Category Archives: Environment

CPES Policy Committee Update: May 22, 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:

  • Coalition Sues State Over Sweep of Energy Efficiency Funds
  • ISO New England’s Summer Outlook Now Available
  • ISO’s Price-Responsive Demand Structure Effective June 1, 2018
  • ISO’s Annual Markets Report Now Available
  • Recent PURA Docket on Electric Distribution Company System Reliability

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

COALITION SUES STATE OVER SWEEP OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY FUNDS
A group of energy efficiency contractors and both consumer and environmental advocates sued the state of Connecticut on Tuesday, claiming that the legislature illegally swept ratepayer funds to close last year’s budget deficit. As part of the bipartisan budget agreement, $155 million was diverted from Conservation & Load Management, Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority funds to help fill a large budget gap. The group was vocal last year about the sweep and warned the General Assembly that they would litigate. However, the General Assembly took no action before they adjourned on May 9.

ISO NEW ENGLAND’S SUMMER OUTLOOK NOW AVAILABLE
ISO-NE’s Outlook for Summer 2018 finds that electricity supplies should be sufficient to meet New England consumer demand, but tight system conditions could develop if forecasted extreme peak conditions occur.  Read the factsheet here and learn more at ISO’s Seasonal System Outlook webpage.

ISO’S PRICE-RESPONSIVE DEMAND STRUCTURE EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2018
On June 1, 2018, new price-responsive demand (PRD) structure will go into effect in ISO New England’s marketplace. Information on the types of demand response and participation requirements are available under the FCM Participation Guide on the Price-Responsive Demand webpage.  Related training are available on the Training Materials webpage.

ISO’S ANNUAL MARKETS REPORT NOW AVAILABLE
According to the 2017 Annual Markets Report issued by the Internal Market Monitor at ISO-NE, the region’s wholesale power markets were competitive in 2017.   The report addresses the development, operation, and performance of the wholesale electricity markets administered by the ISO and presents an assessment of each market based on market data and performance criteria. Read the full report here.

CONNECTICUT

On May 17, 2018, PURA established the following docket: Docket No. 18-05-13:  PURA 2018 Annual Report to the General Assembly on Electric Distribution Company System Reliability

CPES Policy Committee Update: May 1, 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’s State of the Markets Report 2017
  • ISO New England Winter Recap
  • Setting Regional Solar and Wind Power Records in New England
  • FERC Issues Letter Accepting the Results of the 12th Forward Capacity Auction
  • Docket No. 18-04-25: PURA Investigation Regarding Issues Related to Uncollectible Accounts and Docket No. 10-06-18RE02: Application of Spark Energy, L.P. for an Electric Supplier License – Investigation Into Marketing 

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

FERC’S STATE OF THE MARKETS REPORT 2017
FERC’s Office of Enforcement’s Division of Energy Market Oversight published their annual assessment of natural gas, electric, and other energy markets developments during the past year.  The Commission’s accompanying presentation is always available on their website.

ISO NEW ENGLAND WINTER RECAP
ISO New England published a recap of the 2017/2018 winter conditions, describing the effect of the historic cold snap in the final week of December and first week of January. For more on how these cold weather conditions impacted grid operations, see ISO-NE’s analysis.

SETTING REGIONAL SOLAR AND WIND POWER RECORDS IN NEW ENGLAND
Over 130,000 solar power installations now span the six New England states, totaling about 2,400 MW (nameplate)—over 5,800 MW are expected by 2027. Almost all this solar power is connected to local distribution utilities or “behind the meter” (BTM) directly at retail customer sites. On April 9, a cool, cloudless day across New England, BTM solar power set a new regional record. Wind, energy-efficiency measures and storage are also contributing to the changing grid, reducing  the region’s emissions. Learn more at ISO-New England’s website.

FERC ISSUES LETTER ACCEPTING THE RESULTS OF THE 12TH FORWARD CAPACITY AUCTION
FERC issued a letter order accepting ISO New England’s filing of the results of the twelfth Forward Capacity Auction, held on February 5-6, 2018 for the June 1, 2021 through May 31, 2022 Capacity Commitment Period. The document has been posted to the ISO’s website. 

CONNECTICUT

RECENT PURA DOCKETS
On April 26, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 18-04-25:  PURA Investigation Regarding Issues Related to Uncollectible Accounts 

On April 25, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 10-06-18RE02:  Application of Spark Energy, L.P. for an Electric Supplier License – Investigation Into Marketing 

CONNECTICUT LEGISLATIVE SESSION
The 2018 Regular Session of the Connecticut General Assembly convened on February 7, 2018 and will adjourn on May 9, 2018.  General information about the Energy and Technology Committee is available at: https://www.cga.ct.gov/et

 

 

 

 

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 

NEP: Energy Legislation 101: The Process and What Passed in 2017


Half Day Event, 9am – Noon
Connecticut Legislative Office Building
Thursday, September 28, 2017
Lobbying 101 Presentation 

Wrap Up:

CPES Holds Second 101 Series Event for New Energy Professionals!

On September 28, 2017, the Connecticut Power and Energy Society’s New Energy Professionals Committee hosted “Energy Legislation 101: The Process and What Passed in 2017” at the Legislative Office Building and State Capitol in Hartford, Connecticut. Energy Legislation 101 is the second in a series of informational sessions established to assist recently joined CPES members and those new to the industry as they become acclimated and involved within the organization. The overarching goal of the 101 series is to provide a meaningful overview of state agencies and businesses with whom professionals in the industry interact. While the event was geared toward New Energy Professionals, many established professionals were also in attendance.

The day began with an overview of the legislative process in Connecticut from Melissa Biggs, a partner at DePino, Nunez & Biggs, LLC, and Christopher Cordima, an attorney in the Connecticut Legislative Commissioners’ Office.

The overview was followed by a timely discussion of energy legislation that passed during the 2017 legislative session and what issues may arise next session. Joining the conversation were Senator Bob Duff, Representative Tim Ackert, Representative Holly Cheeseman, Representative Mike Demicco, Representative Stephen Harding, and Representative Jonathan Steinberg.  All serve on the General Assembly’s Energy & Technology Committee, Environment Committee, or both!

The day ended with a tour of the Legislative Office Building and State Capitol.

Blurb:
Please join us as Connecticut’s key energy and environment legislative staff and leaders offer a three-part Energy Legislation 101 to CPES New Energy Professionals*!  Come brush up on all the details of the legislative process.  Continue into a timely discussion of the bills which become effective as of October 1st.  Finish with a tour of the Legislative Office Building and Capitol.

This is a free event, but please register at your earliest convenience as space is limited.

Agenda:
9:00am – Networking, Coffee and Danish
(Second Floor Atrium of the Legislative Office Building)

9:30am – Energy Legislation 101:  Basics and Procedures (Hearing Room 2E)
Melissa Biggs, DePino, Nunez & Biggs, LLC
Christopher Cordima, CT Legislative Commissioners’ Office

10:00am – Current and Future Legislation Discussion: A detailed and timely conversation about the energy bills that just passed and become effective as of October 1st. (Hearing Room 2E)

11:15am: (Optional) The League of Women Voters is offering a tour of the Legislative Office Building and Capitol

*This group is not limited to age range or years of experience.  We welcome everyone to reach out to us.

The goal of the 101 series is to provide a meaningful overview of state agencies and businesses with whom professionals in our industry interact.  While this series was established with our New Energy Professionals in mind, all are welcome.” – Alex Isaac, NEP Group Member

 

CPES Celebrated the Holidays at the Society Room in Downtown Hartford

“CPES events are great networking opportunities for people in the energy industry.”
– Bruce McDermott, Partner, Murtha Cullina

On December 13, 2016, the Connecticut Power and Energy Society (CPES) invited energy professionals to the Society Room in Downtown Hartford for networking and an address from the recently appointed Chair of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), Katie Dykes.

PURA Chair Katie Dykes and CPES President Joey Lee Miranda

Dykes, appointed by Governor Malloy on October 27 and elected Chair of the three-member authority on October 31, shared insights from her first few weeks on the bench. She expressed appreciation for the new ways PURA finds to engage with stakeholders, whether through publicly-noticed stakeholder groups or formally docketed proceedings. She spoke of the pivotal decisions the region is facing with regard to potential wholesale market changes to accommodate and achieve the New England states’ public policy objectives. She also touched on PURA’s role in tackling issues relating to electric transmission and distribution infrastructure, observing the significant amount of distributed generation being added to the grid.    

Commissioner Michael Caron receiving award from RESA’s New England Chair Marc Hanks

Following Chair Dykes’ remarks, the Retail Energy Supply Association (RESA) awarded its 2016 Champion-of-Choice Award to PURA Commissioner Michael Caron. Caron was recognized for his leadership on the bench and ongoing commitment to competitive retail markets.

Paul Brady, retiring CPES Executive Director, and Kathryn Dube, the society’s new Executive Director

 

To conclude the evening, CPES honored retiring Executive Director Paul Brady and introduced Kathryn Dube as the Society’s new executive director. 

 

 

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