Category Archives: ISO-NE

CPES Policy Committee Update: July 26, 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:

  • PURA Examines Time of Use Rates for Electric Vehicles
  • NEPOOL Announces Market and Policy Meeting For August 11, 2016
  • MA Legislation Seeks to Promote Energy Diversity
  • NY PSC Issues Moratorium on Retail Choice for Low-Income

 

Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority

Time of Use Rates for Electric Vehicles

PURA has opened a new docket seeking to investigate commercial and residential time of use rates for electric vehicles. Public Act 16-135 An Act Concerning Electric and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles, amended Section 16-19f(b) of the General Statutes of Connecticut in part by requiring the PURA, no later than June 1, 2017, to “consider and determine whether it is appropriate to implement electric vehicle time of day rates for residential and commercial customers.”  That statute also requires that the PURA’s consideration be made after public notice and hearing. This docket will be the administrative vehicle under which the PURA will conduct its investigation. A link to Docket No. 16-07-21 – PURA Investigation into the Implementation of Electric Vehicle Time of Day Rates for Residential and Commercial Customers is available here.

 

Regional & Industry Developments

New England Power Pool Wholesale Markets and State Public Policy Meeting Set for August 11, 2016

On August 11, 2016, the New England Power Pool (NEPOOL) is hosting a forum to discuss potential wholesale market design changes that would enable competitive markets to better accommodate state public policy objectives in New England. The meeting is intended to begin the solution identification process by hearing from stakeholders on potential ways to adjust wholesale power markets in order to achieve and accommodate the public policy objectives the New England states have identified. Potential solutions may include mechanisms market participants have advanced in the past, in other regions, or other ideas that have not yet been put forward.

Under the NEPOOL process, discussions will likely include further refinement of the problems to be solved and the objectives for those solutions. Public officials from all six New England states are planning to attend to listen and enhance their understanding of various means to achieve public policy objectives in future years.

For more information, visit the ISO’s Wholesale Markets and State Public Policy Initiative webpage.

 

NYPSC Issue Moratorium on Low-Income Choice  

http://www.rtoinsider.com/nypsc-moratorium-esco-low-income-sign-ups-28861/

 

Legislative Affairs

MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATION:

Information about the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, including hearings and bills in committee, is available at: https://malegislature.gov/Committees/Joint/J37

There have been no recent developments relating to the following events that may be of interest to you:

  • On June 30, 2016, the Senate passed 2372 (An Act to promote energy diversity).  On July 7, 2016, the House did not concur with the Senate amendments (H.4385:  An Act to promote energy diversity) and a committee of conference was appointed.  On July 8, 2016, the Senate insisted on its amendments and named members to the committee of conference.

 

CONNECTICUT LEGISLATION:

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

CPES Policy Committee Update: July 12, 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:

  • PURA Reverses Position on Combined-Heat-And-Power (CHP) Facilities
  • ISO NE release guide for participation in Forward Capacity Market
  • The 2016 Connecticut regular session ended on May 4, 2016.  We will continue to track any legislative items in Connecticut that may be of interest to you.  In addition, we will begin tracking other state legislative actions in the region.

 

Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority

PURA reverses earlier decision on combined-heat-and-power (CHP) facilities

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) has issued a final decision reversing its earlier ruling regarding eligibility for combined-heat-and-power (CHP) facilities for certain distributed generation incentives. In response to a request for a declaratory ruling by Yale University, PURA had earlier ruled that repowered CHP facilities would not be eligible to receive distributed generation incentives as the facilities did not constitute “new” facilities eligible for the incentives under the statute. At the request of Yale University, additional CHP generators, and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, PURA reversed its earlier ruling, finding the repowered CHP facilities would serve an important role in Connecticut’s distributed energy portfolio. The PURA’s final decision is available at the following link.

 

Regional and Industry Developments

Updated ISO New England Forward Capacity Market (FCM) Participation Guide Available

ISO New England has released an updated version of its Forward Capacity Market (FCM) Participation Guide with information on how to complete processes associated with the FCM. The guide provides an overview of the capacity market, the qualification process, auction mechanics, post-auction processes for new resources, reconfiguration auctions and capacity supply obligation (CSO) bilateral periods, and options for temporarily or permanently removing capacity from the market.

Please visit the ISO Newswire for more information.

 

CONNECTICUT LEGISLATION:

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

 

MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATION:

Information about the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, including hearings and bills in committee, is available at: https://malegislature.gov/Committees/Joint/J37

The following recent events may be of interest to you:

  • On June 30, 2016, the Massachusetts Senate passed 2372 (An Act to promote energy diversity).  On July 7, 2016, the House did not concur with the Senate amendments (H.4385:  An Act to promote energy diversity) and a committee of conference was appointed.  On July 8, 2016, the Senate insisted on its amendments and named members to the committee of conference.

CPES Policy Committee Update: June 28, 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:

  • Connecticut Legislation – Acts Affecting Energy Posted
  • Low Usage and Wholesale Prices in May
  • Development of the Next Solar Incentive in Neighboring Massachusetts

 

Connecticut Legislation

The Office of Legislative Research has published its summary of the 2016 Acts Affecting Energy & Utilities, which is available at the following link.

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

 

Regional and Industry Developments

May’s Electricity Usage and Average Prices for Natural Gas and Wholesale Power Were Among the Lowest Since 2003

New England’s total demand for electricity during May added up to the sixth-lowest energy consumption for any month in the last 16 years, and the price of natural gas was the fifth-lowest of any month since 2003. As a result, the average wholesale power price in May was the third-lowest since March 2003, when New England’s current wholesale electricity markets were launched. Continued mild weather, as well as the region’s growing use of energy-efficiency measures and behind-the-meter solar, are the likely reasons for low energy consumption during the month.

For more information, visit the ISO Newswire.

 

Massachusetts – Next Solar Incentive

The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) is in the process of designing a new solar incentive program pursuant to Chapter 75 of the Acts of 2016 signed into law by Governor Baker on April 11, 2016. DOER is working to create a long-term sustainable solar incentive program to promote cost-effective solar development in the Commonwealth. Written comments will be accepted ending on June 30, 2016 and may be addressed to DOER.SREC@state.ma.us.

 

CPES Policy Committee Update: June 21, 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:

  • ISO New England Prepares for Summer
  • FERC’s Clark comments on hybrid markets
  • Comments on the 2016 Comprehensive Energy Strategy

 

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

Scoping comments for the 2016 Comprehensive Energy Strategy were due to be filed with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection on June 14, 2016. The comments filed by various stakeholders are now available for review at the following link.

 

Regional and Industry Developments

Beating the Heat: How ISO New England Prepares for Summer Peak Demand

As the region enters the summer season, ISO New England prepares for conditions unique to the hot, humid summer months. Peak demand brought on by warmer weather and an increased reliance on energy-intensive technologies, such as air conditioning, can create complex challenges for the grid operator. According to the ISO’s summer outlook, New England is expected to have adequate electricity supplies to meet consumer demand this summer under normal weather and power system conditions. However, work on Spectra Energy’s Algonquin Incremental Market (AIM) natural gas pipeline expansion project may limit delivery of natural gas to some power plants in the region.

To maintain a reliable supply of electricity to New England’s residents and businesses, the ISO’s System Operations team must rely on carefully planned procedures to increase power generation and curb consumption during periods when demand for electricity threatens to exceed available capacity and reserves. High consumer demand or unplanned resource outages—when a transmission line or generator suddenly goes offline—are typically the reasons for these procedures to be enacted.

For more information on how ISO New England prepares for summer peak demand, see the ISO Newswire.

 

FERC’s Clark sees ‘really unsustainable future’ in hybrid markets

BISMARCK, N.D. — Disputes playing out in deregulated states like Illinois and Ohio over proposed subsidies for aging power plants highlight a key challenge facing the electricity industry at a critical juncture in its evolution, said Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner Tony Clark.  “This issue is one that is going to be a huge issue between FERC and the states in those regions of the country that not only have real-time markets, but that have also chosen to restructure their electricity industry,” said Clark, whose term ends at the end of the month.  The former North Dakota utility regulator was back in his home state this week for the Mid-America Regulatory Conference, an association of regulatory commissioners and staff from 14 central states. He was the featured speaker at yesterday morning’s wrap-up session.  Clark said the tension between states and FERC doesn’t affect most central states, where vertically integrated utilities have retail electric rates set by state commissions. But the issue looms large in restructured states where FERC-regulated wholesale markets are relied upon to signal when to invest in or close old power plants or build new ones.

There is an ongoing debate in states including Illinois and Ohio over keeping certain unprofitable coal and nuclear plants running to preserve jobs and taxes and other policy reasons.  Clark said those out-of-market solutions pose a problem: specifically that those states have previously chosen to let the market dictate investment decisions.  “If you have lots and lots of out-of-market constructs that basically negate the price formation that’s happening in the market, you end up with a really, really unsustainable future,” he said.  http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060038896

 

CPES Policy Committee Update: June 14, 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 issues RFP for Shared Clean Energy Facility Pilot Program
  • PURA holds hearings on Eversource and UI rates
  • Governor Malloy signs more energy related bills into law
  • Agenda and speakers announce for upcoming ISO NE’s Consumer Liaison Group Meeting on June 17th

 

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

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (“DEEP”) has issued an updated draft RFP for its Shared Clean Energy Facility Pilot Program issued pursuant to Public Act 15-113. The draft RFP intends to solicit offers for Shared Clean Energy Facilities sized from 500 kW and no greater than 2,000 kW to implement the pilot program required under the Act. Additional requirements relate to the experience of the bidder and subscriber structure. Comments are due on the draft RFP by June 20, 2016. DEEP expects to issue a final RFP by July 1, 2016. The draft RFP is available at the following link.

Eversource and UI have their rate adjustment review hearings before PURA on Tuesday, June 14th.  See PURA calendar http://www.dpuc.state.ct.us/dockcurr.nsf/$FormWebTSPURACalendarView?OpenForm.

 

CONNECTICUT LEGISLATION:

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

On June 7, 2016, Governor Malloy signed the following legislation of the 2016 Regular Session that may be of interest to our members:

  • S.B. No. 334:  AN ACT CONCERNING REVISIONS TO CERTAIN ENERGY PURCHASING POOL AND LIFE-CYCLE COST ANALYSES STATUTES.
  • H.B. No. 5510:  AN ACT CONCERNING ELECTRIC AND FUEL CELL ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

On June 9, 2016, Governor Malloy signed the following legislation of the 2016 Regular Session that may be of interest to our members:

  • H.B. No. 5496:  AN ACT CONCERNING CERTAIN VIRTUAL NET METERING FACILITIES.

On June 10, 2016, Governor Malloy signed the following legislation of the 2016 Regular Session that may be of interest to our members:

  • B. No. 366: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.
  • B. No. 394:  AN ACT CONCERNING AUTHORIZATIONS RELATING TO VIRTUAL NET METERING.  

Regional and Industry Developments

New England Consumer Liaison Group Meeting Will Focus on Electricity Security

Registration is still open for the next New England Consumer Liaison Group meeting scheduled for June 17, 2016 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Westborough, Massachusetts. The Consumer Liaison Group is a forum for the exchange of information between ISO New England and electricity consumers in New England.

Congressman Jim McGovern will give the keynote address. The topic for the panel discussion will be Electricity Security for Consumers: How Rapidly Changing Technology Deployment Is Altering the Way Consumers Use Electricity and What They Need to Plan for in Terms of Security and Resiliency. Panelists will include:

  • Mukund Ravipaty, Director, Enterprise Security Architecture, National Grid
  • Christine Hallquist, Chief Executive Officer, Vermont Electric Cooperative
  • EnerNOC – TBD

To register for the meeting, please click here. Additional information on the Consumer Liaison Group is available at: http://www.iso-ne.com/committees/industry-collaborations/consumer-liaison.