Category Archives: Consumer Liaison Council (CLC)

CPES Policy Committee Update: March 19, 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: March 19
  • PURA Docket Number 19-03-10
  • Off shore wind measures advance out of committee
  • Dominion to keep Connecticut Millstone nuclear plant in service
  • Hartford Courant “At New London’s State Pier, wind power gives Connecticut its next economic development opportunity
  • 2018 Report of the Consumer Liaison Group Published
  • ISO New England Press Release on 2018 Wholesale Electricity Prices

CONNECTICUT

LEGISLATIVE
ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
The Energy & Technology Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly will hold a Committee Meeting on March 19 at 10:30 AM in Room 2B of the Legislative Office Building. The Bill Record Book, which contains proposed House and Senate bills, is available here.

PURA DOCKET
On March 12, 2019, PURA established Docket No. 19-03-10: 2019 PURA Report to the General Assembly Concerning Lost and Unaccounted for Gas

INDUSTRY

OFF SHORE WIND MEASURES ADVANCE OUT OF COMMITTEE
The co-chairs of the Energy & Technology Committee announced that two off shore wind important measures moved out committee. The legislation, SB 875, An Act Expanding Connecticut’s Offshore Wind Energy Portfolio, would expand offshore wind energy and HB 7156, An Act Concerning The Procurement Of Energy Derived From Offshore Wind, would authorize the procurement of energy derived from offshore wind. Article 

DOMINION TO KEEP CONNECTICUT MILLSTONE NUCLEAR PLANT IN SERVICE
Dominion Energy Inc said on Friday that it reached a 10-year agreement with Connecticut utilities that will keep the state’s only nuclear power station in service. Read article here

HARTFORD COURANT “AT NEW LONDON’S STATE PIER, WIND POWER GIVES CONNECTICUT ITS NEXT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY” Read the full story here.

INDUSTRY

2018 REPORT OF THE CONSUMER LIAISON GROUP PUBLISHED
The report, prepared jointly by the Consumer Liaison Group (CLG) Coordinating Committee and ISO New England highlights the 2018 activities of the CLG and provides an update on other consumer-related, wholesale electricity industry topics. 

ISO NEW ENGLAND PRESS RELEASE ON 2018 WHOLESALE ELECTRICITY PRICES
ISO-NE’s average wholesale electricity price in 2018 rose over the 2017 price, but still ranked as the six-lowest since the current wholesale markets were implemented in 2004. Read more in the press release.

 

 

CPES Policy Committee Update: February 19, 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 Public Hearings: Feb 19 and Feb 21
  • PURA established Docket No. 19-02-13:  Declaratory Ruling Regarding Licensed Electric Supplier Practices of Altering the Prices in Fixed-Price Contracts
  • Consumers in Retail Competition Markets Saved $300B Over the Past Decade, Trade Group Says
  • Speaker Announced for ISO-NE March CLG Meeting: Jeffrey Grybowski, Co-CEO Ørsted US Offshore Wind
  • ISO-NE Announces Spring 2019 Market Training Classes
  • 2nd Circuit Sides With Direct Energy Services in Rate Hike Dispute
  • Vistra Energy to Expand Retail Business with $328M acquisition
  • Future US Electricity Generation Mix Will Depend Largely on Natural Gas Prices

CONNECTICUT

LEGISLATIVE
ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
The Energy & Technology Committee will hold the following public hearings:
                 -Tuesday, February 19, 10:15 am in room 1E of the LOB Agenda
                 – Thursday, February 21, 10:00 am in Rm 1B of the LOB Agenda  

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

REGULATORY
On February 11, 2019, PURA established Docket No. 19-02-13:  Declaratory Ruling Regarding Licensed Electric Supplier Practices of Altering the Prices in Fixed-Price Contracts

REGIONAL/INDUSTRYCONSUMERS IN RETAIL COMPETITION MARKETS SAVED $300B OVER THE PAST DECADE, TRADE GROUP SAYS
Electricity prices in many states with retail choice are high, but RESA’s analysis concludes they are moving lower, as consumers reap the benefits of cheap natural gas and lower electricity demand. But the same cannot be said for states with monopoly utility structures. MORE

SPEAKER ANNOUNCED FOR ISO-NE MARCH CLG MEETING: JEFFREY GRYBOWSKI, CO-CEO ØRSTED US OFSHORE WIND
Jeffrey Grybowski, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Ørsted US Offshore Wind, will give the keynote address at the March 14th meeting of the Consumer Liaison Group (CLG) at the Omni Providence Hotel. Following, a panel will discuss Transforming the Power Sector: Customer Choice in a Changing Energy Landscape. 

ISO-NE ANNOUNCES SPRING 2019 MARKET TRAINING CLASSES
ISO-NE’s Customer Training will hold Introduction to Wholesale Electricity Markets April 29- May 3 and Intermediate Wholesale Electricity Markets June 11-13.  Learn more and register here.

2ND CIRCUIT SIDES WITH DIRECT ENERGY SERVICES IN RATE HIKE DISPUTE
Connecticut resident Gary Richards had sued private electricity supplier Direct Energy Services LLP, claiming it unfairly hiked prices by switching from a fixed to variable rate. A Second Circuit panel, ruling 2-1, upheld a lower court ruling that sided with the electricity supplier. MORE

VISTRA ENERGY TO EXPAND RETAIL BUSINESS WITH $328M ACQUISITION
Vistra Energy Corp. has entered into an agreement to acquire Crius Energy Trust for about $328 million, the company announced in a news release Thursday. The move comes as Irving-based Vistra (NYSE: VST) seeks to expand its retail business. With the acquisition of Crius Energy, Vistra would serve 19 states and the District of Columbia in the electricity and natural gas product market for residential and small business customers. MORE

FUTURE US ELECTRICITY GENERATION MIX WILL DEPEND LARGELY ON NATURAL GAS PRICES
The mix of fuels used to generate electricity in the US has changed in response to differences in the relative costs of electricity-generating technologies and their fuels. EIA’s Annual Energy Outlook 2019 shows that projected generation and capacity is significantly influenced by natural gas prices. MORE

 

 

CPES Policy Committee Update: September 5, 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 England Governors Issue Statement on Regional Energy Affordability 
  • Speakers Announced for Fall CLG Meeting in Windsor Locks

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY

NEW ENGLAND GOVERNORS ISSUE STATEMENT ON REGIONAL ENERGY AFFORDABILITY 
On August 13, Governors Dannel Malloy of Connecticut, Charlie Baker of Massachusetts, Chris Sununu of New Hampshire, Gina Raimondo of Rhode Island, and Phil Scott of Vermont issued a statement on regional energy affordability and reliability in New England.  Read a summary of that statement on ISO-NE’s website: http://isonewswire.com/updates/2018/8/31/new-england-governors-issue-statement-on-regional-energy-aff.html 

SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED FOR FALL CLG MEETING IN WINDSOR LOCKS
The next meeting of the Consumer Liaison Group (CLG) will be held September 20 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Hartford-Bradley Airport in Windsor Locks, CT. The topic will be the electrification of the heating sector and the choices available to consumers. The panelists include Christian Herb, President, Connecticut Energy Marketers Association and Emily Lewis O’Brien, Policy Analyst, Acadia Center. Additional speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.

The CLG is a forum for the exchange of information between ISO New England and electricity consumers in New England. CLG quarterly meetings are generally attended by 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. Meetings are free and open to the public, but advanced registration is required.

CPES Policy Committee Update: August 14, 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 England Governors Issue Statement on Energy Affordability and Reliability
  • ISO-NE’s Community Liaison Group’s September Meeting to be held in Windsor Locks
  • FERC Hearing on Reliability

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY

NEW ENGLAND GOVERNORS ISSUE STATEMENT ON ENERGY AFFORDABILITY AND RELIABILITY
On Aug 13, the New England Governors issued a statement on energy affordability and reliability in New England at the 42nd Annual Conference of the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG-ECP). The meeting was hosted in Stowe, Vermont by Vermont Governor Phil Scott. 

ISO-NE’S CONSUMER LIASION GROUP’S SEPTEMBER MEETING TO BE HELD IN WINDSOR LOCKS
ISO’s fall Consumer Liaison Group (CLG) meeting is scheduled for September 20, 2018 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Hartford-Bradley Airport in Windsor Locks.  The topic is “Electrification of the Heating Sector: Exploring Consumer Choices” and the meeting will include a keynote, a panel discussion, and a presentation from ISO New England.  Register for the meeting here.

The CLG is the consumers’ voice in the electric industry. Meetings are free and open to the public. For more information on the CLG, visit the CLG webpage.

FERC HEARING ON RELIABILITY
On July 31, FERC held a technical conference on reliability.  Presentations included topics such as the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s reliability standards, grid resilience, cybersecurity, and power system planning and operations challenges and opportunities as a result of the changing generating resource mix.  materials from the conference are available on the Commission’s website.

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.