Tag Archives: DEEP

CPES Policy Committee Update: December 5, 2017

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 New England Releases Its 2017/2018 Winter Outlook
  • Dominion Submits Confidential Financial Data

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

ISO New England Releases Its 2017/2018 Winter Outlook
On November 30, ISO New England issued its winter outlook press release, noting that the “New England power system is expected to have the resources needed to meet consumer demand for electricity this winter.” However, the ISO also cautions that “power system operations could become challenging if demand is higher than projected, if the region loses a large generator or electricity import facility, or when natural gas pipeline constraints limit the fuel available to natural-gas-fired power plants. In those instances, the ISO could be required to implement special operating procedures to maintain reliability.”

The ISO forecasts peak demand, assuming normal winter temperatures of about 7 degrees Fahrenheit, of 21,197 MW. However, that demand could grow to 21,895 MW if extreme winter weather of 2°F occurs. For more information, visit the ISO Newswire.

CONNECTICUT

Dominion Submits Confidential Financial Data
Dominion Energy Nuclear Connecticut, Inc. has submitted confidential financial data regarding its Millstone Power Station in response to data requests previously issued by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA). The requests were issued as part of the DEEP and PURA Joint Proceeding to Implement the Governor’s Executive Order Number 59. The joint proceeding is examining the financial viability of the Millstone Power Station and exploring the potential for state-sponsored price support. A draft report is due from DEEP/PURA December 19, 2017.

CPES Policy Committee Update: November 13

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: 

  • DEEP intends to solicit offshore wind, fuel cells and anaerobic digestors
  • Gov. Malloy Signs Millstone Bill and Encourages Dominion’s Participation

CONNECTICUT

CT DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
On November 8, 2017 the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) issued a Notice of Proceeding indicating DEEP intends to issue a draft Request for Proposals by December 15, 2017 pursuant to Section 8 of Public Act 13-303, as amended by Public Act 17-144. Under the RFP, DEEP intends to solicit offshore wind, fuel cells and anaerobic digestors. The Notice is available here.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Gov. Malloy Signs Millstone Bill and Encourages Dominion’s Participation. View the Governor’s Press Release, Letter from the Commissioner’s of DEEP and PURA and the Preliminary Progress Report from LAI.

CPES Policy Committee Update: October 24

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 New England Delays Release of Study on Regional Fuel Security
  • PURA Established a Docket on PURA’s Annual Review of the Purchased Gas Adjustment Clause Charges or Credits Filed by Connecticut Local Distribution Companies 
  • PURA Established a Docket for PURA’s Review of the LDCs’ Gas Supply Portfolio, Asset Strategies and Practices 
  • PURA Established a Docket for Review of LREC/ZREC Projects 
  • Potential Sweep of RGGI Funds
  • First Round Comments on DEEP’s Draft 2017 CES Available

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

ISO NEW ENGLAND DELAYS RELEASE OF STUDY ON REGIONAL FUEL SECURITY
ISO New England will delay the release of its Operational Fuel-Security Analysis pending resolution of the US Department of Energy (DOE) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) issued to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on September 28, 2017. ISO New England intends to release the results of the analysis once the DOE NOPR is sufficiently resolved. For more information, see the ISO’s official statement.

CONNECTICUT

PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY NEW DOCKETS
On October 19, 2017, PURA established the following docket:
Docket No. 18-10-01:  PURA Annual Review of the Purchased Gas Adjustment Clause Charges or Credits Filed by Connecticut Local Distribution Companies 

On October 16, 2017, PURA established the following docket:
Docket No. 17-10-31:  PURA Review of the LDCs’ Gas Supply Portfolio, Asset Strategies and Practices 

On October 10, 2017, PURA established the following docket:
Docket No. 17-10-19:  Review of LREC/ZREC Projects 

POTENTIAL SWEEP OF RGGI FUNDS
The tentative budget agreement, which is still being negotiated, may include sweeps of the Energy Efficiency Fund, the Connecticut Green Bank, and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.  More information is available here.

CES FIRST ROUND COMMMENTS AVAILABLE
The first round of comments on the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s (DEEP) draft 2017 Comprehensive Energy Strategy were due September 25, 2017. The comments are available on the DEEP webpage at the following link: http://www.dpuc.state.ct.us/DEEPEnergy.nsf/$EnergyView?OpenForm&Start=1&Count=30&Expand=6.2&Seq=2

CPES Policy Committee Update: October 3, 2017

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:

  • U.S. Department of Energy Proposes Grid Resiliency Rule for FERC Action
  • First Round Comments on DEEP’s draft 2017 Comprehensive Energy Strategy Available

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

U.S. Department of Energy Proposes Grid Resiliency Rule for FERC Action

On September 29, 2017, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) filed a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) directing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) to issue a final rule to “ensure that the reliability and resiliency attributes of generation with on-site fuel supplies are fully valued.” The NOPR pointed to the significant number of retirements of fuel-secure generation and stated that the rule must provide for “recovery of costs of fuel-secure generation units frequently relied upon to make our grid reliable and resilient.”

DOE is requiring the Commission to consider and take final action on the proposed rule within 60 days from the date of publication of the NOPR in the Federal Register. In the alternative, DOE urges the Commission to issue the rule as an interim final rule, effective immediately, with provision for later modifications after consideration of public comments.  

First Round Comments Available

The first round of comments on the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s (DEEP) draft 2017 Comprehensive Energy Strategy were due September 25, 2017. The comments are available on the DEEP webpage at the following link: http://www.dpuc.state.ct.us/DEEPEnergy.nsf/$EnergyView?OpenForm&Start=1&Count=30&Expand=6.2&Seq=2

CPES Policy Committee Update: September 26, 2017

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:

  • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Activity: U.S. Senate Energy Committee Sends FERC Nominees to Full Senate
  • Update on Millstone Power Station
  • CT Budget: Energy Industry Impact

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION ACTICITY: U.S. SENATE ENERGY COMMITTEE SEND FERC NOMINEES TO FULL SENATE
On September 19, 2017, the U.S. Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee approved two nominees to serve as commissioners on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)—Kevin McIntyre and Richard Glick. McIntyre, a republican who will be designated as chairman, has been nominated to two terms ending in 2023. The Committee held a nomination hearing for McIntyre and Glick on September 7. The nominations now head to the Senate floor.

If confirmed, McIntyre and Glick will join Commissioners Cheryl LaFleur and Robert Powelson, and Acting Chairman Neil Chatterjee, returning a full complement of five commissioners to FERC.

CONNECTICUT

MILLSTONE POWER STATION UPDATE
The fireworks continue in the joint DEEP-PURA proceeding to study the economic viability of Millstone Station. Last week, in a response to a series of data requests from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), Dominion declined to answer a majority of inquiries about its revenue, expenses, cash flow and earnings. “Dominion Energy will not provide competitively sensitive or proprietary information related to this request … at this time,” the company wrote. DEEP and PURA staff will likely be forced to move forward using estimates based on public information. See articles from Hartford Business Journal and the Courant.

CONNECTICUT BUDGET: IMPACT ON THE ENERGY INDUSTRY
The Republican budget, that passed in dramatic fashion, includes a provision to remove PURA from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, which has existed as a single agency since 2011. As passed, the bill also eliminates statutory authorization of the Bureau of Energy and Technology Policy. The Republican budget: (1) Reduces rates and decreases costs for Connecticut’s ratepayers, (2) ensures the reliability and safety of our state’s energy supply, (3) increases the use of clean energy and technologies that support clean energy, and (4) develops the state’s energy-related economy. The head of such authority shall be the chairperson elected in accordance with section 16-2 of the state statutes. Despite passing both the House and the Senate, Governor Malloy has threatened to veto the budget. See article from WNPR