CPES Policy Committee Update: May 15, 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 publishes 2018 forecast of capacity, energy, loads, and transmission
  • NYISO, PJM, and ISO New England interregional committee releases 2017 Northeast Coordinated System Plan
  • PURA Dockets Recently Established
  • Energy & Technology Committee bills that passed both chambers during the Regular Session

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

ISO-NE PUBLISHES 2018 FORECAST OF CAPACITY, ENERGY, LOADS AND TRANSMISSION
ISO New England’s recently published  2018-2027 Forecast Report of Capacity, Energy, Loads, and Transmission (CELT) provides a snapshot of the New England power system and is a primary source for assumptions used in ISO system planning and reliability studies. The long-term forecast for electricity use is developed each year using state and regional economic forecasts, 40 years of weather history in New England, results of both the ISO’s energy-efficiency (EE) forecast and solar photovoltaic (PV) forecast, and other factors. The 2018 CELT projects that both energy usage and peak demand will decline slightly in New England over the 10-year period. The primary factors are continuing robust installation of energy-efficiency measures and behind-the-meter solar arrays throughout the region. For more information on the CELT projections for 2018 to 2027, see ISO’s Newswire article.  Detailed forecasts and models are available on ISO’s Load Forecast webpage.

NYISO, PJM, AND ISO NEW ENGLAND INTERREGIONAL COMMITTEE RELEASES 2017 NORTHEAST COORDINATED SYSTEM PLAN
The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), ISO New England (ISO-NE), and PJM (i.e., the Regional Transmission Organization [RTO] for all or parts of 13 eastern and Midwestern states and the District of Columbia) work collaboratively to coordinate the planning of their interconnected systems. The 2017 Northeast Coordinated System Plan (NCSP17) summarizes the ISO/RTOs 2016 and 2017 interregional planning efforts.  The report covers compliance with FERC Order No. 1000, interregional planning activities and protocol, each region’s planning processes, and other interregional activities.  No new needs for interregional transmission projects were identified in the analysis. For more information on the report and its findings, see ISO-NE’s summary.

CONNECTICUT

On May 11, 2018, PURA established the following: Docket No. 18-05-10:  Application of Yankee Gas Services Company d/b/a Eversource Energy to Amend its Rate Schedules 

On May 8, 2018, PURA established the following: Docket No. 18-05-04:  PURA Implementation of June Special Session Public Act 17-3 

The 2018 Regular Session of the Connecticut General Assembly adjourned May 9, 2018.  The following Energy & Technology Committee bills passed both chambers during the Regular Session:

  • SB 333:  AAC MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC UTILITIES AND RATE DESIGN STUDIES
  • HB 5348:  AA MAKING USEFUL THERMAL ENERGY GENERATED FROM BIODIESEL A CLASS I RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCE AND CREATING A HOMEOWNER-GENERATED USEFUL THERMAL ENERGY PROGRAM
  • SB 9:  AAC CONNECTICUT’S ENERGY FUTURE