Category Archives: FERC

CPES Policy Committee Update: May 13, 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:

  • Summer CLG Meeting to be held in Westborough, “Energy Efficiency in the Forward Capacity Market: The Changing Landscape and Implications for Consumers”
  • FERC Open Meeting Thursday May 16
  • New ISO Forward Capacity Auction Training: Critical Path Schedule Monitoring
  • ISO Forward Capacity Market Qualification Webinar Recordings Available

INDUSTRY
Summer CLG Meeting to be held in Westborough, “Energy Efficiency in the Forward Capacity Market: The Changing Landscape and Implications for Consumers”
The next meeting of the Consumer Liaison Group (CLG) will be held June 20 at the DoubleTree Westborough Hotel in Westborough, MA. The topic is Energy Efficiency in the Forward Capacity Market: The Changing Landscape and Implications for Consumers. 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. 

FERC Open Meeting Thursday May 16
The meeting will be live webcast via FERC’s website.  The agenda includes discussion of the 2019 Summer Energy Market and Reliability  Assessment and updates on storage market participation. 

New ISO Forward Capacity Auction Training: Critical Path Schedule Monitoring
ISO New England recently announced a new web-based training, Critical Path Schedule Monitoring, a 17-minute video explaining the process that occurs after the Forward Capacity Auction, and three supplemental videos:

ISO Forward Capacity Market Qualification Webinar Recordings Available
The FCM New Capacity Qualification for Demand Capacity Resources and FCM New Capacity Qualification for Generation and Imports webinars from May 2, 2019 are now available on ISO’s website – click here to access the presentations or recordings. 

 

CPES Policy Committee Update: April 2, 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:

  • Solar jobs concentrated in Hartford County
  • Canadian Provinces Implement Carbon Tax
  • ISO-NE’s Planning Advisory Committee “Grid Transformation” Event May 23rd, Westborough MA
  • Federal Officials, Fishing Industry Reach Offshore Wind Development Agreement
  • FERC Opens Two New Inquiries, Opportunity for Comment

CONNECTICUT

Hartford Business Journal “Solar jobs concentrated in Hartford County.”  Read the full story here.

INDUSTRY

CANADIAN PROVINCES IMPLEMENT CARBON TAX
The federal Liberal government will begin levying its carbon tax on greenhouse gas-emitting fuels today in the four provinces that have refused to take part in the pan-Canadian climate framework. Read the full story here.

ISO-NE’S PLANNING ADVISORY COMMITTEE “GRID TRANSFORMATION” EVENT MAY 23, WESTBOROUGH MA
ISO New England is planning a day-long event for the Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) called “Grid Transformation” to be held May 23, 2019, at the Doubletree Hotel in Westborough, Massachusetts. The meeting will focus on the technical challenges and potential benefits presented by this grid transformation, as well as the potential solutions for addressing many of the changes the industry is facing. To that end, the ISO is inviting industry experts and stakeholders to engage in this discussion about grid transformation.

FEDERAL OFFICIALS, FISHING INDUSTRY REACH OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT 
Federal officials sign a 10-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) about offshore wind energy with fishing industry interests on the East Coast. MOU states that wind energy developments on the shelf must take into consideration how the activities could affect the marine environment and other industries. NOAA says the memorandum will help sustain fishing opportunities while allowing energy projects.

FERC OPENS TWO NEW INQUIRIES, OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMENT
– FERC Opens Inquiry on Improvements to Electric Transmission Incentives Policy: examination of possible improvements to FERC’s electric transmission incentives policy to ensure that it appropriately encourages the development of the infrastructure needed to ensure grid reliability and reduce congestion to reduce the cost of power for consumers. 
– FERC to Examine Return on Equity Policies: examination of whether, and if so how, to revise its policies on determining the return on equity (ROE) used in setting rates charged by jurisdictional public utilities.

CPES Policy Committee Update: March 5, 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: March 5
  • Finalized Auction Results Confirm Sufficient Capacity Resources for 2022–2023
  • FERC Accepts Revisions for Batteries and Other Emerging Storage Technologies to More Fully Participate in the New England Markets

CONNECTICUT

LEGISLATIVE
ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
The Energy & Technology Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly will hold a public hearing on March 5 at 10:00 AM.  Agenda  The agenda includes An Act Concerning Energy Efficiency Standards (HB 7151) introduced by Governor Lamont.

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

INDUSTRY
FINALIZED AUCTION RESULTS CONFIRM SUFFICIENT CAPACITY RESOURCES 2022–2023
ISO New England has filed the finalized results of FCA-13 with FERC. A press release summarizing the filing, and the full filing, can be found on the ISO’s website.

FERC ACCEPTS REVISIONS FOR BATTERIES AND OTHER EMERGING STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES TO MORE FULLY PARTICIPATE IN THE NEW ENGLAND MARKETS 
The revisions allow emerging storage technologies to be dispatched in the Real-Time Energy Market in a manner that more fully recognizes their ability to transition continuously and rapidly between a charging state and a discharging state and provides a means for their simultaneous participation in the energy, reserves, and regulation markets. Learn more about these market changes from ISO.

FERC SCHEDULES RELIABILITY TECHNICAL CONFERENCE ON RELIABILITY OF THE BULK-POWER SYSTEM
FERC will hold a Technical Conference on Thursday, June 27, 2019, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM to discuss policy issues related to the reliability of the Bulk-Power System

CPES Policy Committee Update: November 6, 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:

  • U.S. DOE Proposes New Approach to Classification of Grid-Related Information
  • ISO-NE Continues Progress on Energy Storage Integration
  • New ISO-NE Webinar Posted: Forward Capacity Market Substitution Auction for FCA #13
  • Department of Energy Announces $53 Million in New Projects to Advance Solar
  • FERC Acts on Cyber Security Risks with New Supply Chain-Related Reliability Standards
  • FuelCell Inks Power Agreement for Hartford Project

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY

U.S. DOE PROPOSES NEW APPROACH TO CLASSIFICATION OF GRID-RELATED INFORMATION
The Energy Department has proposed a new system for labeling sensitive information about the electric grid and other energy systems. The proposed rule works to align the agency’s CEII process with rules at FERC. See the Federal Register notice for more information and instructions on submitting public comment.

ISO-NE CONTINUES PROGRESS ON ENERGY STORAGE INTEGRATION  
Plans for implementing ISO-NE’s new rules for energy storage devices  are now available on ISO’s webpage for the Energy Storage Device project, which will allow participants with grid-sized storage technologies to offer the full range of their asset’s capability in the regulation market while continuing to operate as a dispatchable energy market resource.

NEW ISO-NE WEBINAR POSTED: FORWARD CAPACCITY MARKET SUBSTITUTION AUCTION FOR FCA #13
The presentation and recording of the October 11, 2018, Forward Capacity Market Substitution Auction for FCA #13 webinar are now available on the ISO website.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ANNOUNCES $53 MILLION IN NEW PROJECTS TO ADVANCE SOLAR
TechnologiesThe U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced selections for up to $53 million in new projects to advance early-stage solar technologies. There were 53 projects chosen, which span across 21 states. More

FERC ACTS ON CYBER SECURITY RISKS WITH NEW SUPPLY CHAIN-RELATED RELIABILITY STANDARDS
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved new mandatory Reliability Standards to bolster supply chain risk management protections. The standards are aimed at mitigating cyber security risks. More

CONNECTICUT

FUELCELL INKS POWER AGREEMENT FOR HARTFORD PROJECT
FuelCell Energy Inc. announced Thursday it signed long-term power purchase agreements with local utilities to cover a 7.4-megawatt project in Hartford. PURA will grant final authorization of the agreements. More

CPES Policy Committee Update: October 30, 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:

  • Chatterjee Named FERC Chair
  • FERC Acts on Cyber Security Risks with New Supply Chain-Related Reliability Standards
  • FERC Technical Conference on Winter 2018-2019 Operations and Market Performance
  • Proposed Commercial Wind Leases Offshore MA 
  • Energy-Fund Sweeps Survive Constitutional Challenge
  • Recent PURA Dockets

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY

CHATTERJEE NAMED FERC CHAIR
President Trump recently designated Commissioner Neil Chatterjee as the chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Outgoing Chairman Kevin McIntyre will step down from his post but remain on as a FERC commissioner. Press release.

FERC ACTS ON CYBER SERCURITY RISKS WITH NEW SUPPLY CHAIN-RELATED RELIABILITY STANDARDS
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved new mandatory Reliability Standards to bolster supply chain risk management protections for the bulk electric system. The new standards augment current Critical Infrastructure Protection standards to mitigate cyber security risks associated with the supply chain for grid-related cyber systems.

FERC TECHNICAL CONFERENCE ON WINTER 2018-2019 OPERATIONS  AND MARKET PERFORMANCE
FERC staff held a technical conference to hear from the Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) and Independent System Operators (ISOs)  on their efforts for ensuring reliable and economic system performance during the 2018-2019 winter season. 

PROPOSED COMMERCIAL WIND LEASES OFFSHORE MA
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will hold the next offshore wind auction covering nearly 390,000 acres offshore Massachusetts on December 13.  Learn more here.

CONNECTICUT

ENERGY-FUND SWEEPS SURVIVE CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGE
Dismissing claims by energy-efficient businesses and environmental groups late Thursday, a federal judge left it up to the Connecticut General Assembly to deal with blowback over its use of $145 million in ratepayer funds to balance the 2017 state budget. More

RECENT PURA DOCKETS
On October 24, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 18-10-22:  Call Before You Dig, Inc. Proposed Budget for 2019