Category Archives: Connecticut Power and Energy Society (CPES)

Making Sense of Integrating Markets and Public Policy in New England (IMAPP): CPES / NEWIEE Joint Meeting

WRAP UP:

“Making Sense of IMAPP”
Integrating Markets and Public Policy in New England:

Sponsored by: Eversource, HQUS, Starion Energy, Robinson+Cole, DCO Energy, Globelé Energy, LLC
  

WRAP UP:
CPES and NEWIEE Host Joint Meeting on Integrating Markets and Public Policy (IMAPP) in New England

On September 13, 2017, the Connecticut Power and Energy Society (CPES) and New England Women in Energy and the Environment (NEWIEE) hosted a joint meeting in Hartford, Connecticut on an important regional topic—the integration of the region’s wholesale electricity markets with the public policy goals of the New England states. The meeting marked the third collaboration between CPES and NEWIEE, reflecting the organizations’ respective commitments to create opportunities to share information about hot topics in energy, while recognizing women who work in the industry. The panel discussion featured state and regional experts on energy, including Allison DiGrande, Director of NEPOOL Relations for ISO New England, Michelle Gardner, Director of Regulatory Affairs – Northeast for NextEra Energy Resources, and Elin Katz, Consumer Counsel for the State of Connecticut. Flossie Davis, Partner at Day Pitney LLP, moderated the panel and provided background on the stakeholder discussions launched by NEPOOL to consider potential market rule changes to integrate markets and public policy in New England.      

Allison DiGrande set the stage for the discussion, explaining how state polices promoting the procurement of clean energy resources are impacting the region’s wholesale electricity markets. She explained the proposal the ISO has put forward to accommodate the states’ public policy goals in the near term—called Competitive Auctions with Sponsored Policy Resources—involving enhancements to the region’s Forward Capacity Market. She noted that the ISO’s proposal is intended to integrate the states’ sponsored policy resources into the Forward Capacity Market over time while preserving competitively based capacity pricing for other resources in New England to ensure resource adequacy. She stated that the ISO is currently working with stakeholders on design details and plans to file its proposal with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) by the end of the year for review and approval.

Michelle Gardner discussed a longer-term proposal offered by NextEra Energy, Conservation Law Foundation, and Brookfield Renewable aimed at achieving the states’ public policy goals through the wholesale electricity markets. She laid out the general framework for a proposed Forward Clean Energy Market intended to procure the clean energy attributes of resources needed to fulfill the states’ long-term greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals. She explained that the design proposal is intended to not only attract new clean energy resources but also retain existing clean energy resources to cost-effectively reduce GHG emissions in New England. She also described the proposal’s location-specific payments to focus incentives to develop new clean energy resources where they will displace the most CO2 emissions.

Elin Katz voiced her support for a solution that accommodates the states’ public policy goals, expressing concern over the willingness and ability of the six New England states to gain consensus over one set of public policy goals to achieve through the markets. She explained to attendees that the Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel is an active and voting member of the End-User Sector of NEPOOL, which gives consumer interests a voice in stakeholder discussions. She also touched on the issue of Millstone Nuclear Power Station and how the debate over the plant’s future is indicative of the challenges associated with coming to agreement over matters of state policy.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Panel Description:
Since last August, market participants, policymakers, and other stakeholders have been discussing potential market rule changes to integrate the region’s wholesale electricity markets with the public policy goals of the New England states. Through that process, ISO New England has offered a conceptual approach to accommodate state policies in the near term, involving enhancements to the Forward Capacity Market. The region’s stakeholders are exploring several other concepts as well, including longer-term solutions aimed at achieving the states’ public policy goals, not simply accommodating them. How did we get here? How are consumers represented in these discussions? 

Location:
Day Pitney LLP, 242 Trumbull Street, Hartford, CT 06103

Program:

  • 5:30: Registration and networking reception
  • 6:15: Welcoming remarks by NEWIEE and CPES Board Members
    • Elizabeth C. Barton, NEWIEE President and Partner, Day Pitney LLC
    • Joey Lee Miranda, CPES President and Partner, Robinson+Cole
  • 6:30: Panel discussion: Making Sense of IMAPP: Integrating Markets and Public Policy in New England
  • 7:30: Conclusion

 

CPES Policy Committee Update: July 10, 2017

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.

This week’s feature:

  • Summer 2017 Update on Regional Transmission Investment
  • Office of Legislative Research Report on Acts Affecting Energy & Utilities
  • Three New PURA Dockets

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS
Summer 2017 Update on Regional Transmission Investment
ISO New England recently published the June 2017 update to the Regional System Plan (RSP) Project List, which details Pool Transmission Facility (PTF) projects needed to ensure reliability in New England. Since the March 2017 update, 2 projects plus a portion of a third were cancelled, 16 upgrades were placed in service across Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, and 2 new projects were added to the list. Additionally, some project cost estimates changed, and in-service dates for 4 projects were moved into 2022.

Since 2002, a cumulative total of 730 project components representing an investment of $8.4 billion have been placed into service to help ensure that New England’s transmission system continues to reliably and efficiently move electricity across the region.

For more information, visit the ISO Newswire.

PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY NEW DOCKETS:

On June 27, 2017, PURA established the following docket:

On June 28, 2017, PURA established the following docket:

On June 29, 2017, PURA established the following docket:

CONNECTICUT LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

The Office of Legislative Research recently released the special report on Acts Affecting Energy & Utilities.

The 2017 Regular Session adjourned on June 7, 2017.  Information about the Energy and Technology Committee, including committee meetings and public hearings, is available at: https://www.cga.ct.gov/et/

 CPES does not take a position on these legislative proposals; this is provided for informational purposes only to CPES members.

CPES Policy Committee Update: May 30, 2017

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.

This week’s feature:

  • Governor Malloy Re-appoints Elin Swanson Katz as Consumer Counsel
  • RESA Issues Whitepaper – The Superior Performance of Competitive Electricity Markets 2008-2016
  • CT Office of Consumer Counsel Issues Report on Retail Electric Market
  • ISO New England Is Conducting a Study of Fuel Security Challenges
  • Budgets Swipe Funding for Clean Energy and Efficiency Programs; Advocates, Local Businesses Decry Impact to Environment and Economy
  • The House and Senate Pass Legislation Concerning Public Utilities Regulatory Authority Administrative Hearings

STATE AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

On May 3, 2017, Governor Dannel P. Malloy re-appointed Elin Swanson Katz of West Hartford to serve another five-year term as Consumer Counsel for the State of Connecticut.  The Consumer Counsel is responsible for advocating on behalf on Connecticut Consumers on issues relating to electricity, natural gas, telecommunications, and water. Press Release

Retail Energy Supply Association (RESA) Issues Whitepaper – The Superior Performance of Competitive Electricity Markets 2008—2016, authored by Philip R. O’Connor, Ph.D

Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel Issues Report on Retail Electric Market

ISO New England Is Conducting a Study of Fuel Security Challenges
ISO New England is conducting a study of fuel security challenges to the continued reliability of New England’s power system. In this context, fuel security refers to the ability of power plants to have or obtain the fuel required to generate electricity, especially during the winter peak season.

The study is examining more than a dozen cases of generating resource and fuel-mix combinations and will quantify each case’s fuel security risk—that is, the number and duration of energy shortfalls that would require implementation of emergency procedures to maintain reliability during the entire winter period in 2025. The study is not focused on the effects of expanded access to natural gas and will not identify needs for new or expanded pipeline capacity or natural gas infrastructure. 

The study is still underway, with completion expected by the end of October 2017.

More information is posted on the ISO New England website and featured on the ISO Newswire.

Budgets Swipe Funding for Clean Energy and Efficiency Programs; Advocates, Local Businesses Decry Impact to Environment and Economy
Energy Efficiency and Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to be raided

Labor, public health, consumer and environmental advocates, as well as owners and employees of local clean energy businesses, denounce state budget proposals that massively raid energy efficiency and clean energy programs.

The Republican proposal raids $320 million ($160 million annually) from Connecticut’s nationally acclaimed Conservation & Load Management programs (C&LM) and the Democratic proposal would divert $20 million in revenue from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). That revenue supports the C&LM residential and commercial programs, municipal energy efficiency efforts, and the Connecticut Green Bank’s clean energy programs. Both the C&LM and RGGI funds create jobs, help families and businesses save billions of dollars in energy costs, reduce harmful climate pollution, and supply significant state tax revenue by fueling private growth. Cutting funding for these programs will harm Connecticut’s economy and health, and damage the state’s credibility as clean energy leader.

See link for full press release.

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 Energy and Technology Committee’s JF deadline was March 23, 2017.  The list of bills reported out of the Energy and Technology Committee is available here and additional information about the status of these bills is available at this link.

The House and Senate passed the following legislation:

CPES does not take a position on these legislative proposals; this is provided for informational purposes only to CPES members.

Natural Gas Representatives Share Latest Information on Infrastructure Projects Progressing in Connecticut and New England

Wrap Up: Natural Gas Infrastructure Project Updates: Transmission and LDCs
Courtyard Marriott Hotel, Cromwell, CT
Presentations

On June 14, 2017, the Connecticut Power and Energy Society (CPES) hosted representatives from Connecticut-based gas utilities and an interstate pipeline company to provide an update on the natural gas expansion projects progressing in Connecticut and the larger New England region.  Gregg Therrien, Assistant Vice President of Concentric Energy Advisors and member of the CPES Board of Directors, moderated the panel discussion, which included remarks by:

  • Michael J. Dirrane, Director of Marketing, Enbridge
  • Erik Robie, Manager for Commercial Sales, Connecticut Natural Gas and The Southern Connecticut Gas Company
  • Chris Luca, Program Manager for Gas Expansion, Eversource

 
Michael Dirrane provided an update on the interstate pipeline expansion projects completed and advancing in New England. Enbridge, a leader in the gathering, transportation, processing and storage of natural gas, merged with Spectra Energy on March 1, 2017, creating one of the largest energy infrastructure companies in North America. Dirrane is responsible for managing the commercial relationships between Enbridge pipelines in the Northeast, including the Algonquin Gas Transmission (AGT) pipeline system, and gas utilities in the region. He said that natural gas supplies from the Marcellus and Utica shale plays have been a “game changer” for the industry since they came on line in the 2010 timeframe. Today, six billion cubic feet of natural gas per day is supplied by the Marcellus and Utica shale formations, and this gas, he said, is being transported all across the country. Dirrane provided an update on the Algonquin Incremental Market (AIM) and Atlantic Bridge expansion projects. The AIM project, completed in January 2017, expanded the pipeline capacity of the existing AGT pipeline system by roughly 342,000 dekatherms of natural gas per day. The Atlantic Bridge project, scheduled for completion in 2018, is designed to provide additional capacity on both the AGT and Maritimes & Northeast pipeline systems.
 
Erik Robie discussed the key role the 2013 Comprehensive Energy Strategy (CES) has played in the expansion of the natural gas distribution system in Connecticut, calling it the “playbook” for gas utilities in the state. The CES, issued by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection in February 2013, made several recommendations to advance to the state’s vision for a cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable energy future. One of the central goals of the 2013 CES, Robie explained, was to increase customer choice by providing residents and businesses greater access to natural gas. The 2013 CES, and its enabling legislation passed in 2014, established new rate and cost-recovery mechanisms, among other tools, to help move natural gas expansion projects forward in Connecticut. Since the 2013 CES was issued, Connecticut Natural Gas and The Southern Connecticut Gas Company have added 153 miles of new main and supplied more than 34,000 new customers with natural gas. Their goal is to install 180 miles of new main by the end of 2017.
 
Chris Luca underscored the importance of the 2013 CES in the expansion of the natural gas distribution system in Connecticut. Luca also discussed the importance of working with municipalities to minimize the costs associated with permitting, policing the construction site, and restoring the site to its original condition after installing new pipeline. Luca highlighted the Ansonia residential expansion project, one of three major gas expansion projects for Eversource in 2016. The project involved 4.25 miles of new pipe and provided access to natural gas for more than 294 residential properties. Eversource’s communications strategy with the municipality and residents was key to the project’s success, Luca said.           
 
All of the panelists’ presentations are available on the CPES website.

 

Nearly 300 Attended the 2017 New England Energy Conference and Exposition

On May 9-10, 2017, Northeast Energy and Commerce Association (NECA) and the Connecticut Power and Energy Society (CPES) were pleased to host their 24th annual joint New England Energy Conference and Exposition (#NEECE17) the fundamental gathering place of New England’s energy professionals and exhibitors.  The NEECE event was held at the Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa in Groton, Connecticut.

For the printable conference brochure, click here

  • Dinner Keynote Address by Frank Demaille, President and CEO of ENGIE North America Inc
  • Lunch Keynote Address by Arthur House, Chief Cybersecurity Risk Officer, State of Connecticut
  • Panel: Bedrock to Progressive Rock: Welcome to the Future!
  • Panel: The Maturing Retail Market
  • Panel: Pursuing Environmental Goals Against the Wind
  • Panel: Energy Resources: The Right Mix – or Mix It Up? Is What We Need Compatible with The Region’s Energy Goals?
  • Panel: Making Sense out of the Dollars: How the Future will get Financed
  • Panel: Regulatory Perspective…Is Camelot Possible?
  • Exhibit Hall Showcasing more than 25 Exhibitors
  • Breakfast Roundtable
  • Golf Tournament at Lake of Isles Foxwoods
  • New London Nuclear Submarine Base Tour

On the Pulse at #NEECE17

ENGIE North America Inc. President and CEO Frank Demaille

ENGIE Opens NEECE17; Click Link for MORE

Arthur House, Chief Cybersecurity Risk Officer for the State of Connecticut

CT Cybersecurity Chief Talks Strategy To Counter Evolving Cybersecurity Threats; Click Link for MORE