Category Archives: MA Dept of Energy Resources

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: 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.