Category Archives: New Energy Professionals

CPES Policy Committee Update: October 18, 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:

  • Governor Appoints Current PURA Chairman to New Cyber Security Post
  • NEPOOL Discusses Wholesale Market Changes

REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS

Governor Malloy Appoints Arthur House as State’s Chief Cyber Security Risk Officer  

On October 13, 2016, Governor Malloy announced that he is appointing Art House, Chairman of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), to serve in the newly created position of the state’s Chief Cyber Security Risk Officer, where he will be responsible for working to enhance cybersecurity prevention and protection efforts in a comprehensive, cross-agency and cross-sector manner. House will depart his position with PURA and begin in this new role effective immediately. Governor Malloy will announce a successor to his position at PURA in the coming weeks. For additional information, see Governor Malloy’s press release

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

Region’s Stakeholders Continue to Discuss Wholesale Market Changes to Accommodate State Public Policy Goals

The New England Power Pool (NEPOOL) continues to chair discussions surrounding the Integrating Markets and Public Policy (IMAPP) Initiative. IMAPP discussions, launched in August 2016, are intended to identify potential changes to the region’s wholesale electricity markets to accommodate and achieve the public policy goals of the New England states, namely their carbon reduction and renewable energy goals. The New England States Committee on Electricity (NESCOE) has released preliminary feedback on the discussions to date to help focus the proposals and inform development of additional analysis or other potential mechanisms.

All IMAPP materials can be found on the NEPOOL website: http://nepool.com/IMAPP.php.

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 4, 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 Opens Dockets on PURPA Regulations and Standards for Distributed Generation
  • Climate Change Focus of MA Governor’s Order
  • Looking Ahead to the Next Legislative Session – Schedules and Key Links

 

REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS

PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY NEW DOCKETS:

On September 22, 2016, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority initiated the following proceeding, which may be of interest to you:

On September 28, 2016, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority initiated the following proceeding, which may be of interest to you:

 

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker Signs Climate Change Strategy Executive Order

On September 16, 2016, Governor Charlie Baker signed an Executive Order directing executive offices and state agencies to make coordinated efforts to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions, safeguard residents, municipalities and businesses from the impacts of climate change, and build a more resilient Commonwealth.  The Order, Establishing an Integrated Climate Change Strategy for the Commonwealth, directs the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs to continue to consult the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) Implementation Advisory Committee for advice on greenhouse gas emission reduction measures, including recommendations on establishing statewide greenhouse gas emissions limits for 2030 and 2040. The Order also directs the Department of Environmental Protection to promulgate final regulations that ensure the Commonwealth meets the 2020 statewide emissions limit mandated by the GWSA.

For more information, visit http://www.mass.gov/governor/press-office/press-releases/fy2017/gov-baker-signs-climate-change-strategy-executive-order.html.

 

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: September 27, 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 England Wholesale Electric Prices and Demand – August 2016
  • Looking Ahead to the Next Legislative Session – Schedules and Key Links

 

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

A Look at Wholesale Electricity Prices and Demand in New England: August 2016

August’s average monthly power price of $40.19 per megawatt-hour (MWh) was up 13.7% from the August 2015 average price of $35.35/MWh and 37% higher than the July 2016 average price of $29.33/MWh. The month included some very hot and humid weather that drove up air conditioning use, which drove up demand for power by 3% over the month as a whole. The highest level for demand so far this year occurred on August 12, during a heat wave, when demand peaked at 25,521 MW. The day before, on August 11, shortage conditions developed – meaning the region was short of the required level of reserves – on the regional power system when several generators tripped offline, causing real-time prices to spike and requiring implementation of special operating procedures, including dispatch of demand-response resources in all of New England except Maine. The ISO New England control room maintained reliable power system operations throughout the day.

For more information, visit the ISO Newswire.

 

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: September 19, 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 re-opens the Residential Billing Docket and Eversource seeks to reopen docket on interconnection guidelines.
  • ISO-NE Completes Study on Wind Resources
  • Looking Ahead to the Next Legislative Session – Schedules and Key Links

 

CONNECTICUT REGULATORY

PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY NEW DOCKETS:

On September 14, 2016, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority initiated the following proceeding, which may be of interest to you:

  • Docket No. 14-07-19RE02:  PURA Investigation into Redesign of the Residential Electric Billing Format – Incidental Residential Accounts and Summary Information

Also, on September 8, 2016, Eversource filed a motion to reopen Docket No. 03-01-15 DPUC Investigation into the Need For Interconnection Standards for Distributed Generation, seeking  PURA approval of new interconnection guidelines for small (sub 20kW) generation systems. Eversource’s motion and the proposed interconnection standards are available here.

 

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

ISO New England Completes Studies on the Economic Impacts of Adding More Wind Resources to the Grid

ISO New England recently completed three studies requested by regional stakeholders in 2015. The studies focus on the economic impacts of adding more wind resources to the regional power system under a variety of hypothetical scenarios. The studies looked at:

  • The potential economic effects of developing offshore wind
  • Upgrading transmission at three interfaces in Maine to remove potential bottlenecks and enable the development of more onshore wind and imports from New Brunswick, Canada
  • Easing a transmission bottleneck farther north in the Keene Road area of Maine to enable increasing wind development in the local area

The final results of the studies are available on the ISO’s Planning Advisory Committee webpage.  For more information, visit the ISO Newswire.

 

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: September 15, 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 NE’s Hybrid Grid
  • National Grid’s smart grid pilot in MA
  • Looking Ahead to the Next Legislative Session – Schedules and Key Links

 

Regional and Industry Developments

ISO New England Publishes Summary of Its Efforts to Prepare for the ‘Hybrid Grid’

This week, ISO New England published Getting Ready for the Hybrid Grid, a two-page summary of the ISO’s efforts to facilitate New England’s transition to a smarter, greener grid. The handout describes how the ISO is breaking new ground in the areas of forecasting and dispatch of renewable resources and other new technologies; high-speed cloud computing for analyzing vast, complex data; and protecting against cyber threats.

For more information, visit the ISO Newswire.

 

VIDEO: National Grid seeks to extend smart grid pilot in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Electric Co. and National Grid, in an Aug. 30 filing submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, said that it is seeking to extend its Smart Energy Solutions Program until Dec. 31, 2018.

The company noted that it is currently conducting a two-year smart grid pilot under the Green Communities Act, Section 85 of Chapter 169 of the Acts of 2008, and the DPU’s August 2012 order, which approved the company’s pilot proposal, with certain modifications.

The pilot’s smart pricing, bill protection and demand response capabilities went into effect for participating customers on Jan. 1, 2015, the company said, noting that the pilot is scheduled to end on Dec. 31.

http://www.elp.com/articles/2016/09/national-grid-seeks-to-extend-smart-grid-pilot-in-massachusetts.html

 

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