Category Archives: DEEP

CPES Policy Committee Update: August 21, 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:

  • DEEP/PURA Seeking Comments on Value of Distributed Energy Resources Docket
  • DEEP Rules for New Shared Clean Energy Facilities (SCEF) Program
  • Commission Makes Recommendations On Offshore Wind
  • Shared solar program heading towards approval, complaints in tow
  • Environmental advocates denounce planned natural gas plant in Killingly
  • UConn Launches Institute of the Environment
  • US EPA Publishes Report on Public Health Benefits of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 
  • Feds delay environmental statement for offshore wind project

CONNECTICUT

DEEP/PURA Seeking Comments on Value of Distributed Energy Resources Docket
Public comment is being accepted on the scope of the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the value of distributed energy resources – see public notice for more details.  Comments are due August 21.

DEEP Rules for New Shared Clean Energy Facilities (SCEF) Program
In late July, DEEP submitted program rules to PURA for its statewide SCEF program. More information in DEEP’s press release and program website.

CT News Junkie: Commission Makes Recommendations On Offshore Wind

CT Mirror: Shared solar program heading towards approval, complaints in tow

Hartford Courant: Environmental advocates denounce planned natural gas plant in Killingly

UConn Launches Institute of the Environment
Drawing on its strengths as a leader in environmental research, education, and engagement, the University of Connecticut has launched the Institute of the Environment to help chart a course to a greener future. MORE

INDUSTRY

US EPA Publishes Report on Public Health Benefits of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 
The agency’s report, Public Health Benefits per kWh of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in the United States: A Technical Report, aims to help state and local government policymakers and other stakeholders estimate the monetized public health benefits of investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy.

CT Post: Feds delay environmental statement for offshore wind project

CPES Policy Committee Update: May 21, 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:

  • Katie Dykes takes helm at DEEP in era of escalating climate change
  • HBJ: “A strong bipartisan vote for wind power in CT”
  • ISO-NE Summer Outlook: Sufficient Power Supplies Expected
  • Registration Now Open for Two ISO-NE Trainings: WEM 101 and FCM 101

CONNECTICUT

Katie Dykes takes helm at DEEP in era of escalating climate change
Katie Dykes has sat at the large conference table in the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection commissioner’s office many, many times. But not the way she does now. MORE

HBJ: “A strong bipartisan vote for wind power in CT”
On Tuesday the state House of Representatives voted in support of a bill that if passed and signed, would require DEEP within 14 days to begin the process of soliciting bids of up to 2,000 MW of wind power.  Read more in the Hartford Business Journal.

INDUSTRY

ISO-NE Summer Outlook: Sufficient Power Supplies Expected
According to ISO New England’s 2019 summer outlook, New England is expected to have sufficient resources to meet peak consumer demand for electricity this summer under both typical and extreme weather conditions. Details available in ISO’s Newswire article and press release.

Registration Now Open for Two ISO-NE Trainings: WEM 101 and FCM 101
Register now for ISO-NE’s Introduction to Wholesale Electricity Markets (WEM 101) on July 29-August 2, 2019, and Forward Capacity Market (FCM 101) on August 26-29, 2019. 

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: June 12, 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 and NRC Joint Meeting
  • 2018 Integrated Resources Plan
  • Special Report of Acts Affecting Energy and Utilities
  • CT PURA, DEEP and OCC protest Constellation Mystic Cost-of-Service filing at FERC
  • Docket No. 18-05-16: Application of Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation to Increase Its Rates and Charge

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

FERC AND NRC JOINT MEETING
On Thursday, June 7, the Federal Energy Regulatory commission (FERC) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) held a joint meeting covering: the state of reliability; grid reliability, nuclear power plants, and other topics; and cyber security activities.  The final agenda and presentations are available on FERC’s website.

CONNECTICUT

2018 INTEGRATED RESOURCES PLAN
On May 29, 2018, DEEP issued a Notice of Proceeding, Scoping Meeting, and Opportunity for Public Comment.  The scoping meeting is scheduled for June 12, 2018 at 9:00 AM EPT.  DEEP’s notice, which includes additional scheduled IRP tasks, is available here.

ACTS AFFECTING ENERGY AND UTILITIES
The Office of Legislative Research issued a Special Report of Acts Affecting Energy and Utilities, dated June 5, 2018.

CT PURA, DEEP and OCC PROTEST CONSTELLATION MYSTIC COST-OF-SERVICE FILING AT FERC
On June 6, 2018, the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and the Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel filed a Protest at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in Docket No. ER18-1639-000.  The parties protest Constellation Mystic Power’s Cost of Service (COS) Agreement and ask that FERC find the proposed COS Agreement is not just or reasonable, suspend the COS Agreement, and set the matter for an evidentiary hearing and settlement talks.  As described in the protest, Mystic’s request for approval of the COS Agreement “is premised on its claim that absent full cost of service funding…Mystic 8 & 9 will be retired and the related Everett Marine/Distrigas liquefied natural gas (LNG) Terminal will be closed, leaving New England facing unacceptable ‘fuel security’ risks.”  The parties to the protest ask FERC “to resist Mystic’s effort to hold a sword over New England’s head now that ISO-NE has found that its resources are needed for fuel security.”

RECENT PURA DOCKETS
On May 30, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 18-05-16:  Application of Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation to Increase Its Rates and Charges 

 

CPES Policy Committee Update April 24, 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 Issues Final Rules to Improve Regional Market Transparency, Interconnections
  • Connecticut Water Confirms Receipt of Unsolicited Acquisition Proposal from Eversource Energy
  • Upcoming Training and Webinars from ISO-NE
  • FERC Initiates Notice of Inquiry Into Pipeline Certificate
  • Millstone “At Risk” Determination
  • PURA Docket No. 13-08-14RE04 established on April 18, 2018:  PURA Development of the Administrative Processes and Program Specifications for Virtual Net Metering – Application Amendment 

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

FERC INITIATES NOTICE OF INQUIRY INTO PIPELINE CERTIFICATE 
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) launched an inquiry seeking information and stakeholder perspectives on whether and how to revise existing policies regarding the Commission’s review and authorization of interstate natural gas transportation facilities. For more information, see FERC’s website and the Notice of Inquiry.

FERC ISSUES FINAL RULE TO IMPROVE REGIONAL MARKET TRANSPARENCY, INTERCONNECTIONS
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued two final rules to improve transparency in organized electric power markets and make electricity interconnections more effective and efficient.

  • Transparency Final Rule: Addresses transparency regarding uplift payments, operator-initiated commitments and transmission constraint penalty factors in organized electric power markets.  The rule requires regional market operators to report, on a monthly basis: total uplift payments for each transmission zone, broken out by day and uplift category; total uplift payments to each resource; and the commitment size, transmission zone, commitment reason, and commitment start time of each operator-initiated commitment. The rule also requires regional market operators to include in their tariffs the transmission constraint penalty factors used in their market software, the circumstances under which those factors can set locational marginal prices, and any processes by which they can be changed.
  • Generator Interconnection Procedures and Agreements Final Rule: Addresses reform of generator interconnection procedures and agreements for generators of more than 20 megawatts, and adopts reforms designed to improve certainty for interconnection customers, promote informed interconnection decisions and enhance the interconnection process.

CONNECTICUT WATER CONFIRMS RECEIPT OF UNSOLICITED ACQUISITION PROPOSAL FROM EVERSOURCE ENERGY
Connecticut Service, Inc. plans to continue with its merger with San Jose Water Group, despite a proposal from Eversource Energy earlier this month. Eversource announced Thursday that it sent a proposal to Connecticut Water to acquire its outstanding shares for $63.50 per share in cash. Shareholders would also have the option to receive the equivalent shares in Eversource in lieu of a monetary payment. Connecticut Water, headquartered in Clinton, said it received Eversource’s “non-binding, unsolicited” proposal and the company’s board of directors unanimously decided to decline it.

UPCOMING TRAINING FROM ISO-NE
Intermediate Wholesale Electricity Markets (WEM 201)  May 15- 27, 2018.  This three-day course provides an intermediate-level treatment of energy market concepts, including unit commitment, locational marginal pricing (LMP), reserve co-optimization, market interactions, settlement mechanics, and Financial Transmission Rights (FTRs).  
PRD–Real-Time Operational Expectations, May 22, 2018 10:00 am. – 12:00 p.m. This webinar will focus on real-time operational expectations for demand response resources (DRRs) and demand designated entity (DDE) staff under price-responsive demand (PRD) effective on June 1, 2018.  Topics include expectations for (1) response to normal and emergency dispatch instructions, (2) DRR real-time re-submittals, and (3) communications with ISO New England system operators.  

ISO IS HOSTING TWO WEBINARS ON ITS FORWARD CAPACITY MARKETS
FCM New Capacity Qualification for Demand Resources, May 1, 2018, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. This webinar will review the requirements associated with the submittal of the new capacity qualification package for demand resource projects requesting participation in the Forward Capacity Auction for the 2022-2023 Capacity Commitment Period (FCA #13).
FCM New Capacity Qualification for Generation and Imports, May 1, 2018, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. This webinar will review the requirements associated with the submittal of the new capacity qualification package for generating and import capacity resource projects requesting participation in the Forward Capacity Auction for the 2022-2023 Capacity Commitment Period (FCA #13). It will also include a segment on import capacity resources with Elective Transmission Upgrades (ETU).

CONNECTICUT

MILLSTONE “AT RISK” DETERMINATION
Following the February decision under Executive Order 59 and June Special Session Public Act 17-3 by state regulators to allow nuclear plants to compete in an auction with new and existing solar, wind and hydropower energy producers for fixed-price contracts with state-regulated utilities. On April 4th DEEP and PURA issued a notice of request for written comments on their proposed procedure and criteria for determining if a power generating facility is at “at risk.”  Comments were due April 11 and a half dozen were filed.  An article from New London Day summarized the comments, including those from Dominion, Eversource, and NRG Energy.  According to DEEP and PURA’s notice, PURA proposed to initiate the “at risk” proceeding this April, with DEEP initiating an RFP proceeding before May 1.

PURA DOCKET ESTABLISHED ON APRIL 18, 2018

  • Docket No. 13-08-14RE04:  PURA Development of the Administrative Processes and Program Specifications for Virtual Net Metering – Application Amendment 

CONNECTICUT LEGISLATIVE SESSION
The 2018 Regular Session of the Connecticut General Assembly convened on February 7, 2018.  General information about the Energy and Technology Committee is available at: https://www.cga.ct.gov/et