Category Archives: PURA

CPES Policy Committee Update: March 22, 2016

CPES Policy Committee Update: March 22

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:

  • DEEP to hold bidders conference March 24 on RFP for small renewables, demand response and energy storage
  • E&T Committee continues to report out bills, and plans March 24 forum on energy supplies in the state
  • ISO-NE paper on energy storage identifies opportunities in wholesale electricity markets

Connecticut Policy/Regulatory Update:

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) will hold a Bidders’ Conference on the Public Act 15-107 Section 1(b) Request for Proposals (RFP) for all potential bidders on Thursday, March 24, 2016, at 10:00 a.m., in the Gina McCarthy Auditorium, at DEEP’s Hartford office, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, Connecticut. Prospective attendees must register by 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 22, 2016, by emailing DEEP.EnergyBureau@ct.gov.  The Public Act 15-107 Section 1(b) RFP solicits bids from small Class I resources, small Class III resources, passive demand response, and energy storage systems.

 

Connecticut Legislative Update: Energy & Technology Committee

Information about E&T, including committee meetings and public hearings, is available at: https://www.cga.ct.gov/et/.

The E&T Committee is holding a meeting on Tuesday, March 22 and an informational forum on “A Study of the Adequacy of Energy Supplies including Nuclear Power in the State” on Thursday, March 24.

In the appendix below, please see a list of bills that may be of interest to our members.

 

Regional and Industry Developments

ISO New England Releases Energy Storage Document

Interest in energy storage technologies is growing in New England, and project developers, policymakers, and others are examining how these technologies can participate in the region’s wholesale electricity markets. Given this interest, ISO New England developed a paper to explain the characteristics and requirements of the various wholesale markets in which storage devices can compete today.

This paper outlines the opportunities available to energy storage technologies to be compensated in the wholesale electricity markets for providing services needed for a reliable, efficient, and competitive power system.

 

Appendix

On March 17, 2016, the following bills that may be of interest to you were reported out of the Energy and Technology Committee:

 S.B. No. 103 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PROCUREMENT MANAGER OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY AND MINOR REVISIONS TO ENERGY-RELATED STATUTES’, to transfer the responsibilities of the PURA procurement manager to other employees of the agency and make other minor revisions to energy-related statutes.

  • S.B. No. 272 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF MICROGRID GRANTS AND LOANS FOR CERTAIN DISTRIBUTED ENERGY GENERATION’, to allow the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to provide microgrid grants and loans for additional types of costs associated with such microgrids. 
  • S.B. No. 334 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING MINOR REVISIONS TO THE ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY RELATED STATUTES’, to (1) allow an electric distribution company to recover costs associated with the shared clean energy facilities pilot program, (2) make changes regarding contracting in connection with the purchasing pool for electricity, (3) make changes to the requirements for energy performance standards and life-cycle cost analyses, (4) remove the federal weatherization program from the purview of the Department of Social Services, and (5) make other conforming and technical changes. 
  • H.B. No. 5242 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING AGRICULTURAL VIRTUAL NET METERING’, to allow agricultural customers to lease or enter into long-term contracts for an agricultural virtual net metering facility. 
  • H.B. No. 5309 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING FACILITATION OF THE MUNICIPAL RESIDENTIAL SOLAR APPLICATION PROCESS’, to require the Green Bank to approve a standardized solar photovoltaic system permit application form for use by municipalities. 
  • H.B. No. 5310 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING LOCATION OF SITING COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARINGS’, to require the Connecticut Siting Council to hold a public hearing in the municipality in which a proposed facility is to be located if the proposed facility will be located only in that municipality. 
  • H.B. No. 5427 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING THE SHARED CLEAN ENERGY FACILITY PILOT PROGRAM’, to make changes to the shared clean energy facility pilot program regarding utilities’ cost recovery, tariff mechanisms, and other technical changes.

 

CPES Policy Committee Update 3.7.16

This policy update features 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.

Connecticut Regulatory Update: Public Utilities Regulatory Authority

Eversource Energy and The United Illuminating Company have filed updated virtual net metering applications and tariff riders with PURA. The updated applications and tariff riders accommodate more liberal ownership structures for agricultural virtual net metering facilities as concluded in a recent PURA ruling. The updated VNM applications and riders are available at the following links:

UI VNM Application and Rider

Eversource VNM Application and Rider

 

Connecticut Legislative Update: Energy & Technology Committee

The Energy and Technology Committee has scheduled a public hearing for March 10 and the agenda is posted: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2016/etdata/pha/2016PHA00310-R001300ET-PHA.htm

Information about E&T, including committee meetings and public hearings, is available at: https://www.cga.ct.gov/et/.

In the appendix below, please see a list of bills that may be of interest to our members.

 

Regional and Industry Developments

ISO New England Publishes 2016 Regional Electricity Outlook

Last week, ISO New England published the 2016 Regional Electricity Outlook (REO), the ISO’s annual report on the state of New England’s power system and the innovative solutions the ISO and regional stakeholders are pursuing to ensure reliability. The 2016 REO provides an update on the ISO actions to address grid challenges, as well as other ISO efforts to improve its services and performance.

 

Appendix

List of bills before the General Assembly that may be of interest to our members:

  • S.B. No. 334 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING MINOR REVISIONS TO THE ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY RELATED STATUTES’, to (1) allow an electric distribution company to recover costs associated with the shared clean energy facilities pilot program, (2) make changes regarding contracting in connection with the purchasing pool for electricity, (3) make changes to the requirements for energy performance standards and life-cycle cost analyses, (4) remove the federal weatherization program from the purview of the Department of Social Services, and (5) make other conforming and technical changes.
    REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY
  • S.B. No. 344 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT REQUIRING A STUDY OF THE ADEQUACY OF ENERGY SUPPLIES IN THE STATE’, to require the chairperson of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to conduct a study pertaining to energy.
    REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY
  • S.B. No. 345 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT REQUIRING A STUDY OF THE DIVERSITY OF ENERGY SOURCES IN THE STATE’, to require the chairperson of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to conduct a study pertaining to energy sources.
    REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY
  • S.B. No. 366 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘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’, to (1) remove the Connecticut Green Bank from Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated, (2) give the Connecticut Green Bank additional powers, (3) make changes regarding the priority of the benefit assessments lien under the Connecticut Green Bank’s commercial sustainable energy program, (4) make changes to the solar home renewable energy credit program, and (5) make other technical and conforming changes. 
    REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY
  • S.B. No. 394 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING VIRTUAL NET METERING AND CERTAIN ZERO OR LOW EMISSION GENERATION PROJECTS’, to make changes to the state’s virtual net metering program concerning certain zero or low emission generation projects.
    REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY
  • H.B. No. 5496 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING BIOMASS FACILITIES’, to allow an administrator of certain biomass facilities to request a modification to the electricity purchase agreement to allow utilization of additional sustainable biomass fuel. 
    REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY
  • H.B. No. 5504 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING NOTICE AND PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSIONS FOR PROJECTS CONSIDERED AND APPROVED BY THE SITING COUNCIL’, to require a public information session if a certified facility has not commenced construction three years from the date of the issuance of the certificate and to require reissuance of the notice of application if a certified facility has not completed construction three years from the date of the issuance of the certificate.
    REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY
  • H.B. No. 5510 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING ELECTRIC, ZERO EMISSION AND FUEL CELL ELECTRIC VEHICLES’, to prepare electric distribution companies, municipalities, public and private merchants and electrical contractors for the presence and operation of electric, zero-emission and fuel cell vehicles in the state, to make changes regarding parking of hydrogen fuel vehicles under grade level and to make changes regarding labeling of vehicles that carry pressurized gas as fuel.
    REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY
  • H.B. No. 5563 (RAISED) BANKING . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY ASSESSED CLEAN ENERGY’, to establish a residential sustainable energy program in the state for the purpose of financing energy improvements. 
    REF. BANKING
  • H.B. No. 5592 (RAISED) FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING CONNECTICUT FIRST’, to: (1) Establish or extend various tax credits and financial assistance to incentivize investment in brownfield remediation, clean technology, cybersecurity, bioscience and various start-up and small businesses, (2) modify requirements for certain contracts between electric distribution companies and owners or developers of Class I generation projects, and (3) expand duties and reporting requirements of the Office of Small Business Affairs. 
    REF. FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING

New Energy Professionals / CPES: POLICY COMMITTEE UPDATE: March 1, 2016

The Connecticut Power and Energy Society is pleased to announce a new series of energy policy updates featuring regulatory, legislative and industry developments in Connecticut, New England and the U.S. The policy updates are compiled by a team recently formed with support from CPES, known as the New Energy Professionals.

Policy Committee 

Last year, CPES formed a Policy Committee to develop additional programming and provide timely information on policy developments in the state of Connecticut and New England wide. In August of last year, the Policy Committee hosted its first meeting to discuss energy legislation and policymaking following the 2015 legislative session. The Committee heard from representatives of the Energy & Technology Committee, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. In February, the Policy Committee arranged for Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty to deliver a federal energy policy update at the CPES monthly dinner meeting.

New Energy Professionals

This year, CPES formed the New Energy Professionals Committee to welcome members who are new to the energy industry and provide opportunities for new energy professionals to learn, grow, and connect with others in the field. As a service to the Policy Committee, the New Energy Professionals Committee will be gathering timely information on policy developments in Connecticut and the New England region and posting it about weekly to the CPES website.

Feedback

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.

Connecticut Regulatory Update: Public Utilities Regulatory Authority

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) has approved Eversource Energy’s proposed FERC filing seeking recovery for NSTAR merger-related transaction and integration costs. The PURA decision is available at: http://www.dpuc.state.ct.us/dockcurr.nsf/8e6fc37a54110e3e852576190052b64d/1c21d70c67b49dc485257f61005ff2d9?OpenDocument.

Connecticut Legislative Update: Energy & Technology Committee

Information about the Energy and Technology Committee, including committee meetings and public hearings, is available at: https://www.cga.ct.gov/et/.  The committee has scheduled a public hearing for March 1, 2016, the agenda for which is available at: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2016/etdata/pha/2016PHA00301-R001300ET-PHA.htm

The following raised bills may be of interest to our membership:

  • S.B. No. 103 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PROCUREMENT MANAGER OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY AND MINOR REVISIONS TO ENERGY-RELATED STATUTES’, to transfer the responsibilities of the PURA procurement manager to other employees of the agency and make other minor revisions to energy-related statutes.
    REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY
  • S.B. No. 168 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING TRASH-TO-ENERGY FACILITIES’, to require the chairperson of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to conduct a study pertaining to trash-to-energy facilities.

REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY

  • S.B. No. 224 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING THE CAPACITY AND CRITERIA FOR CERTAIN RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION FACILITIES’, to allow submission of proposals for Class I renewable energy generation facilities with an increased potential size for such facilities.
    REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY
  • S.B. No. 272 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF MICROGRID GRANTS AND LOANS FOR CERTAIN DISTRIBUTED ENERGY GENERATION’, to allow the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to provide microgrid grants and loans for additional types of costs associated with such microgrids.
    REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY
  • H.B. No. 5241 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING THE PRIORITY OF THE BENEFIT ASSESSMENTS LIEN UNDER THE GREEN BANK’S COMMERCIAL SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PROGRAM’, to provide municipal tax liens and assessments priority over benefit assessments liens created under the Green Bank’s commercial sustainable energy program.
    REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY
  • H.B. No. 5242 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING AGRICULTURAL VIRTUAL NET METERING’, to allow agricultural customers to lease or enter into long-term contracts for an agricultural virtual net metering facility. 
    REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY
  • H.B. No. 5309 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING FACILITATION OF THE MUNICIPAL RESIDENTIAL SOLAR APPLICATION PROCESS’, to require the Green Bank to approve a standardized solar photovoltaic system permit application form for use by municipalities.
    REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY
  • H.B. No. 5310 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING LOCATION OF SITING COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARINGS’, to require the Connecticut Siting Council to hold a public hearing in the municipality in which a proposed facility is to be located if the proposed facility will be located only in that municipality.
    REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY
  • H.B. No. 5427 (RAISED) ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY . ‘AN ACT CONCERNING THE SHARED CLEAN ENERGY FACILITY PILOT PROGRAM’, to make changes to the shared clean energy facility pilot program regarding utilities’ cost recovery, tariff mechanisms, and other technical changes. 
    REF. ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY

Regional and Industry Developments

ISO New England Files Finalized Auction Results with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

On February 29, 2016, ISO New England filed the results of the tenth Forward Capacity Auction (FCA #10) with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for review and approval.  The auction was held on February 8, 2016 to procure the capacity resources needed to meet electricity demand in New England during the 2019–2020 timeframe.  Finalized results confirm that the auction concluded at a lower price than the previous auction (FCA #9) and with sufficient resources, including three new power plants, to meet demand in 2019–2020.  The filing is available on the ISO’s website at: http://www.iso-ne.com/static-assets/documents/2016/02/er16-___-000_2-29-16_fca_10_results_filing.pdf.

A press release discussing the finalized results of FCA #10 is available at: http://www.iso-ne.com/static-assets/documents/2016/02/20160229_fca10_finalresults.pdf.

US Wind Energy Tops New Electric Capacity in 2015

In 2015, new wind resources accounted for 35% of all new generating capacity in the US, according to CleanTechnica, highlighting a report by the Business Council for Sustainable Energy and Bloomberg New Energy and Finance.

http://cleantechnica.com/2016/02/17/us-wind-energy-tops-new-electric-capacity-2015/

(NH) Eversource Applies to Buy, Sell Gas from Expanded Pipeline

New Hampshire’s largest electric utility is seeking permission to buy and sell natural gas from a proposed pipeline expansion. The Concord Monitor reports Eversource filed a request with the Public Utilities Commission that would allow it to buy natural gas from the Access Northeast pipeline expansion for two decades. The pipeline expansion would be built by the Hartford, Connecticut-based utility and two other firms through Connecticut and eastern Massachusetts.

http://nhpr.org/post/eversource-applies-buy-sell-gas-expanded-pipeline