Tag Archives: CPES

CPES Policy Committee Update: January 10, 2017

This update features policy, 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 Kathryn Dube, CPES Executive Director, via email: kdube@ctpower.org

This week’s features:

  • FERC Issues Reliability Primer for Role in Overseeing the Reliable Operation of the Nation’s Interconnected Electric Grid
  • Connecticut Legislation Proposes Bills to Increase Public Awareness and Amend Priorities
  •  Energy and Technology Leadership for 2017 Legislative Session Announced

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

FERC Issues Reliability Primer on the Nation’s Interconnected Electric Grid

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued a Reliability Primer providing an overview of FERC’s role in overseeing the reliable operation of the nation’s interconnected electric grid. The publication describes the basic structure, fundamental concepts, and functions of how the bulk power system operates. According to FERC, the 78-page Reliability Primer is a product of FERC staff and does not reflect the views of the Commission or any individual Commissioner. 

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

CONNECTICUT LEGISLATION:

Information about the Energy and Technology Committee, including committee meetings and public hearings, is available at: https://www.cga.ct.gov/et/.

The following proposed bills may be of interest to our membership:

  • S.B. 4:  AN ACT CONCERNING MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC UTILITIES AND MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC ENERGY COOPERATIVES. To increase public awareness and provide transparency regarding municipal electric utilities and municipal electric energy cooperatives.
  • H.B. 5234:  AN ACT CONCERNING MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC ENERGY COOPERATIVES AND NONMEMBER MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC UTILITIES. To require municipal electric energy cooperatives to disclose information to nonmember municipal electric utilities to which they provide services.
  • H.B. 5040:  AN ACT CONCERNING THE PRIORITY OF BENEFIT ASSESSMENT LIENS UNDER THE COMMERCIAL SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PROGRAM. To amend the priority of the benefit assessment lien under the commercial sustainable energy program.

Energy and Technology Leadership for 2017 Legislative Session are as Follows:

  • Chair – Sen. Winfield (D)
  • Chair – Sen. Formica (R)
  • Chair – Rep. Reed (D)
  • Vice Chair – Sen. Doyle (D)
  • Vice Chair – Sen. Hwang (R)
  •  Vice Chair – Rep. Slapp (D)
  • Ranking Member – Rep. Hoydick (R)

MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATION:

The 2017-2018 Massachusetts formal session began on January 4, 2017.

Information about the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, including hearings and bills in committee, is available at: https://malegislature.gov/Committees/Joint/J37

CPES Policy Committee Update: January 3, 2017

This update features policy, 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 Kathryn Dube, CPES Executive Director, via email: kdube@ctpower.org.

This week’s features:

  • Turbines are Spinning at the Nation’s First Offshore Wind Farm
  • PURA Development of Voluntary Renewable Options Program
  • PURA Review of Electric Companies’ and Electric Distribution Companies’ Plans for Maintenance of Transmission and Distribution Overhead and Underground Lines
  • The Legislature in Connecticut  will convene on January 4, 2017

Regional & Industry Developments

Turbines Are Spinning at the Nation’s First Offshore Wind Farm

On December 12, 2016, Deepwater Wind announced that its Block Island Wind Farm had begun delivering electricity to the grid—a historic occasion for both the region and the US. The facility, located 16 miles off the coast of Rhode Island near Block Island, represents the first offshore wind farm in the nation and is paving the way for similar projects to harness New England’s significant offshore wind energy potential. As of December 1, three offshore wind projects representing 2,054 megawatts (MW) were requesting interconnection to the regional power system administered by ISO New England.

For more information on the ISO’s efforts to help integrate more offshore and onshore wind energy in New England, see the ISO Newswire.

Public Utilities Regulatory Authority New Dockets:

On December 20, 2016, PURA established the following docket on its own motion:
Docket No. 16-12-29:  PURA Development of Voluntary Renewable Options Program

On December 27, 2016, The Connecticut Light and Power Company d/b/a Eversource Energy filed its Electric Utility Line Maintenance Plan for 2017, after which PURA established the following docket:
Docket No. 16-12-37:  PURA Review of Electric Companies’ and Electric Distribution Companies’ Plans for Maintenance of Transmission and Distribution Overhead and Underground Lines

Connecticut Legislation:

The 2016 Connecticut regular session ended on May 4, 2016.  The 2017 Connecticut regular session begins January 4, 2017.

Information about the Energy and Technology Committee, including committee meetings and public hearings, is available at: https://www.cga.ct.gov/et/

CPES Celebrated the Holidays at the Society Room in Downtown Hartford

“CPES events are great networking opportunities for people in the energy industry.”
– Bruce McDermott, Partner, Murtha Cullina

On December 13, 2016, the Connecticut Power and Energy Society (CPES) invited energy professionals to the Society Room in Downtown Hartford for networking and an address from the recently appointed Chair of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), Katie Dykes.

PURA Chair Katie Dykes and CPES President Joey Lee Miranda

Dykes, appointed by Governor Malloy on October 27 and elected Chair of the three-member authority on October 31, shared insights from her first few weeks on the bench. She expressed appreciation for the new ways PURA finds to engage with stakeholders, whether through publicly-noticed stakeholder groups or formally docketed proceedings. She spoke of the pivotal decisions the region is facing with regard to potential wholesale market changes to accommodate and achieve the New England states’ public policy objectives. She also touched on PURA’s role in tackling issues relating to electric transmission and distribution infrastructure, observing the significant amount of distributed generation being added to the grid.    

Commissioner Michael Caron receiving award from RESA’s New England Chair Marc Hanks

Following Chair Dykes’ remarks, the Retail Energy Supply Association (RESA) awarded its 2016 Champion-of-Choice Award to PURA Commissioner Michael Caron. Caron was recognized for his leadership on the bench and ongoing commitment to competitive retail markets.

Paul Brady, retiring CPES Executive Director, and Kathryn Dube, the society’s new Executive Director

 

To conclude the evening, CPES honored retiring Executive Director Paul Brady and introduced Kathryn Dube as the Society’s new executive director. 

 

 

Thank You to Our Sponsors! 


 

CPES / CBIA: 21st Century Energy: What’s the Deal? October 5, 2016

CPES and CBIA

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Join CPES and CBIA for our annual business energy conference for a continuing dialogue on Connecticut’s Comprehensive Energy Strategy (CES). This fall the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is expected to release an update to the strategy. Governor Dannel Malloy announced the state’s first comprehensive energy strategy at this CPES-CBIA conference in 2012.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from DEEP Deputy Commissioner for Energy Katie Dykes on what the agency is proposing in the next CES. Live, interactive polling technology will allow you to weigh in on key aspects of the strategy. The conference will feature discussion of technology that can boost your bottom line and meet your energy needs; energy headlines and the upcoming elections; and what the 2016 CES could mean for the state’s economy.

A full breakfast and breaks with food stations will allow ample time for networking before, after, and in between.

When:
Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016

Agenda:
7AM Networking Breakfast; 8AM – 2PM Program

Where:
Radisson Hotel, 100 Berlin Rd., Cromwell, CT

Cost:
$150 CBIA/CPES members, $255 nonmembers
$1,000 table of 10

REGISTER NOW

Speaker Lineup

See the Agenda

Sponsorship Opportunities

CPES & NEWIEE Joint September Meeting: Emerging Issues in Risk Management for Energy Infrastructure Projects

CPES and NEWIEE
Emerging Issues in Risk Management for Energy Infrastructure Projects 

When:  Wednesday, September 14th, 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM

Agenda:  5:30 PM to 6:30 PM Networking; 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM Program

Where:  Day Pitney, 242 Trumbull Street, Hartford, CT 06103

Register Now!

The Connecticut Power and Energy Society (CPES) and New England Women in Energy and the Environment (NEWIEE) invite you to join us Wednesday evening, September 14, in Hartford for networking and a conversation about emerging issues in risk management and energy infrastructure projects in New England.

This event kicks off the CPES 2016 – 2017 season and is the second program collaboration of CPES and NEWIEE.

Thank you to our host sponsor for this event: