also noted that the state needs to move more toward renewables to achieve climate goals. Lawmakers were asked about the outlook for putting a more meaningful price on carbon emissions than what’s in place through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI. One panelist observed that carbon pricing may be the best long-term way to reduce carbon emissions, but it’s unclear how Connecticut, acting alone, can solve what was described as a national—or even a global—challenge.

During opening remarks and Q&A with CPES and CBA members, lawmakers touched on a wide range of energy sources and technologies, including nuclear power, solar power, offshore wind, fuel cells, energy storage, [anaerobic] digester plants, and grid modernization initiatives that would enable consumers to put excess energy they produce back onto the electric grid. Stabilizing baseload generation in Connecticut—notably nuclear power—needs to be a priority, one lawmaker observed, in the transition to a renewable energy future and the “next generation” of energy supply.

Lawmakers said they don’t intend for any one issue to dominate this session, and signaled that the traditionally bipartisan approach to policymaking will continue on the E&T Committee.

Senator Formica, who has appeared regularly at the annual CPES/CBA gathering, said “meetings like this are helpful to see how the puzzle pieces come together.”

To see photos from the event, please click here.

RTO Insider Article From Legislative Preview: 
Conn. Lawmakers Get, Give 2019 Energy Issues Rundown

 

 

CPES is once again partnering with the Connecticut Bar Association’s Energy Section to bring you the Annual Legislative Preview. The leaders of the Energy & Technology Committee will provide insight on their priorities for the 2019 Legislative Session.

The panel will be moderated by Sebastian Lombardi, Day Pitney LLP. 

AGENDA: 

5:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Networking Reception
The staff of the state’s regulatory agencies have been invited for this extended networking mix and mingle.

6:30 PM – 8:30 PM: Panel Discussion with Legislators
The leaders of the Energy & Technology Committee will provide insight on their priorities for the 2019 Legislative Session. 

WHERE:
University of Connecticut School of Law, 55 Elizabeth Street, Hartford, CT 06105;
William F. Starr Hall, second floor, Reading Room
UCONN School of Law MAP   |  Parking

CLE CREDITS:
CT: 1.5 CLE Credits*  |  NY: 0.0 CLE Credits*

*Registration is being administered by the CT Power and Energy Society and credit will not be automatically posted to your CLE Tracker. You may, however, self-report the credit. If you need assistance with self-reporting, please e-mail Shirley Perrin at sperrin@ctbar.org.

CPES Policy Committee Update: January 15, 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:

  • Government shutdown delays Vineyard Wind meetings
  • ISO-NE’s ICR Values for FCA #13 Accepted
  • Ramping up renewable energy remains lawmakers’ focus in 2019
  • The Energy & Technology Committee will meet on January 15 at 1:00 PM

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN DELAYS VINEYARD WIND MEETINGS
Due to the government shutdown, two meetings with the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management regarding the Vineyard Wind Project in Massachusetts, were delayed. At this point, there is no indication that these delays will impact the construction schedule. Read article

ISO-NE’s ICR VALUES FOR FCA #13 ACCEPTED
FERC issued an order accepting the ISO’s filing of ICR-related values for the thirteenth Forward Capacity Auction, which is associated with the 2022-2023 Capacity Commitment Period.

CONNECTICUT

RAMPING UP RENEWABLE ENERGY REMAINS LAWMAKERS’ FOCUS IN 2019
The new administration and the legislature are prioritizing renewable energy in 2019. Lamont has called for combatting climate change, through greater investment in renewable sources and improvements to the grid. Bipartisan cooperation on offshore wind development is also expected. Read article

LEGISLATIVE
The Energy & Technology Committee will meet on January 15 at 1:00 PM for remarks by the chairs and ranking members and introductions of members and staff.  The meeting agenda is available here.  

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

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