Category Archives: Energy and Technology Committee

WRAP UP: 2018 Annual Legislative Preview

Hosted by CPES and Connecticut Bar Association’s (CBA)
Energy, Public Utility and Communications Section

 

Speakers:  Co-Chair – Representative Lonnie Reed;  Co-Chair – Senator Paul Formica;  Vice Chair – Senator Tony Hwang; Ranking Member – Representative Tim Ackert

Moderated by: Alex Judd, Vice Chair of the CBA’s Energy, Public Utility and Communications Law Section, Member of CPES’ New Energy Professionals Group, and Energy Associate at Day Pitney LLP,

Nearly 100 attendees joined CPES for its Annual Legislative Preview to hear from Energy and Technology Committee leadership on what to expect in the 2018 legislative session. The session started on February 7 and was followed by DEEP’s released of the 2018 Comprehensive Energy Strategy the next day, teeing up a busy year for the committee. CPES hosted the program in collaboration with the Connecticut Bar Association’s Energy, Public Utility and Communications Law Section.

The night’s conversation was wide ranging, but throughout, the committee members kept returning to the state’s fiscal problems as a driving force in this year’s session – a reality they said affects their ability to develop rational policy recommendations on energy issues.

The night kicked off with discussion highlighting the need for a diversity of energy resources and a long-term strategic plan to reliably and cost-effectively satisfy the state’s energy needs. Legislators noted that opposition to siting new resources can be a barrier to future development.

The committee members identified a range of anticipated topics for discussion this session, including the state’s renewable portfolio standard and funding for energy efficiency and the Green Bank, and urged attendees to weigh in on these matters at upcoming public hearings.

Throughout the discussion, legislators emphasized the committee’s commitment to working in a bipartisan, collaborative way to best leverage a range of expertise and resources.

CPES Policy Committee Update: February 20, 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 New England Publishes 2018 Regional Electricity Outlook
  • ISO 2018 State and Regional Profiles
  • Massachusetts will replace Northern Pass project if it doesn’t nab NH permit  
  • Energy and Technology Committee Bills of Interest
  • Recent PURA Dockets

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

ISO NEW ENGLAND PUBLISHES 2018 REGIONAL ELECTRICITY OUTLOOK
ISO New England has published its 2018 Regional Electricity Outlook (REO), an annual report looking at the trends and challenges affecting New England’s power system, as well as the innovative solutions the ISO is pursuing to ensure reliable electricity for the region’s homes and businesses—today and into the future. The 2018 REO, as well as webpages that highlight and expand on information and statistics in the report, are available on ISO’s website.   

ISO 2018 STATE AND REGIONAL PROFILES
ISO New England has updated its state and regional profiles, providing the latest information on supply and demand resources tied into the New England electric grid and state policies transforming the resource mix. The profiles are available on the ISO’s Key Grid and Market Stats webpage.

MASSACHUSETTS WILL REPLACE NORTHERN PASS PROJECT IF IT DOESN’T NAB NH PERMIT
Northern Pass was selected to help Massachusetts meet its clean energy goals, but the project was rejected by New Hampshire regulators, potentially hurting its construction timeline, which played a key role in the project’s selection.  Massachusetts will select Central Maine Power’s New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) transmission line to replace the Northern Pass project if it doesn’t secure a permit by New Hampshire by March 27, according to a press release from parent company Avangrid. Read the article here.

CONNECTICUT

2018 CONNECTICUT LEGISLATIVE SESSION
The 2018 Regular Session of the Connecticut General Assembly convened on February 7, 2018.  The following bills before the Energy and Technology Committee may be of interest:

PURA DOCKETS
On February 16, 2018, PURA established the following docket:
Docket No. 10-06-18RE01:  Application of Spark Energy, L.P. For An Electric Supplier License – Investigation Into Compliance With §16-245d(a)(2) 

On February 8, 2018, PURA established the following docket:
Docket No. 18-02-05:  Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA) Petition for PURA to Investigate the Business Practices of the Electric Supplier Mint Energy, LLC 

CPES Policy Committee Update: February 13, 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’s Forward Capacity Auction
  • CT’s Net Metering Program
  • Energy and Technology Committee Information
  • PURA Docket No. 18-02-02:  Annual Reconciliation of the Conservation Adjustment Mechanisms

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

ISO’S FORWARD CAPACITY AUCTION
New England’s annual capacity auction for power system resources concluded Tuesday with sufficient resources to meet peak demand in 2021-2022, and preliminary results indicate the clearing price was the lowest in five years due to a surplus of capacity in the region. The auction is run by ISO New England Inc. to procure the resources that will be needed to meet consumer demand for electricity in three years. Finalized auction results, with resource-specific information, will be filed with FERC by the end of this month.  ISO’s press release with more information is available here.

CONNECTICUT

NET METERING PROGRAM
DEEP recommendation to revise and phase out Connecticut’s net metering program has been met with opposition.

 

2018 CONNECTICUT LEGISLATIVE SESSION
The 2018 Regular Session of the Connecticut General Assembly convened on February 7, 2018.  Information about the Energy and Technology Committee is available here. The committee’s bill record book is available here. 

PURA DOCKETS
On February 1, 2018, PURA established the following docket: Docket No. 18-02-02:  Annual Reconciliation of the Conservation Adjustment Mechanisms filed by: The Connecticut Light and Power Company, the United Illuminating Company, Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation, the Southern Connecticut Gas Company and Yankee Gas Services Company 

 

CPES Policy Committee Update: January 23, 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.

In this Update:

  • Operational Fuel-Security Analysis Released
  • U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari in Allco v. Klee
  • Update on the Economic Stability of Millstone
  • CT Legislative Session will convene on Wednesday, February 7th
  • PURA Dockets released in January

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

OPERATIONAL FUEL-SECURITY ANALYSIS RELEASED
On January 17th, ISO New England released its Operational Fuel-Security Analysis, a study assessing whether possible future resource combinations have enough fuel to ensure bulk power system reliability throughout an entire winter. The results indicate that maintaining reliability is likely to become more challenging, especially if current power system trends continue. Read the press release, and find more information on the ISO New England website.

ALLCO V.KLEE
The U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari in Allco v. Klee. In June 2017, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s dismissal. It concluded that Connecticut’s renewable energy procurement program was not preempted by the Federal Power Act and the state’s rule that the state’s RPS program did not violate the dormant Commerce Clause. The opinion is particularly significant because it is the first federal court decision to discuss the scope of the Supreme Court’s 2016 Hughes decision. The Second Circuit’s interpretation of Hughes will inform district courts that are weighing motions to dismiss claims about zero emission credits (ZECs) for nuclear plants. Click here to view the procedural overview courtesy of the State Power Project.  

CONNECTICUT

UPDATE ON THE ECONOMIC STABILITY OF MILLSTONE
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) have released a revised draft report in Docket No. 17-07-32: DEEP and PURA Joint Proceeding to Implement the Governor’s Executive Order Number 59. The joint proceeding is tasked with reviewing the economic stability of the Millstone nuclear generating station in Waterford, Connecticut.  The most recent draft report reverses previous conclusions reached by PURA/DEEP regarding Millstone’s retirement risk and supports implementing a multi-tiered solicitation to procure energy from nuclear power facilities such as Millstone. DEEP/PURA have requested comments on the revised draft report which are due this Thursday, January 25, 2018. The notice and draft report are available here: http://www.dpuc.state.ct.us/dockcurr.nsf/All/E08A9CCEF25C28FB8525821D0055E28F?OpenDocument

2018 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
The 2018 Regular Session of the Connecticut General Assembly convenes on February 7, 2018.  Information about the Energy and Technology Committee is available here.

RECENTLY RELEASED PURA DOCKETS
On January 16, 2018, PURA established the following docket: Docket No. 18-01-31:  2017 Report to the Legislature – Electric Supplier Report 

On January 11, 2018, PURA established the following dockets:
Docket No. 18-01-29:  Annual Report to the Legislature – The State of Electric Competition 
Docket No. 18-01-28:  2018 Report to the General Assembly Regarding the Connecticut Electric Efficiency Partners Program 

On January 3, 2018, PURA established the following docket: Docket No. 18-01-15:  PURA Review of Rate Adjustments Related to the Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 

CPES Policy Committee Update: September 26, 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.

In this Update:

  • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Activity: U.S. Senate Energy Committee Sends FERC Nominees to Full Senate
  • Update on Millstone Power Station
  • CT Budget: Energy Industry Impact

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION ACTICITY: U.S. SENATE ENERGY COMMITTEE SEND FERC NOMINEES TO FULL SENATE
On September 19, 2017, the U.S. Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee approved two nominees to serve as commissioners on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)—Kevin McIntyre and Richard Glick. McIntyre, a republican who will be designated as chairman, has been nominated to two terms ending in 2023. The Committee held a nomination hearing for McIntyre and Glick on September 7. The nominations now head to the Senate floor.

If confirmed, McIntyre and Glick will join Commissioners Cheryl LaFleur and Robert Powelson, and Acting Chairman Neil Chatterjee, returning a full complement of five commissioners to FERC.

CONNECTICUT

MILLSTONE POWER STATION UPDATE
The fireworks continue in the joint DEEP-PURA proceeding to study the economic viability of Millstone Station. Last week, in a response to a series of data requests from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), Dominion declined to answer a majority of inquiries about its revenue, expenses, cash flow and earnings. “Dominion Energy will not provide competitively sensitive or proprietary information related to this request … at this time,” the company wrote. DEEP and PURA staff will likely be forced to move forward using estimates based on public information. See articles from Hartford Business Journal and the Courant.

CONNECTICUT BUDGET: IMPACT ON THE ENERGY INDUSTRY
The Republican budget, that passed in dramatic fashion, includes a provision to remove PURA from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, which has existed as a single agency since 2011. As passed, the bill also eliminates statutory authorization of the Bureau of Energy and Technology Policy. The Republican budget: (1) Reduces rates and decreases costs for Connecticut’s ratepayers, (2) ensures the reliability and safety of our state’s energy supply, (3) increases the use of clean energy and technologies that support clean energy, and (4) develops the state’s energy-related economy. The head of such authority shall be the chairperson elected in accordance with section 16-2 of the state statutes. Despite passing both the House and the Senate, Governor Malloy has threatened to veto the budget. See article from WNPR