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:

• Chatterjee Named FERC Chair
• FERC Acts on Cyber Security Risks with New Supply Chain-Related Reliability Standards
• FERC Technical Conference on Winter 2018-2019 Operations and Market Performance
• Proposed Commercial Wind Leases Offshore MA 
• Energy-Fund Sweeps Survive Constitutional Challenge
• Recent PURA Dockets

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY

CHATTERJEE NAMED FERC CHAIR
President Trump recently designated Commissioner Neil Chatterjee as the chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Outgoing Chairman Kevin McIntyre will step down from his post but remain on as a FERC commissioner. Press release.

FERC ACTS ON CYBER SERCURITY RISKS WITH NEW SUPPLY CHAIN-RELATED RELIABILITY STANDARDS
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved new mandatory Reliability Standards to bolster supply chain risk management protections for the bulk electric system. The new standards augment current Critical Infrastructure Protection standards to mitigate cyber security risks associated with the supply chain for grid-related cyber systems.

FERC TECHNICAL CONFERENCE ON WINTER 2018-2019 OPERATIONS  AND MARKET PERFORMANCE
FERC staff held a technical conference to hear from the Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) and Independent System Operators (ISOs)  on their efforts for ensuring reliable and economic system performance during the 2018-2019 winter season. 

PROPOSED COMMERCIAL WIND LEASES OFFSHORE MA
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will hold the next offshore wind auction covering nearly 390,000 acres offshore Massachusetts on December 13.  Learn more here.

CONNECTICUT

ENERGY-FUND SWEEPS SURVIVE CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGE
Dismissing claims by energy-efficient businesses and environmental groups late Thursday, a federal judge left it up to the Connecticut General Assembly to deal with blowback over its use of $145 million in ratepayer funds to balance the 2017 state budget. More

RECENT PURA DOCKETS
On October 24, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 18-10-22:  Call Before You Dig, Inc. Proposed Budget for 2019