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:
- Coalition Sues State Over Sweep of Energy Efficiency Funds
- ISO New England’s Summer Outlook Now Available
- ISO’s Price-Responsive Demand Structure Effective June 1, 2018
- ISO’s Annual Markets Report Now Available
- Recent PURA Docket on Electric Distribution Company System Reliability
REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS
COALITION SUES STATE OVER SWEEP OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY FUNDS
A group of energy efficiency contractors and both consumer and environmental advocates sued the state of Connecticut on Tuesday, claiming that the legislature illegally swept ratepayer funds to close last year’s budget deficit. As part of the bipartisan budget agreement, $155 million was diverted from Conservation & Load Management, Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority funds to help fill a large budget gap. The group was vocal last year about the sweep and warned the General Assembly that they would litigate. However, the General Assembly took no action before they adjourned on May 9.
ISO NEW ENGLAND’S SUMMER OUTLOOK NOW AVAILABLE
ISO-NE’s Outlook for Summer 2018 finds that electricity supplies should be sufficient to meet New England consumer demand, but tight system conditions could develop if forecasted extreme peak conditions occur. Read the factsheet here and learn more at ISO’s Seasonal System Outlook webpage.
ISO’S PRICE-RESPONSIVE DEMAND STRUCTURE EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2018
On June 1, 2018, new price-responsive demand (PRD) structure will go into effect in ISO New England’s marketplace. Information on the types of demand response and participation requirements are available under the FCM Participation Guide on the Price-Responsive Demand webpage. Related training are available on the Training Materials webpage.
ISO’S ANNUAL MARKETS REPORT NOW AVAILABLE
According to the 2017 Annual Markets Report issued by the Internal Market Monitor at ISO-NE, the region’s wholesale power markets were competitive in 2017. The report addresses the development, operation, and performance of the wholesale electricity markets administered by the ISO and presents an assessment of each market based on market data and performance criteria. Read the full report here.
CONNECTICUT
On May 17, 2018, PURA established the following docket: Docket No. 18-05-13: PURA 2018 Annual Report to the General Assembly on Electric Distribution Company System Reliability