Tag Archives: CPES

CPES Policy Committee Update: February 19, 2019

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:

  • Energy & Technology Committee Public Hearings: Feb 19 and Feb 21
  • PURA established Docket No. 19-02-13:  Declaratory Ruling Regarding Licensed Electric Supplier Practices of Altering the Prices in Fixed-Price Contracts
  • Consumers in Retail Competition Markets Saved $300B Over the Past Decade, Trade Group Says
  • Speaker Announced for ISO-NE March CLG Meeting: Jeffrey Grybowski, Co-CEO Ørsted US Offshore Wind
  • ISO-NE Announces Spring 2019 Market Training Classes
  • 2nd Circuit Sides With Direct Energy Services in Rate Hike Dispute
  • Vistra Energy to Expand Retail Business with $328M acquisition
  • Future US Electricity Generation Mix Will Depend Largely on Natural Gas Prices

CONNECTICUT

LEGISLATIVE
ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
The Energy & Technology Committee will hold the following public hearings:
                 -Tuesday, February 19, 10:15 am in room 1E of the LOB Agenda
                 – Thursday, February 21, 10:00 am in Rm 1B of the LOB Agenda  

The Bil Record Book, which contains proposed House and Senate bills, is available here.

REGULATORY
On February 11, 2019, PURA established Docket No. 19-02-13:  Declaratory Ruling Regarding Licensed Electric Supplier Practices of Altering the Prices in Fixed-Price Contracts

REGIONAL/INDUSTRYCONSUMERS IN RETAIL COMPETITION MARKETS SAVED $300B OVER THE PAST DECADE, TRADE GROUP SAYS
Electricity prices in many states with retail choice are high, but RESA’s analysis concludes they are moving lower, as consumers reap the benefits of cheap natural gas and lower electricity demand. But the same cannot be said for states with monopoly utility structures. MORE

SPEAKER ANNOUNCED FOR ISO-NE MARCH CLG MEETING: JEFFREY GRYBOWSKI, CO-CEO ØRSTED US OFSHORE WIND
Jeffrey Grybowski, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Ørsted US Offshore Wind, will give the keynote address at the March 14th meeting of the Consumer Liaison Group (CLG) at the Omni Providence Hotel. Following, a panel will discuss Transforming the Power Sector: Customer Choice in a Changing Energy Landscape. 

ISO-NE ANNOUNCES SPRING 2019 MARKET TRAINING CLASSES
ISO-NE’s Customer Training will hold Introduction to Wholesale Electricity Markets April 29- May 3 and Intermediate Wholesale Electricity Markets June 11-13.  Learn more and register here.

2ND CIRCUIT SIDES WITH DIRECT ENERGY SERVICES IN RATE HIKE DISPUTE
Connecticut resident Gary Richards had sued private electricity supplier Direct Energy Services LLP, claiming it unfairly hiked prices by switching from a fixed to variable rate. A Second Circuit panel, ruling 2-1, upheld a lower court ruling that sided with the electricity supplier. MORE

VISTRA ENERGY TO EXPAND RETAIL BUSINESS WITH $328M ACQUISITION
Vistra Energy Corp. has entered into an agreement to acquire Crius Energy Trust for about $328 million, the company announced in a news release Thursday. The move comes as Irving-based Vistra (NYSE: VST) seeks to expand its retail business. With the acquisition of Crius Energy, Vistra would serve 19 states and the District of Columbia in the electricity and natural gas product market for residential and small business customers. MORE

FUTURE US ELECTRICITY GENERATION MIX WILL DEPEND LARGELY ON NATURAL GAS PRICES
The mix of fuels used to generate electricity in the US has changed in response to differences in the relative costs of electricity-generating technologies and their fuels. EIA’s Annual Energy Outlook 2019 shows that projected generation and capacity is significantly influenced by natural gas prices. MORE

 

 

Hartford Yard Goats Networking Event

 

The CPES New Energy Professionals Group, along with CBIA YEEPs and the Energy Section of the CBA invites you to our “Triple Header” Networking Night on Tuesday, May 21st as the hometown Hartford Yard Goats take on the Erie Seawolves.

We’ll gather at the exclusive right-field Foul Pole Area (open and sheltered) for an evening of networking along with a buffet of classic ballpark fare: burgers, hot dogs, BBQ chicken, Italian sausage, mac ‘n cheese, soft drinks and cash bar.

Events begins at 6pm, game time 7:05pm.

REGISTER

FUN FACT:

“Yard Goats” isn’t actually a goat, it’s rail yard slang for the switch engines that shuttle train cars between different locomotives.  It was named by a “Name the Team” contest.

RECENT HARTFORD YARD GOATS NEWS:

TIME: February 7, 2019: ARTICLE SHARE: This Baseball Team Wants to Rewrite ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game’ After Going Peanut-Free

A Connecticut minor league baseball team is banning peanuts and Cracker Jack from its stadium to protect fans with food allergies — and it’s even rewriting a classic ballpark song because of it. READ FULL ARTICLE

SUPPORT THE TEAM

Get your Hartford Yard Goats Items before the game HERE.

 

CPES Policy Committee Update: February 12, 2019

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:

  • Energy & Technology Committee Meeting on February 14
  • Revolution Wind PPA Filed at Rhode Island PUC
  • Retail Energy Supply Association: Analysis Reveals Retail Electric Suppliers Could Have Saved Connecticut Consumers More than $14 Million in the First Month of 2019
  • ISO-NE capacity prices fall amid controversy over Vineyard Wind participation
  • Residential solar and storage breaks new ground as Sunrun wins ISO-NE capacity contract
  • DOE rolls back Obama-era lightbulb standards
  • Next Consumer Liaison Group Meeting March 14, Providence
  • New England’s Forward Capacity Auction Closes with Adequate Power System Resources for 2022-2023
  • The Rise of Microgrids and DERs: Out of Competition Came Innovation

LEGISLATIVE

ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
The next Energy & Technology Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 14th at 3:15 pm. The agenda will be announced on February 13th on the CGA website.

The Bil Record Book, which contains proposed House and Senate bills, is available here.

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY

REVOLUTION WIND PPA FILED AT RHODE ISLAND PUC
A proposed PPA was filed with the RIPUC on Thursday for the Revolution Wind Project. Under the contract, National Grid would pay Deepwater, now part of Danish-owned Orsted U.S. Offshore Wind, a flat rate over 20 years of 9.8 cents per kilowatt hour for power from its Revolution Wind Farm, a 400-megawatt project proposed in Rhode Island Sound. The deal is projected to save Rhode Island about $90 million in energy costs over the life of the contract, or about 50 cents per month for the typical electric customer in the state. Read more

RETAIL ENERGY SUPPLY ASSOCIATION: ANALYSIS REVEALS RETAIL ELECTRIC SUPPLIERS COULD HAVE SAVED CONNECTICUT CONSUMERS MORE THAN $14 MILLION IN THE FIRST MONTH OF 2019
Connecticut residential energy customers could have saved more than $14 million dollars in just the first month of 2019 and received greater value for their energy dollars such as renewable energy, fixed price plans, and loyalty rewards by shopping for electricity from competitive retail electric suppliers, according to data released today by the Retail Energy Supply Association (RESA). The analysis upends a report by the Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC) that recommends denying Connecticut consumers the right to choose who they buy their electricity from, leaving them captive to utility monopoly supply service. Read more

ISO-NE CAPACITY PRICES FALL AMID CONTROVERSY OVER VINEYARD WIND PARTICIPATION
In ISO-NE’s capacity auction this year, a limited amount of renewable resources were allowed to apply for special “renewable technology resource (RTR)” that would allow them to be exempt from the market’s price floor, the Minimum Offer Price Rule. Vineyard Wind sought RTR status, but was prohibited by a provision in ISO-NE’s tariff that limited RTR status to resources within the physical borders of a New England state. FERC declined to act on Vineyard Wind’s request or emergency motion in advance of FCA13. to file an emergency request for an auction delay. Read more

RESIDENTIAL SOLAR AND STORAGE BREAKS NEW GROUND AS SUNRUN WINS ISO-NE CAPACITY CONTRACT
ISO-NE on Monday became the first capacity market to accept an aggregated residential solar-plus-storage bid, awarding Sunrun for 20 MW of distributed grid capacity to be online in 2022. Read more

DOE ROLLS BACK OBAMA-ERA LIGHTBULB STANDARDS
The U.S. Department of Energy released a plan that would rescind lightbulb standards projected to save double the energy of any other efficiency regulation in history. The notice of proposed rulemaking, which has not yet been published in the Federal Register, would nullify Obama-era rules that would have expanded the types of lighting covered by stricter efficiency levels. Those higher levels were set to take effect in January 2020, according to federal law. Read more

NEXT CONSUMER LIASON GROUP MEETING MARCH 14, PROVIDENCE
The next meeting of the Consumer Liaison Group (CLG) will be held on March 14 at the Omni Providence Hotel. The topic will be, “Transforming the Power Sector: Customer Choice in a Changing Energy Landscape.”

NEW ENGLAND’S FORWARD CAPACITY AUCTION CLOSES WITH ADEQUATE POWER SYSTEM RESOURCES FOR 2022-2023
New England’s annual capacity auction for power system resources concluded Monday with sufficient resources to meet peak demand in 2022-2023, and preliminary results indicate the clearing price was the lowest in six years. Press release.

THE RISE OF MICROGRIDS AND DERS: OUT OF COMPETITION CAME INNOVATION
What was the impetus for the rise of microgrids and distributed energy resources? What role did competition play? A new special report from Microgrid Knowledge and NRG Energy explores the industry’s evolution. Here’s a look inside the history of electric competition.

CPES Policy Committee Update: January 22, 2019

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:

  • CT Energy & Technology Committee Schedules Informational Hearings
  • Upcoming ISO-NE Forward Capacity Market Webinars

LEGISLATIVE
CT Energy & Technology Committee Schedules Informational Hearings
The CT General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Energy & Technology has scheduled three informational hearings.  See the committee calendar for the agendas:

  • Jan. 24, 1:30 p.m. E&T Committee Informational Meeting on Telecom
  • Jan. 31, 2:15 p.m. E&T Committee Informational Meeting for Generators
  • Feb. 5, 12:30 p.m. E&T Committee Meeting 
  • Feb. 5, 1:45 p.m. E&T Committee Info Meeting for Regulators and Utilities

The Bil Record Book, which contains proposed House and Senate bills, is available here.

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY
Upcoming ISO-NE Forward Capacity Market Webinars
FCM New Capacity Offer Price Development 2/14, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. This webinar will provide market participants with information about the formulation of a new resource offer floor price and completing the cost workbook to support that price. The training is for new capacity resources, including generating resources, import capacity resources, demand resources, distributed generation, and energy storage resources.

FCM Show of Interest, 2/27.  These webinars will inform prospective project sponsors and market participants about the requirements and submittal process for the Show of Interest (SOI) for the fourteenth Forward Capacity Auction (FCA #14) to be held in February 2020 for the 2023-2024 Capacity Commitment Period.  The focus of these trainings is on how and when to submit the SOI and the information required for FCA qualification.

FCM Show of Interest for New Demand Resources 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
FCM Show of Interest for New Generation and Imports 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

 

 

2019 Annual Legislative Preview | February 5, 2019 | UCONN School of Law

Hosted by Connecticut Power and Energy Society (CPES) and Connecticut Bar Association’s (CBA) Energy Section

Policymakers share preview of energy priorities for 2019 legislative session

Transitioning to a renewable energy future, promoting economic opportunities for Connecticut ports, and keeping electricity rates as low as possible top the list of priorities for legislators overseeing energy policy in Connecticut

On February 5th, the leaders of the General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Energy and Technology (E&T) offered a preview of their priorities for the 2019 legislative session in an annual gathering with members of the Connecticut Power and Energy Society (CPES) and the Connecticut Bar Association’s Energy, Public Utility and Communications Law Section (CBA). The panel included E&T Co-chairs Sen. Norm Needleman and Rep. David Arconti, and Ranking Members Sen. Paul Formica and Rep. Charlie Ferraro. They related their perspectives on energy to their experience as energy users in the business world and as local elected officials. The event took place at the UCONN School of Law in Hartford.

The panel touted economic opportunities for Connecticut’s ports as offshore wind is being developed in the federal waters of southern New England. Connecticut’s coastal cities of New London and Bridgeport are prime locations to benefit from the emerging industry, they said, and better options than shipping equipment from countries in Europe.

The panel discussed the need to balance support for renewable energy and bringing down costs for electric ratepayers.

Reaching the state’s current goal of achieving 40 percent renewable energy by 2040 will be a challenge, one lawmaker observed, but the panel also noted that the state needs to move more toward renewables to achieve climate goals. Lawmakers were asked about the outlook for putting a more meaningful price on carbon emissions than what’s in place through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI. One panelist observed that carbon pricing may be the best long-term way to reduce carbon emissions, but it’s unclear how Connecticut, acting alone, can solve what was described as a national—or even a global—challenge.

During opening remarks and Q&A with CPES and CBA members, lawmakers touched on a wide range of energy sources and technologies, including nuclear power, solar power, offshore wind, fuel cells, energy storage, [anaerobic] digester plants, and grid modernization initiatives that would enable consumers to put excess energy they produce back onto the electric grid. Stabilizing baseload generation in Connecticut—notably nuclear power—needs to be a priority, one lawmaker observed, in the transition to a renewable energy future and the “next generation” of energy supply.

Lawmakers said they don’t intend for any one issue to dominate this session, and signaled that the traditionally bipartisan approach to policymaking will continue on the E&T Committee.

Senator Formica, who has appeared regularly at the annual CPES/CBA gathering, said “meetings like this are helpful to see how the puzzle pieces come together.”

To see photos from the event, please click here.

RTO Insider Article From Legislative Preview: 
Conn. Lawmakers Get, Give 2019 Energy Issues Rundown

 

 

CPES is once again partnering with the Connecticut Bar Association’s Energy Section to bring you the Annual Legislative Preview. The leaders of the Energy & Technology Committee will provide insight on their priorities for the 2019 Legislative Session.

The panel will be moderated by Sebastian Lombardi, Day Pitney LLP. 

AGENDA: 

5:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Networking Reception
The staff of the state’s regulatory agencies have been invited for this extended networking mix and mingle.

6:30 PM – 8:30 PM: Panel Discussion with Legislators
The leaders of the Energy & Technology Committee will provide insight on their priorities for the 2019 Legislative Session. 

WHERE:
University of Connecticut School of Law, 55 Elizabeth Street, Hartford, CT 06105;
William F. Starr Hall, second floor, Reading Room
UCONN School of Law MAP   |  Parking

CLE CREDITS:
CT: 1.5 CLE Credits*  |  NY: 0.0 CLE Credits*

*Registration is being administered by the CT Power and Energy Society and credit will not be automatically posted to your CLE Tracker. You may, however, self-report the credit. If you need assistance with self-reporting, please e-mail Shirley Perrin at sperrin@ctbar.org.