Category Archives: New Energy Professionals

CPES Policy Committee Update: December 6, 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 Establishes New Docket Titled 2017 PURA Supplier Working Group
  • DEEP Selects Winning Bidders in 2 – 20 MW Small Resource Procurement  
  • ISO New England Releases 2016/2017 Winter Outlook

PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY NEW DOCKETS:

On November 28, 2016, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) established the following docket on its own motion:

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEVELOPMENTS

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has released a list of winning bidders for the 2-20 MW Renewable, Passive Demand Response, and Energy Storage Request for Proposals (RFP) issued pursuant to Public Act 15-107 – Section 1(b).

The list of winning bidders is available at the following link.

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

On December 5, 2016, ISO New England issued its 2016/2017 Winter Outlook, which projects sufficient electricity supplies to meet consumer demand in New England this winter, barring unexpected resource outages or fuel delivery constraints.  Because of possible natural gas pipeline constraints, ISO New England has implemented a Winter Reliability Program that will help protect overall power system reliability.  

For more information on the upcoming winter, please see the full Winter Outlook press release, available here.

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

CONNECTICUT LEGISLATION:

The 2016 Connecticut regular session ended on May 4, 2016.  The 2017 Connecticut regular session begins January 4, 2017.

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

MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATION:

The 2015-2016 Massachusetts formal session ended on July 31, 2016.  The 2017-2018 Massachusetts session begins January 4, 2017.

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.

CPES Policy Committee Update: November 22, 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:

  • FERC Commission to Speak at Event on Dec. 1st
  • Former MA State Senate joins Nexamp

 

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

Regional & Industry Developments

FERC Commissioner to Keynote Final Consumer Liaison Group Meeting of 2016

The year’s final meeting of the New England Consumer Liaison Group (CLG) will take place December 1, from Noon—4:00 p.m. at the Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center in Boston. The group welcomes Cheryl LaFleur, Commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, as the keynote speaker. The panel discussion will focus on New England states’ clean energy initiatives and how mandated wind and hydro procurements impact customer bills and regional power markets. Panelists include Jim Bride, President, Energy Tariff Experts; Ron Gerwatowski, Advisor, Energy Policy and Utility Regulation; and Greg Cunningham, VP & Director, Clean Energy Climate Change, Conservation Law Foundation.

To register, visit the CLG webpage.

 

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

CONNECTICUT LEGISLATION:

The 2016 Connecticut regular session ended on May 4, 2016.  The 2017 Connecticut regular session begins January 4, 2017.

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

 

MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATION:

Massachusetts Senator Ben Downing, who serves as the Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy but who did not run for re-election, announced that he is joining Nexamp, a solar energy company, as vice present of new market development.

The 2015-2016 Massachusetts formal session ended on July 31, 2016.  The 2017-2018 Massachusetts session begins January 4, 2017.

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

CPES Policy Committee Update: November 8, 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 Gas Companies Jointly Submit Forecast of Natural Gas Demand for Calendar Years 2017 – 2021
                      • PURA Opens Dockets to Review Standard Service and Supplier of Last Resort Service Rates for January 1, 2017
                      • Bloomberg News: World’s Priciest Gas Is Bound for One U.S. Region This Winter

PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY NEW DOCKETS:

On November 2, 2016, Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation, The Southern Connecticut Gas Company, and Yankee Gas Services Company d/b/a Eversource Energy jointly submitted the Connecticut Forecast of Natural Gas Demand for calendar years 2017 through 2021 in the following dockets:

On November 2, 2016, the following dockets were opened that may be of interest to you: 

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

Bloomberg News: World’s Priciest Gas Is Bound for One U.S. Region This Winter

The global glut of natural gas still hasn’t reached one corner of the U.S.

The heating fuel may surge to $20 to $25 per million British thermal units in New England this winter, the highest in the world, as pipeline bottlenecks limit supplies during frigid weather, traders including Consolidated Edison Inc.’s ConEdison Energy said. Prices have collapsed across the rest of the globe amid tepid demand growth, rising exports and a plunge in crude oil prices earlier this year.

Competition for pipeline access into New England is poised to intensify as the power grid, already getting more than half of its supply from gas, becomes even more reliant on the fuel as coal-fired plants shut. Opposition from environmental and consumer groups threatens to delay and derail new lines, including a $3 billion Spectra Energy Corp. project.

“New England remains pipeline constrained, so if bouts of very cold weather move in this winter, you could certainly see prices spike,” Alex Tertzakian, an analyst with Energy Aspects Ltd. in London, said in an e-mail Oct. 28. “This would likely make New England briefly the world’s premium market.”

To view the full article: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-01/world-s-priciest-gas-is-bound-for-one-u-s-region-this-winter

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

CONNECTICUT LEGISLATION:

The 2016 Connecticut regular session ended on May 4, 2016.  The 2017 Connecticut regular session begins January 4, 2017.

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

MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATION:

The 2015-2016 Massachusetts formal session ended on July 31, 2016.  The 2017-2018 Massachusetts session begins January 4, 2017.

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

CPES Policy Committee Update: November 1, 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:

  • New PURA Commissioner Named
  • DEEP Suspends Gas RFP
  • PURA Re-Opens Billing Docket for Business Customers
  • DEEP Selects Winning Bid for 2-20 MW Renewable Energy RFP
  • NE Clean Energy RFP Selects Proposals
  • ISO NE Discusses Winter Preparedness with FERC

 

REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS

Malloy Nominates Katie Dykes as PURA Commissioner

On October 27, 2016, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy nominated Katie Dykes, deputy commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, to serve as a commissioner of the state’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. The press release is available by clicking here.

 

DEEP Suspends Gas RFP

On October 25, 2016, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (“DEEP”) issued a Notice of Cancellation for its Natural Gas Capacity, Liquefied Natural Gas, and Natural Gas Storage procurement issued pursuant to Public Act 15-107 Section (1)(D). The notice indicates that DEEP may conduct similar solicitations in the future. The Notice is available by clicking here.

 

DEEP Notifies 2-20MW Bidders

DEEP has provided notice that it has selected winning bidders for its 2-20 MW Renewable Energy RFP issued pursuant to Public Act 15-107.  Winning bidders have not been publicly announced, however, all bidders have been contacted regarding their proposals. The RFP selection team has selected projects that represent approximately 375 megawatts (MWs) of clean energy for the state. The notice of selection is available by clicking here.

 

PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY NEW DOCKETS:

On October 26, 2016, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority reopened the following proceeding, which may be of interest to you: 

 

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

New England Clean Energy RFP Selects Proposals

The Soliciting Parties from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the states of Connecticut and Rhode Island have completed their evaluation of proposed projects received in response to the three-state Clean Energy RFP. The three states collectively selected projects that represent approximately 460 megawatts (MWs) of clean energy for the New England market. Information regarding the winning bidders is available by clicking here.

 

ISO New England Discusses Winter Preparedness Efforts with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

On October 20, 2016, Peter Brandien, Vice President of Operations for ISO New England, participated in a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) panel discussion on winter preparedness in advance of the 2016-2017 winter season. Brandien discussed the ISO’s outlook on operations and market performance for the upcoming winter, highlighting the steps the ISO has taken to increase market efficiency and improve gas-electric coordination to address the challenges posed by the region’s constrained natural gas pipeline system. Brandien also discussed the winter reliability program in place to mitigate the reliability risks associated with inadequate fuel supplies during severe cold weather conditions.

A copy of the ISO’s remarks, filed with FERC, is available here.

 

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

CONNECTICUT LEGISLATION:

The 2016 Connecticut regular session ended on May 4, 2016.  The 2017 Connecticut regular session begins January 4, 2017.

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

 

MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATION:

The 2015-2016 Massachusetts formal session ended on July 31, 2016.  The 2017-2018 Massachusetts session begins January 4, 2017.

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.

CPES Policy Committee Update: October 25, 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 Recaps Summer 2016

Regional & Industry Developments

ISO New England Recaps Summer 2016: Uneventful until August

ISO New England has provided a full recap of summer 2016, stating that the summer was fairly uneventful until August arrived with its long stretches of hot, humid weather that pushed up demand for air conditioning and the electricity that powers it. Despite a high number of unexpected resource outages on one August day, ISO New England’s control room operators were able to operate the power system reliably that day and throughout the summer.

For the full recap, visit the ISO Newswire.