Category Archives: New Energy Professionals

CPES Policy Committee Update: September 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:

  • New England Governors Discuss Energy Issues with Canadian Leaders at NEG-ECP Conference
  • Looking Ahead to the Next Legislative Session – Schedules and Key Links

 

Regional and Industry Developments

NEG-ECP CONFERENCE

On August 28-29, 2016, the six New England Governors joined with five Eastern Canadian Premiers for their 40th Annual NEG-ECP Conference. The Conference was hosted by Governor Charlie Baker of Massachusetts and a variety of regional issues were discussed, including trade, energy diversification, and combating the opioid crisis. Much of the Governors’ and Premiers’ focus was on energy as the Conference heard from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chair Norman Bay, a panel on “Emerging and Innovative Technologies,” and a second panel on “The Benefits and Importance of Diverse Energy Generation.”

For more information on the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers Annual Conference, visit: http://www.coneg.org/negecp.

 

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: August 23, 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:

  • MA Supreme Court Strikes Down DPU Order on Authority
  • Op-Ed Block Island Wind Farms

 

Regional & Industry Developments

MA Supreme Court Pushes Back on DPU Authority

On August 17, 2016, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court struck down an order issued by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities last October which found that the Department has pre-existing authority to review and approve contracts for natural gas pipeline capacity filed by electric distribution companies.  The Court ruled that the Department erred in interpreting Massachusetts law as authorizing it to review and approve ratepayer-backed, long-term contracts by electric distribution companies for natural gas capacity. The Court concluded that the order is invalid “because, among other things, it would undermine the main objectives of the [Restructuring Act of 1997] and re-expose ratepayers to the types of financial risks from which the Legislature sought to protect them.”

The Court’s decision is available at: http://www.mass.gov/courts/docs/sjc/reporter-of-decisions/new-opinions/12051.pdf

 

(CT/RI) Op-Ed: Block Island Wind Farm: Windfall for the politically connected

Under the deal engineered by Carcieri, Rhode Island’s regulated utility, National Grid, will be required to pay 24.4 cents per kilowatt hour for the windmill power — more than twice current market rates.

Sweetening the deal even more, there are price escalators of 3.5 percent a year, so that by the end of the 20-year contract period, National Grid will be paying 50 cents per kilowatt hour from the wind farm.

http://www.theday.com/local-columns/20160820/block-island-wind-farm-windfall-for-politically-connected

 

 

CPES Policy Committee Update: August 9, 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 looking to issue new regulations on the Renewable Portfolio Standard
  • NY PSC approves new REC and ZEC requirements
  • Energy bill passes in MA seeking to diversify generation

 

Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority

RPS Docket Opened

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) has opened a docket aimed at issuing new regulations regarding the Renewable Portfolio Standard (“RPS”) certification and compliance process. According to PURA’s recently opened docket notification, the new regulations “will (A) revise Conn. Agencies Regs. §16-245a-1 (annual RPS compliance by load serving entities); (B) revise Conn. Agencies Regs. §16-245a-2 (application for qualification Class I, II and III renewable energy facilities); and (C) develop rules and disclosure forms for voluntary green products.”  Any regulations promulgated by PURA must ultimately pass legislative review before being made final. The docket, Docket No. 16-08-23 – PURA Promulgation of Regulations Concerning RPS and Voluntary Green Products is available by clicking here.

 

Regional & Industry Developments

New York Approves 50% Renewable by 2030

On August 1, 2016, the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) issued an order approving the state’s Clean Energy Standard, requiring electricity providers in New York to obtain a targeted number of renewable energy credits (RECs) from renewable energy sources and zero-emissions credits (ZECs) from nuclear energy sources each year. In the order, the PSC adopted the 2015 State Energy Plan goal that 50% of New York’s electricity is to be generated by renewable sources by 2030.

For more information, see the PSC’s final order here.

 

Legislative Affairs

MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATION:

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

On July 31, 2016, the following bill passed both chambers that may be of interest to you:

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

 

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/

CPES Policy Committee Update: August 2, 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:

  • Clean Energy RFP Bid Process
  • ISO New England Announces Educational Courses

Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority

Clean Energy RFP Bid Selection Process

On July 25, 2016 the three-state Clean Energy RFP provided notice via the Clean Energy RFP website that additional time would be required for bid selection. Under the RFP, bid selection was scheduled to be completed by July 26, 2016. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the states of Connecticut and Rhode Island are participants in the RFP. No alternative timetable for bid selection has been identified, however, winning bidders will be notified. Final results of the RFP will be announced to the public when executed contracts are filed for regulatory review. More information is available at the following link: https://cleanenergyrfp.com/2016/07/25/evaluation-ongoing/

Regional and Industry Developments

Plan ahead! Registration Now Open for Fall ISO New England Training Courses

ISO New England offers a variety of training opportunities to help market participants, public officials, and other stakeholders understand the ISO’s various responsibilities and services, as well as the rules, standards, procedures, and software related to participation in the region’s wholesale electricity markets and power system. The ISO is offering three customer courses during the fall 2016 curriculum, including:

  • Introduction to Wholesale Electricity Markets (WEM 101), September 26-30, 2016
  • Forward Capacity Market (FCM 101), October 17-20, 2016
  • Intermediate Wholesale Electricity Markets (WEM 201), November 1-3, 2016

For more information on these training sessions, visit the ISO Newswire.

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/