CPES Policy Committee Update: February 4, 2020

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 Committee or if you have ideas for future policy updates, we welcome your input and feedback. Please send comments to Kathryn Dube, CPES Executive Director, via email: kdube@ctpower.org.

In this Update:

  • Sen. Chris Murphy demands utilities ‘take responsibility’ for protecting eligible low-income families from utility shut-offs
  • DEEP/PURA Value of DER Joint Study – New Date Technical Hearing
  • DEEP/PURA Accepting Comments on Value of DER Joint Study
  • ISO Announces Feb 2020 Forward Capacity Market Webinars
  • Listing of Upcoming Regulatory Meetings
  • New England AGs Call Out Power Grid Operator Over Anti-Competitive Practices
  • US EIA Release 2020 Annual Energy Outlook
  • 2019 Sources of Electric Energy in New England

CONNECTICUT

Sen. Chris Murphy demands utilities ‘take responsibility’ for protecting eligible low-income families from utility shut-offs: Hartford Courant
U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy told regulators Thursday he doesn’t believe Connecticut’s power companies are complying with an order to insulate thousands of low-income families from utility disconnections during the annual, six-month-long winter protection period — an established program that prohibits disconnections from November to May. Senator Murphy’s letter was filed as part of PURA’s Energy Affordability Grid Modernization Docket (17-12-03RE01).

DEEP/PURA Value of DER Joint Study – New Date Technical Hearing
The agencies have revised the date of the next technical hearing to February 7.  See the notice here and draft agenda here.

DEEP/PURA Accepting Comments on Value of DER Joint Study
The agencies are seeking comment on modeling inputs by February 14, 2020. See the notice here.

ISO Announces Feb 2020 Forward Capacity Market Webinars
ISO Customer Training is hosting three webinars in February on the forward capacity markets:

2020 Legislative Session
The 2020 Legislative Session will convene on Wednesday, February 5th. 
2020 DEEP Legislative Proposals

Upcoming Regulatory Meetings
For more information on regulatory matters, see the current PURA and Siting Council agendas. This information is updated regularly.

INDUSTRY

New England AGs Call Out Power Grid Operator Over Anti-Competitive Practices: WSHU – As part of FERC Docket EL19-90, The Connecticut and Massachusetts Attorneys General filed joint comments with DEEP, OCC and Maine Public Advocate in support of tariff changes to implement a more competitive transmission process. PURA also separately filed comments.

US EIA Release 2020 Annual Energy Outlook
For the first time, the EIA predicts renewables will outpace natural gas by 2050. Read the press release here, and the full report here.

2019 Sources of Electric Energy in New England
The total amount of energy and the sources of energy the New England region used in 2019 to satisfy all residential, commercial, and industrial customer demand are now available on ISO-NE’s website.