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:
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