Category Archives: Connecticut Power and Energy Society (CPES)

CPES Policy Committee Update: September 19, 2016

This update features policy, regulatory, legislative, and regional developments in Connecticut and New England. The policy updates are compiled by a team recently formed with support from CPES, known as the New Energy Professionals. 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 Paul Brady, CPES Executive Director, via email: pbrady@ctpower.org.

This week’s features:

  • PURA re-opens the Residential Billing Docket and Eversource seeks to reopen docket on interconnection guidelines.
  • ISO-NE Completes Study on Wind Resources
  • Looking Ahead to the Next Legislative Session – Schedules and Key Links

 

CONNECTICUT REGULATORY

PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY NEW DOCKETS:

On September 14, 2016, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority initiated the following proceeding, which may be of interest to you:

  • Docket No. 14-07-19RE02:  PURA Investigation into Redesign of the Residential Electric Billing Format – Incidental Residential Accounts and Summary Information

Also, on September 8, 2016, Eversource filed a motion to reopen Docket No. 03-01-15 DPUC Investigation into the Need For Interconnection Standards for Distributed Generation, seeking  PURA approval of new interconnection guidelines for small (sub 20kW) generation systems. Eversource’s motion and the proposed interconnection standards are available here.

 

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

ISO New England Completes Studies on the Economic Impacts of Adding More Wind Resources to the Grid

ISO New England recently completed three studies requested by regional stakeholders in 2015. The studies focus on the economic impacts of adding more wind resources to the regional power system under a variety of hypothetical scenarios. The studies looked at:

  • The potential economic effects of developing offshore wind
  • Upgrading transmission at three interfaces in Maine to remove potential bottlenecks and enable the development of more onshore wind and imports from New Brunswick, Canada
  • Easing a transmission bottleneck farther north in the Keene Road area of Maine to enable increasing wind development in the local area

The final results of the studies are available on the ISO’s Planning Advisory Committee webpage.  For more information, visit the ISO Newswire.

 

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

CONNECTICUT LEGISLATION:

The 2016 Connecticut regular session ended on May 4, 2016.  The 2017 Connecticut regular session begins January 4, 2017.

Information about the Energy and Technology Committee, including committee meetings and public hearings, is available at: https://www.cga.ct.gov/et/.

 

MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATION:

The 2015-2016 Massachusetts formal session ended on July 31, 2016.  The 2017-2018 Massachusetts session begins January 4, 2017.

Information about the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, including hearings and bills in committee, is available at: https://malegislature.gov/Committees/Joint/J37.

CPES Policy Committee Update: September 15, 2016

This update features policy, regulatory, legislative, and regional developments in Connecticut and New England. The policy updates are compiled by a team recently formed with support from CPES, known as the New Energy Professionals. 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 Paul Brady, CPES Executive Director, via email: pbrady@ctpower.org.

This week’s features:

  • ISO NE’s Hybrid Grid
  • National Grid’s smart grid pilot in MA
  • Looking Ahead to the Next Legislative Session – Schedules and Key Links

 

Regional and Industry Developments

ISO New England Publishes Summary of Its Efforts to Prepare for the ‘Hybrid Grid’

This week, ISO New England published Getting Ready for the Hybrid Grid, a two-page summary of the ISO’s efforts to facilitate New England’s transition to a smarter, greener grid. The handout describes how the ISO is breaking new ground in the areas of forecasting and dispatch of renewable resources and other new technologies; high-speed cloud computing for analyzing vast, complex data; and protecting against cyber threats.

For more information, visit the ISO Newswire.

 

VIDEO: National Grid seeks to extend smart grid pilot in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Electric Co. and National Grid, in an Aug. 30 filing submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, said that it is seeking to extend its Smart Energy Solutions Program until Dec. 31, 2018.

The company noted that it is currently conducting a two-year smart grid pilot under the Green Communities Act, Section 85 of Chapter 169 of the Acts of 2008, and the DPU’s August 2012 order, which approved the company’s pilot proposal, with certain modifications.

The pilot’s smart pricing, bill protection and demand response capabilities went into effect for participating customers on Jan. 1, 2015, the company said, noting that the pilot is scheduled to end on Dec. 31.

http://www.elp.com/articles/2016/09/national-grid-seeks-to-extend-smart-grid-pilot-in-massachusetts.html

 

Legislative Affairs

CONNECTICUT LEGISLATION:

The 2016 Connecticut regular session ended on May 4, 2016.  The 2017 Connecticut regular session begins January 4, 2017.

Information about the Energy and Technology Committee, including committee meetings and public hearings, is available at: https://www.cga.ct.gov/et/.

 

MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATION:

The 2015-2016 Massachusetts formal session ended on July 31, 2016.  The 2017-2018 Massachusetts session begins January 4, 2017.

Information about the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, including hearings and bills in committee, is available at: https://malegislature.gov/Committees/Joint/J37

CPES Policy Committee Update: September 6, 2016

This update features policy, regulatory, legislative, and regional developments in Connecticut and New England. The policy updates are compiled by a team recently formed with support from CPES, known as the New Energy Professionals. 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 Paul Brady, CPES Executive Director, via email: pbrady@ctpower.org.

This week’s features:

  • New England Governors Discuss Energy Issues with Canadian Leaders at NEG-ECP Conference
  • Looking Ahead to the Next Legislative Session – Schedules and Key Links

 

Regional and Industry Developments

NEG-ECP CONFERENCE

On August 28-29, 2016, the six New England Governors joined with five Eastern Canadian Premiers for their 40th Annual NEG-ECP Conference. The Conference was hosted by Governor Charlie Baker of Massachusetts and a variety of regional issues were discussed, including trade, energy diversification, and combating the opioid crisis. Much of the Governors’ and Premiers’ focus was on energy as the Conference heard from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chair Norman Bay, a panel on “Emerging and Innovative Technologies,” and a second panel on “The Benefits and Importance of Diverse Energy Generation.”

For more information on the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers Annual Conference, visit: http://www.coneg.org/negecp.

 

Legislative Affairs

CONNECTICUT LEGISLATION:

The 2016 Connecticut regular session ended on May 4, 2016.  The 2017 Connecticut regular session begins January 4, 2017.

Information about the Energy and Technology Committee, including committee meetings and public hearings, is available at: https://www.cga.ct.gov/et/.

 

MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATION:

The 2015-2016 Massachusetts formal session ended on July 31, 2016.  The 2017-2018 Massachusetts session begins January 4, 2017.

Information about the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, including hearings and bills in committee, is available at: https://malegislature.gov/Committees/Joint/J37.

CPES Policy Committee Update: August 30, 2016

This update features policy, regulatory, legislative, and regional developments in Connecticut and New England. The policy updates are compiled by a team recently formed with support from CPES, known as the New Energy Professionals. 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 Paul Brady, CPES Executive Director, via email: pbrady@ctpower.org.

This week’s features:

  • Connecticut DEEP Finalizes RFP for Grid-Side System Enhancements Demonstration Projects
  • New England Consumer Liaison Group Will Discuss Energy Infrastructure Projects Progressing in Rhode Island at Next Meeting

 

Connecticut Policy/Regulatory Update

Connecticut DEEP Finalizes RFP for Grid-Side System Enhancements Demonstration Projects

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has issued a Final Request for Proposals (RFP) for Grid-Side System Enhancements Demonstration Projects pursuant to Public Act No. 15-5, Section 103. The Final RFP directs the state’s electric distribution companies to refine the proposal concepts submitted earlier this year into a final Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Integration Plan to be submitted to DEEP and then to the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority for review. The Final RFP is available here.

 

Regional and Industry Developments

New England Consumer Liaison Group Will Discuss Energy Infrastructure Projects Progressing in Rhode Island at Next Meeting

The next New England Consumer Liaison Group (CLG) meeting will be held at the Marriott Hotel in Providence, Rhode Island on September 15, 2016. The meeting will focus on Energy Infrastructure Projects Progressing in Rhode Island: Challenges and Consumer Impacts Regionwide. Attendees will hear from panelists Jeffrey Grybowski, CEO of Deepwater Wind, John Niland, Director of Development for Invenergy, Richard Kruse, Vice President of Regulatory and FERC Compliance Officer for Spectra Energy, and a representative from National Grid.

The CLG is a forum for sharing information between ISO New England and electricity consumers in New England. The CLG meets quarterly and attracts a diverse group of 75-100 attendees at each meeting. Meetings are free and open to the public. Participants generally include consumers and consumer representatives (including state consumer and ratepayer advocates), state business and industry associations, chambers of commerce, individual businesses, trade groups, nonprofit organizations, and other end users. Several New England Power Pool (NEPOOL) members and state regulators are also regular, active participants in CLG discussions. The focus of the CLG is on the concerns and needs of commercial, industrial, and nonprofit electricity end users.

For more information and to register for the September 15 meeting, visit the Consumer Liaison Group webpage.

 

Legislative Affairs

CONNECTICUT LEGISLATION:

The 2016 Connecticut regular session ended on May 4, 2016.  The 2017 Connecticut regular session begins January 4, 2017.

Information about the Energy and Technology Committee, including committee meetings and public hearings, is available at: https://www.cga.ct.gov/et/.

 

MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATION:

The 2015-2016 Massachusetts formal session ended on July 31, 2016.  The 2017-2018 Massachusetts session begins January 4, 2017.

Information about the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, including hearings and bills in committee, is available at: https://malegislature.gov/Committees/Joint/J37.

CPES Policy Committee Update: August 16, 2016

This update features policy, regulatory, legislative, and regional developments in Connecticut and New England. The policy updates are compiled by a team recently formed with support from CPES, known as the New Energy Professionals. 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 Paul Brady, CPES Executive Director, via email: pbrady@ctpower.org.

This week’s features:

  • NEPOOL Rule Changes Discussed
  • MA Governor Signs Bill to Promote Energy Diversity

Regional & Industry Developments

New England Power Pool (NEPOOL) Market Participants Meet to Discuss Potential Market Rule Changes to Integrate Markets and Public Policy

On August 11, 2016, New England market participants, state regulators, and other stakeholders met to discuss potential market rule changes to integrate the region’s wholesale electricity markets with the public policy goals of the New England states. The meeting was intended to begin the solution identification process by hearing from various stakeholders on potential ways to adjust wholesale power markets to achieve and accommodate the renewable and clean energy goals of the states. The presentations from the meeting are available here.

Under the NEPOOL process, further discussions will include refinement of the solutions proposed for integrating markets and public policy.

For more information, visit ISO New England’s Wholesale Markets and State Public Policy Initiative webpage.

Legislative Affairs

MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATION:

The 2015-2016 Massachusetts formal session ended on July 31, 2016.  The 2017-2018 Massachusetts session begins January 4, 2017.

On July 31, 2016, the following bill passed both chambers that may be of interest to you:

On August 8, 2016, Governor Baker signed H.4568, which is now Chapter 188 of the Acts of 2016.

Information about the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, including hearings and bills in committee, is available at: https://malegislature.gov/Committees/Joint/J37

CONNECTICUT LEGISLATION:

The 2016 Connecticut regular session ended on May 4, 2016.  The 2017 Connecticut regular session begins January 4, 2017.

Information about the Energy and Technology Committee, including committee meetings and public hearings, is available at: https://www.cga.ct.gov/et/