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:
- A Wealth of Competitive Products on EnergizeCT
- MicroGrids, Net Metering and Green Bank subject of legislation that is on the move
- New England gas pipeline expansion status
CONNECTICUT POLICY/REGULATORY UPDATE: CT Public Utilities Regulatory Authority
Connecticut Energy Shopping Site Shows Opportunities for Savings; Majority Of Competitive Suppliers Provide Green Power, Value-Added Products
Under the auspices of the Public Utility Regulatory Authority, the State of Connecticut has established EnergizeCT, a robust, well-designed and consumer-friendly electricity shopping website that routinely posts competitive generation supply products offered by licensed retail electricity suppliers, the Retail Energy Supply Association said yesterday in announcing a review of the savings and value-added services available to customers
RESA’s review of EnergizeCT shows more than two dozen competitive retail energy suppliers actively posting 212 different product offerings at prices highly competitive with default rates offered by the state’s utility companies.
The review shows there are a significant number of competitive pricing plans with terms of service that vary from six to 12 months that offer Connecticut electricity consumers the opportunity to beat the current Standard Service rates by 20 percent, 25 percent and in some cases over 30 percent, RESA said
“A wealth of competitive electricity products offer Connecticut consumers the opportunity to realize savings on their bill,” observed Marc Hanks, RESA’s New England chairman. “But there are also a wide range of value-added product offerings, the most prominent among them being ‘green’ energy products that offer consumers an opportunity to buy electricity that meets their environmental preferences.”
http://www.energychoicematters.com/stories/20160428f.html
CONNECTICUT LEGISLATION:
Information about the Energy and Technology Committee, including committee meetings and public hearings, is available at: https://www.cga.ct.gov/et/. The deadline to report bills out of the Energy and Technology Committee has passed.
On April 27, 2016, the Senate passed the following bills that may be of interest to you:
- S.B. No. 272: Senate passed as amended by Senate Amendment Schedule A. (AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF MICROGRID GRANTS AND LOANS FOR CERTAIN DISTRIBUTED ENERGY GENERATION PROJECTS).
- S.B. No. 366: Senate passed as amended by Senate Amendment Schedule A. (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).
On April 28, 2016, the Senate passed the following bill that may be of interest to you:
- S.B. No. 394: Senate passed as amended by Senate Amendment Schedule A. (AN ACT CONCERNING AUTHORIZATIONS RELATING TO VIRTUAL NET METERING FOR CERTAIN ZERO OR LOW EMISSION GENERATION PROJECTS).
On April 29, 2016, the Senate passed the following bill that may be of interest to you:
- S.B. No. 344: Senate passed as amended by Senate Amendment Schedule A. (AN ACT REQUIRING A STUDY OF THE ADEQUACY OF ENERGY SUPPLIES IN THE STATE).
Regional and Industry Developments
Maine Public Hearings on Pipeline Expansion
State utility regulators will begin public hearings Thursday on a three-year-old plan to expand pipeline capacity and potentially lower energy costs by committing ratepayers to spend up to $75 million annually on natural gas purchases. But after three years of study, it’s still unclear how much money – if any – utility customers would save by helping to increase the supply of natural gas, which is used to generate half of New England’s electric power.
