Category Archives: PURA

CPES Policy Committee Update: April 16, 2019

This update features policy, regulatory, legislative, and regional developments in Connecticut and New England. The policy updates are compiled by the CPES New Energy Professionals Team. 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 Kathryn Dube, CPES Executive Director, via email: kdube@ctpower.org.

In this Update:

  • FERC Open Meeting – April 18th
  • PURA Opens Comment Period on Zero Carbon Contracts until April 24th
  • Register Now: ISO’s PAC Grid Transformation Day
  • ISO Spotlight Videos: An Integrated Approach to Wind Power
  • Central Maine Power’s New England Clean Energy Connect Transmission Project Receives PUC Approval

INDUSTRY

FERC Open Meeting – April 18th
The agenda includes the FERC Staff’s State of the Market 2018 Report, discussion of cyber security and reliability standards, and proceeding related to “fast-start” pricing practices.  A free live webcast is available.

PURA Opens Comment Period on Zero Carbon Contracts
PURA is accepting comments until April 24th on the recent Zero Carbon RFP contracts on the contract terms and conditions.

Register Now: ISO’s PAC Grid Transformation Day
As part of the ongoing hybrid grid transformation, the ISO anticipates large-scale development of wind generation facilities, distributed energy resources (especially solar PV), energy storage (batteries and other types), demand response, and high-voltage DC transmission and flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS). The meeting will focus on the technical challenges and potential benefits presented by this grid transformation, as well as the potential solutions for addressing many of the changes the industry is facing. Learn more and register now.

ISO Spotlight Videos: An Integrated Approach to Wind Power
ISO New England has produced a trio of videos detailing the steps taken behind the scenes over the years to integrate wind resources into the region’s power system.

CMP’s New England Clean Energy Connect Transmission Project Receives PUC Approval
Thursday, the PUC approved a permit for the 145-mile project to deliver renewable energy from Canada to Massachusetts – read more at the Portland Press Herald.

 

CPES Policy Committee Update: December 18, 2018

This update features policy, regulatory, legislative, and regional developments in Connecticut and New England. The policy updates are compiled by the CPES New Energy Professionals Team. 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 Kathryn Dube, CPES Executive Director, via email: kdube@ctpower.org.

In this Update:

  • FERC accepts ISO-NE proposal to retain retiring resources for fuel security
  • ISO-NE announces 2019 classroom and webinar training schedule
  • Report Published by GC3 on Strategies for CT to Reduce GHGs
  • NYISO Recently Launched New Website
  • Lamont Transition Energy Report
  • PURA issues Final Decision declaring Millstone Power Station “At Risk” of Premature Retirement 
  • Connecticut Water merger tentatively rejected
  • Recent PURA Updates

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY

FERC ACCEPTS ISO-NE PROPOSAL TO RETAIN RETIRING RESOURCES FOR FUEL SECURITY
Dec. 3, FERC issued an order accepting ISO-NE’s interim tariff changes to retain resources seeking retirement on the basis of fuel-security reliability need.

ISO-NE ANNOUNCES 2019 CLASSROOM AND WEBINAR TRAINING SCHEDULE
ISO’s 2019 Wholesale Energy Markets and Forward Capacity Markets classroom sessions are scheduled.

REPORT PUBLISHED BY GC3 ON STRATEGIES FOR CT TO REDUCE GHGS
Early this month, the Governor’s Council on Climate Change (GC3) released a draft of their analysis Building a Low Carbon Future for Connecticut: Achieving a 45% GHG Reduction by 2030.

NYISO RECENTLY LAUNCHED NEW WEBSITE
Click here to visit the new website

CONNECTICUT

LAMONT TRANSITION ENERGY REPORT
The Energy Transition Policy Committee provided the following update yesterday at at Curtis Packaging in Sandy Hook. Report

PURA ISSUES FINAL DECISION DECLARING MILLSTONE POWER STATION “AT RISK” OF PREMATURE RETIREMENT 
The final decision by the state Public Utilities Regulatory Authority found that the Waterford facilities are “at risk of retirement.” Dominion’s bids in the DEEP Zero Carbon RFP will be judged on their price, as well as environmental and economic attributes.

CONNECTICUT WATER MERGER TENTATIVELY REJECTED
PURA issued a Proposed Final Decision rejecting the proposed $1.1 billion merger of Clinton-based Connecticut Water Service and California-based SJW Group. The tentative rejection of SJW Group’s proposed acquisition of Connecticut Water came in the form a 33-page draft ruling in which commissioners with the state’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority expressed concern about how the deal would affect local ratepayers. PURA granted an extension of time requested by Connecticut Water Service and SJW Group to file supplemental information on or before December 14th.

RECENT PURA UPDATES
On December 13, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 19-06-01:  Annual Review of Connecticut Electric Suppliers’ and Electric Distribution Companies’ Compliance with Connecticut’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards in the Year 2018 

On December 10, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 18-12-12:  Conn. Gen. Stat. § 16-262c(c) Reports

CPES Policy Committee Update: December 4, 2018

This update features policy, regulatory, legislative, and regional developments in Connecticut and New England. The policy updates are compiled by the CPES New Energy Professionals Team. 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 Kathryn Dube, CPES Executive Director, via email: kdube@ctpower.org.

In this Update:

  • ISO-NE Releases 2018/2019 Winter Outlook
  • ISO-NE Debuts 21-Day Energy Assessment Forecast
  • PURA established Docket No. 18-11-12: Petition of The Connecticut Light and Power Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for Approval to Recover its 2017-2018 Catastrophic Storm Costs 

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY

ISO-NE RELEASES 2018/2019 WINTER OUTLOOK
In its Winter Outlook, ISO New England expects the region to have the necessary resources this winter to meet consumer demand.  See the press release for the numbers behind the forecast and ISO’s Newswire  for more details and discussion.

ISO-NE DEBUTS 21-DAY ENERGY ASSESSMENT FORCAST 
ISO’s new 21-Day Energy Assessment Forecast is now live, based on current system conditions, forecasted weather, load, generators’ reports of stored-fuel inventories and emissions limitations, and status of fuel delivery systems. Learn more and see the most recent report at ISO’s website.

CONNECTICUT

On November 16, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 18-11-12:  Petition of The Connecticut Light and Power Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for Approval to Recover its 2017-2018 Catastrophic Storm Costs 

CPES Policy Committee Update: November 20, 2018

This update features policy, regulatory, legislative, and regional developments in Connecticut and New England. The policy updates are compiled by the CPES New Energy Professionals Team. 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 Kathryn Dube, CPES Executive Director, via email: kdube@ctpower.org.

In this Update:

  • Lawmakers to hold oversight hearings on gas explosions
  • Former Massachusetts Coal Plant Transitioning To Offshore Wind Support Center
  • Next Consumer Liaison Group Meeting Dec. 6, Boston
  • ISO-NE Webinar: Quarterly Settlements Forum
  • PURA Draft Decision Deems Millstone ‘At Risk’
  • Ten Projects Receive Funding Under First Round Released as Part of Connecticut’s VW Settlement Agreement

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY

LAWMAKERS TO HOLD OVERSIGHT HEARINGS ON GAS EXPLOSIONS
Following the gas explosions that occurred in Merrimack Valley, The Massachusetts State Senate will hold oversight hearings on the state’s natural gas system. They will focus on gas pipeline safety statewide. MORE

FORMER MASSACHUSETTS COAL PLANT TRANSITIONING TO OFFSHORE WIND SUPPORT CENTER
The former Brayton Point Power Station in Somerset, MA (previously the largest coal-fired power plant in New England) will become a logistics port, manufacturing hub, and support center for the offshore wind energy sector. MORE

NEXT CONSUMER LIAISON GROUP MEETING DEC 6 BOSTON
The next meeting of the Consumer Liaison Group (CLG) will be held on December 6 at the Seaport Hotel in Boston. The topic will be, “The Evolving Markets: How Fuel Security is Changing the Wholesale Electricity Markets and What That Means for Your Bottom Line.”

ISO-NE WEBINAR: QUARTERLY SETTLEMENTS FORUM
Registration is open for ISO New England’s webinar “Quarterly Settlements Forum” on Thursday, December 6. This webinar presents information on ISO New England settlements and billing including the following topics:  energy storage devices, capacity supply obligation (CSO) cover changes, and Forward Capacity Market (FCM) substitution auction.

CONNECTICUT

PURA DRAFT DECISION DEEMS MILLSTONE ‘AT RISK’
The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority released a draft decision on Friday deeming the Millstone nuclear plant “at risk of retirement.” It’s a designation long sought by owner Dominion Energy and lawmakers concerned about the potential economic and environmental impacts of an early Millstone closure. MORE

TEN PROJECTS RECEIVE FUNDING UNDER FIRST ROUND RELEASED AS PART OF CONNECTICUT’S VW SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
Governor Malloy announced that the State of Connecticut is making available $12.2 million dollars from the legal settlement in the Volkswagen (VW) Corporation emissions scandal to fund ten clean air projects in the state. MORE

CPES Policy Committee Update: October 10, 2018

This update features policy, regulatory, legislative, and regional developments in Connecticut and New England. The policy updates are compiled by the CPES New Energy Professionals Team. 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 Kathryn Dube, CPES Executive Director, via email: kdube@ctpower.org.

In this Update:

  • EIPC Publishes Report on the State of the Eastern Interconnection
  • FERC Publishes Strategic Plan for FY 2018-2022
  • Recent PURA Dockets

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY

EIPC PUBLISHES REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE EASTERN INTERCONNECTION
The Eastern Interconnection Planning Collaborative (EIPC) has issued a new report, “State of the Eastern Interconnection,” the collection of power systems serving two-thirds of the US and Canada. The report describes the region’s coordinated planning to maintain the reliability of the bulk power grid.

FERC PUBLISHES STRATEGIC PLAN FOR FY 2018-2022
On Oct. 1 FERC released its strategic plan for fiscal years 2018 to 2022. The plan addresses six strategic objectives and the evolving barriers and opportunities related to each. 

CONNECTICUT

RECENT PURA DOCKETS
October 3, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 17-10-46RE01:  Application of The Connecticut Light and Power Company d/b/a Eversource Energy to Amend its Rate Schedules – EV Rate Rider 

On October 1, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 18-10-02:  PURA Review of the Connecticut Gas Utilities Forecasts of Demand & Supply 2019 – 2023  

On September 26, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 10-03-11RE03:  Investigation into Town Square Energy, LLC – Marketing