Category Archives: FERC

CPES Policy Committee Update: March 29, 2016

This update features policy, regulatory, legislative, and regional developments in Connecticut and New England. The policy updates are compiled by a team recently formed with support from CPES, known as the New Energy Professionals. 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 Paul Brady, CPES Executive Director, via email: pbrady@ctpower.org.

 

This week’s features:

  • DEEP posts its presentation from the March 24 bidders’ conference on RFP for small renewables, demand response, and energy storage
  • E&T Committee holds informational forum on the adequacy of energy supplies including nuclear power in the state
  • ISO-NE submits report to FERC on price formation in the region’s wholesale electricity markets

 

Connecticut Policy/Regulatory Update: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s (DEEP) Bureau of Energy Technology Policy has posted its presentation from the March 24, 2016 Bidders’ Conference. During the Bidders’ Conference, DEEP clarified issues regarding requirements for energy storage, eligibility and land use requirements, and the evaluation process. The presentation is available here.

 

Connecticut Legislative Update: Energy & Technology Committee

Information about the Energy & Technology Committee, including committee meetings and public hearings, is available at: https://www.cga.ct.gov/et/.

On Thursday, March 24, 2016, the Energy & Technology Committee held an informational forum on the adequacy of energy supplies including nuclear power in the state.  The forum included presentations from:

  1. Former U.S. Senator Evan Bayh – Co-Chair, Nuclear Matters
  2. Katie Scharf Dykes – Deputy Commissioner for Energy, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
  3. Daniel G. Stoddard – Senior Vice President, Nuclear Operations, Dominion; Daniel A. Weekley – Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Dominion
  4. James Daly – Vice President, Energy Supply, Eversource Energy
  5. Alan Trotta – Director, Wholesale Power Contracts, Avangrid
  6. Arthur H. House – Chairman, Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority
  7. Elin S. Katz – Consumer Counsel, Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel

In the appendix below, please see a list of bills that may be of interest to our members.

 

Regional and Industry Developments

ISO New England Submits Report to FERC on Price Formation

Earlier this month, ISO New England filed its responses to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) questions on price formation in the region’s wholesale electricity markets. The ISO report includes detailed answers to the complex issues raised by FERC and highlights the significant strides made regionally to achieve pricing that accurately and transparently signals the costs of operating New England’s power system. Public comments on the report will be accepted through April 6, 2016.

For more information, see the following ISO Newswire article: ISO-NE report on market price formation highlights complexity of issue, regional improvements.

 

Appendix

On March 22, 2016, the following bills were reported out of the Energy & Technology Committee:

  • S.B. No. 334 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING MINOR REVISIONS TO THE ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY RELATED STATUTES’, to (1) allow an electric distribution company to recover costs associated with the shared clean energy facilities pilot program, (2) make changes regarding contracting in connection with the purchasing pool for electricity, (3) make changes to the requirements for energy performance standards and life-cycle cost analyses, (4) remove the federal weatherization program from the purview of the Department of Social Services, and (5) make other conforming and technical changes. REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY.
  • S.B. No. 345 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT REQUIRING A STUDY OF THE DIVERSITY OF ENERGY SOURCES IN THE STATE’, to require the chairperson of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to conduct a study pertaining to energy sources. REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY.
  • S.B. No. 366 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING ADMINISTRATION OF THE CONNECTICUT GREEN BANK, THE PRIORITY OF THE BENEFIT ASSESSMENTS LIEN UNDER THE GREEN BANK’S COMMERCIAL SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PROGRAM AND THE GREEN BANK’S SOLAR HOME RENEWABLE ENERGY CREDIT PROGRAM’, to (1) remove the Connecticut Green Bank from Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated, (2) give the Connecticut Green Bank additional powers, (3) make changes regarding the priority of the benefit assessments lien under the Connecticut Green Bank’s commercial sustainable energy program, (4) make changes to the solar home renewable energy credit program, and (5) make other technical and conforming changes. REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY.
  • S.B. No. 394 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING VIRTUAL NET METERING AND CERTAIN ZERO OR LOW EMISSION GENERATION PROJECTS’, to make changes to the state’s virtual net metering program concerning certain zero or low emission generation projects. REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY.
  • H.B. No. 5496 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING BIOMASS FACILITIES’, to allow an administrator of certain biomass facilities to request a modification to the electricity purchase agreement to allow utilization of additional sustainable biomass fuel. REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY.
  • H.B. No. 5504 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING NOTICE AND PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSIONS FOR PROJECTS CONSIDERED AND APPROVED BY THE SITING COUNCIL’, to require a public information session if a certified facility has not commenced construction three years from the date of the issuance of the certificate and to require reissuance of the notice of application if a certified facility has not completed construction three years from the date of the issuance of the certificate. REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY.
  • H.B. No. 5509 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY.  ‘AN ACT CONCERNING STAFFING LEVELS FOR ELECTRIC SERVICE LINEWORKERS’, to establish minimum staffing levels of electric service lineworkers for electric distribution companies. REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY.
  • H.B. No. 5510 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING ELECTRIC, ZERO EMISSION AND FUEL CELL ELECTRIC VEHICLES’, to prepare electric distribution companies, municipalities, public and private merchants and electrical contractors for the presence and operation of electric, zero-emission and fuel cell vehicles in the state, to make changes regarding parking of hydrogen fuel vehicles under grade level and to make changes regarding labeling of vehicles that carry pressurized gas as fuel. REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY.

 

CPES Policy Committee Update 3.11.16

Constant Contact Banners2.19.16Connecticut Power and Energy Society Holds its Annual Conference with Remarks from Governor Dannel Malloy

On March 9, 2016, the Connecticut Power and Energy Society held its annual Energy, Environment and Economic Development Conference. The conference began with keynote remarks from Fred Carstensen, Professor of Finance and Economics at the University of Connecticut School of Business, who provided an overview of Connecticut’s economic outlook. Carstensen stressed Connecticut’s need for a more holistic vision and integrated approach to stimulating economic growth in the state. The conference also featured a keynote presentation by Daniel Sosland, President of Acadia Center, who discussed the shift toward a lower-carbon, consumer-focused energy future. Sosland stressed the importance of grid-modernization efforts to empower energy consumers and integrate greater levels of distributed energy resources. The conference also featured panel discussions on energy leadership at the local level, advanced technology in energy storage, and regional energy solutions to address challenges facing the electric grid.

After an update from Katie Scharf Dykes, Deputy Commissioner for Energy at the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Governor Malloy addressed attendees on the efforts made at the state and regional level to achieve a cheaper, cleaner, more reliable energy future for Connecticut. Malloy highlighted the 2011 merger of the Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Public Utility Control to form the new Department of Energy and Environmental Protection with a coordinated approach to energy and environmental challenges confronting the state. Malloy also championed the creation of the Connecticut Green Bank, which expects to attract $500 million in private investment for clean energy projects by the end of the fiscal year. Finally, Malloy highlighted Connecticut’s leadership role in regional discussions on the need for additional investments in energy infrastructure in New England.

 

Connecticut DEEP Issues RFP

Connecticut DEEP has issued its final RFP for the 2-20 MW Renewable, Passive Demand Response & Energy Storage procurement. DEEP has also issued its Draft RFP for Natural Gas Capacity, LNG and Natural Gas Storage. The documents are available at the following links: Gas, 2-20 MW Renewables

 

Regional and Industry Developments:

ISO-NE Consumer Liaison Group Meets in Connecticut

On March 10, 2016, the Consumer Liaison Group (CLG) met in Cromwell, Connecticut to discuss “Solar Development in New England:  Consumer Protection, Costs and Benefits, and What Does it Mean for the Wholesale Market?”

 The CLG is a forum for sharing information between ISO New England and those who ultimately use and pay for electricity in New England—residential, commercial, and industrial customers. It was formed in 2009 to meet the need, as cited in Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Order No. 719, for heightened communication between Regional Transmission Organizations and their stakeholders, with a particular focus on electricity consumers, consumer advocates, and state government regulators.  The CLG organizes four quarterly meetings a year and is governed by a Coordinating Committee, which selects the topics and speakers for all of the meetings.

 The meeting featured keynote speaker Elin Swanson Katz, Connecticut’s Consumer Counsel, who discussed the growth of solar in Connecticut and the need to continually analyze the suite of incentives supporting solar development in Connecticut. Solar policy, she said, impacts virtually every aspect of the electric industry, including cost, emissions, customer choice, economic development, and jobs.

Joseph Rosenthal, Principal Attorney for the Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel, moderated a panel of energy industry and ISO representatives to discuss solar development in Connecticut and the New England region. Panelists included:

  • Camilo Serna, Vice President, Strategic Planning & Policy, Eversource Energy
  • Dan Hendrick, Director of External Affairs, NRG Energy
  • Mackey Dykes, Vice President, Commercial & Industrial Programs, Connecticut Green Bank
  • Carissa Sedlacek, Director of Resource Adequacy, System Planning, ISO New England
  • Paul Peterson, Principal Associate, Synapse Energy Economics, Inc.

The meeting concluded with an update from Anne George, Vice President of External Affairs & Corporate Communications for ISO New England, who discussed the results of Forward Capacity Auction #10, the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on demand response, and wholesale electricity costs for 2015.

 All of the speaker presentations are available on the CLG website. The next quarterly CLG meeting will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel in Westborough, Massachusetts on June 17, 2016.

Connecticut Energy Evolution Grabs Headlines

The Hartford Business Journal examines Connecticut’s energy evolution – http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/20160307/PRINTEDITION/303039927

New York Public Service Commission’s Rules Governing Electric Service Companies Challenged in Court

http://www.rtoinsider.com/court-delays-new-york-rules-22943/