Category Archives: Connecticut Power and Energy Society (CPES)

CPES Policy Committee Update: November 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:

  • U.S. DOE Proposes New Approach to Classification of Grid-Related Information
  • ISO-NE Continues Progress on Energy Storage Integration
  • New ISO-NE Webinar Posted: Forward Capacity Market Substitution Auction for FCA #13
  • Department of Energy Announces $53 Million in New Projects to Advance Solar
  • FERC Acts on Cyber Security Risks with New Supply Chain-Related Reliability Standards
  • FuelCell Inks Power Agreement for Hartford Project

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY

U.S. DOE PROPOSES NEW APPROACH TO CLASSIFICATION OF GRID-RELATED INFORMATION
The Energy Department has proposed a new system for labeling sensitive information about the electric grid and other energy systems. The proposed rule works to align the agency’s CEII process with rules at FERC. See the Federal Register notice for more information and instructions on submitting public comment.

ISO-NE CONTINUES PROGRESS ON ENERGY STORAGE INTEGRATION  
Plans for implementing ISO-NE’s new rules for energy storage devices  are now available on ISO’s webpage for the Energy Storage Device project, which will allow participants with grid-sized storage technologies to offer the full range of their asset’s capability in the regulation market while continuing to operate as a dispatchable energy market resource.

NEW ISO-NE WEBINAR POSTED: FORWARD CAPACCITY MARKET SUBSTITUTION AUCTION FOR FCA #13
The presentation and recording of the October 11, 2018, Forward Capacity Market Substitution Auction for FCA #13 webinar are now available on the ISO website.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ANNOUNCES $53 MILLION IN NEW PROJECTS TO ADVANCE SOLAR
TechnologiesThe U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced selections for up to $53 million in new projects to advance early-stage solar technologies. There were 53 projects chosen, which span across 21 states. More

FERC ACTS ON CYBER SECURITY RISKS WITH NEW SUPPLY CHAIN-RELATED RELIABILITY STANDARDS
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved new mandatory Reliability Standards to bolster supply chain risk management protections. The standards are aimed at mitigating cyber security risks. More

CONNECTICUT

FUELCELL INKS POWER AGREEMENT FOR HARTFORD PROJECT
FuelCell Energy Inc. announced Thursday it signed long-term power purchase agreements with local utilities to cover a 7.4-megawatt project in Hartford. PURA will grant final authorization of the agreements. More

CPES Policy Committee Update: October 30, 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:

  • Chatterjee Named FERC Chair
  • FERC Acts on Cyber Security Risks with New Supply Chain-Related Reliability Standards
  • FERC Technical Conference on Winter 2018-2019 Operations and Market Performance
  • Proposed Commercial Wind Leases Offshore MA 
  • Energy-Fund Sweeps Survive Constitutional Challenge
  • Recent PURA Dockets

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY

CHATTERJEE NAMED FERC CHAIR
President Trump recently designated Commissioner Neil Chatterjee as the chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Outgoing Chairman Kevin McIntyre will step down from his post but remain on as a FERC commissioner. Press release.

FERC ACTS ON CYBER SERCURITY RISKS WITH NEW SUPPLY CHAIN-RELATED RELIABILITY STANDARDS
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved new mandatory Reliability Standards to bolster supply chain risk management protections for the bulk electric system. The new standards augment current Critical Infrastructure Protection standards to mitigate cyber security risks associated with the supply chain for grid-related cyber systems.

FERC TECHNICAL CONFERENCE ON WINTER 2018-2019 OPERATIONS  AND MARKET PERFORMANCE
FERC staff held a technical conference to hear from the Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) and Independent System Operators (ISOs)  on their efforts for ensuring reliable and economic system performance during the 2018-2019 winter season. 

PROPOSED COMMERCIAL WIND LEASES OFFSHORE MA
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will hold the next offshore wind auction covering nearly 390,000 acres offshore Massachusetts on December 13.  Learn more here.

CONNECTICUT

ENERGY-FUND SWEEPS SURVIVE CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGE
Dismissing claims by energy-efficient businesses and environmental groups late Thursday, a federal judge left it up to the Connecticut General Assembly to deal with blowback over its use of $145 million in ratepayer funds to balance the 2017 state budget. More

RECENT PURA DOCKETS
On October 24, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 18-10-22:  Call Before You Dig, Inc. Proposed Budget for 2019 

CPES Policy Committee Update: October 10, 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:

  • EIPC Publishes Report on the State of the Eastern Interconnection
  • FERC Publishes Strategic Plan for FY 2018-2022
  • Recent PURA Dockets

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY

EIPC PUBLISHES REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE EASTERN INTERCONNECTION
The Eastern Interconnection Planning Collaborative (EIPC) has issued a new report, “State of the Eastern Interconnection,” the collection of power systems serving two-thirds of the US and Canada. The report describes the region’s coordinated planning to maintain the reliability of the bulk power grid.

FERC PUBLISHES STRATEGIC PLAN FOR FY 2018-2022
On Oct. 1 FERC released its strategic plan for fiscal years 2018 to 2022. The plan addresses six strategic objectives and the evolving barriers and opportunities related to each. 

CONNECTICUT

RECENT PURA DOCKETS
October 3, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 17-10-46RE01:  Application of The Connecticut Light and Power Company d/b/a Eversource Energy to Amend its Rate Schedules – EV Rate Rider 

On October 1, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 18-10-02:  PURA Review of the Connecticut Gas Utilities Forecasts of Demand & Supply 2019 – 2023  

On September 26, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 10-03-11RE03:  Investigation into Town Square Energy, LLC – Marketing 

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: September 11, 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-NE’s Update on Labor Day Power System Conditions
  • ISO-NE Files Proposal To Retain Retiring Resources for Fuel Security
  • ISO-NE launches a redesigned Ask ISO
  • PURA Docket No. 18-08-33:  Proceeding to Establish Section 7 of Public Act 18-50, Procurement Plans and Related Tariffs and Other Issues

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY

ISO-NE’s UPDATE ON LABOR DAY POWER SYSTEM CONDITIONS
On Monday, September 3rd, weather and resource outages led to capacity shortage conditions in the region.  For more information on this event, see ISO’s website which provides details on the day’s forecast and demand, outages, and prices.

ISO-NE FILES PROPOSAL TO RETAIN RETIRING RESOURCES FOR FUEL SECURITY
In the end of August, ISO-NE filed a proposal with FERC to retain resources seeking retirement on the basis of a fuel-security reliability need. ISO now begins stakeholder discussions to develop a market-based mechanism to address long-term fuel-security challenges facing the region. For background, read ISO’s update on ISO-NE’s operational fuel security initiatives.

ISO-NE LAUNCHES A REDESIGNED ASK ISO 
ISO New England recently updated its customer issue management application, Ask ISO, to enhance interactions with customers and other stakeholders and support business continuity requirements. For more details on the redesigned tool and upgrades, see ISO’s Customer Contact Center Solution (CCCS) Key Project webpage and the updated customer user guide.

CONNECTICUT
On August 31, 2018, PURA established the following Docket No. 18-08-33:  Proceeding to Establish Section 7 of Public Act 18-50, Procurement Plans and Related Tariffs and Other Issues