Tag Archives: Electric Grid

CPES Policy Committee Update: February 6, 2018

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:

  • New RFP for Clean Energy
  • DEEP/PURA Determination on Millstone Study
  • NH Rejects Northern Pass Transmission, Throwing Project into Doubt
  • ISO Releases Web-Based Training Module on Energy Markets
  • CT Legislative Session will convene on February 7th
  • Energy and Technology Informational Meeting on February 8th and 13th at 1pm

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

NEW RFP FOR CLEAN ENERGY
On January 31, 2018 DEEP issued a final RFP for certain Class I resources: offshore wind, fuel cells, fuels cells paired with combined heat and power, and anaerobic digestion facilities. Energy storage may be co-located with projects. Proposals are due by April 1, 2018. DEEP anticipates selection of bidders in June 2018 and submittal of contracts to PURA for approval in the fall of 2018.

DEEP/PURA DETERMINATION ON MILLSTONE STUDY
A final determination was released on February 1, 2018 and concludes that under certain assumptions, the Millstone Generating Facility could face retirement, however, such risk cannot be determined without additional audited financial data. The final determination recommends moving forward with a multi-tiered procurement that offers favored pricing to Dominion if Dominion is able to submit financial data verifying Millstone’s retirement risk. Without a verified retirement showing, Dominion’s bid would be evaluated against the forecasted price of power. The conclusions reached in the final determination will now be considered by the Legislature in the upcoming Session.

NEW HAMPSHIRE REJECTS NORTHERN PASS TRANSMISSION, THROWING PROJECT INTO DOUBT
The New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee (SEC) yesterday unanimously rejected the Northern Pass transmission project, throwing the project’s future into doubt.The New Hampshire SEC’s decision to reject Northern Pass came as a surprise yesterday, only a week after Massachusetts gave the project a green light and a major role in its energy plans. The project has sparked backlash from residents in New Hampshire, and a lawyer for the siting board reportedly said that Eversource had failed to prove the transmission would not “unduly interfere with the orderly development of the region.” It is not clear yet what the decision will mean for the project. Even if Northern Pass appeals and ultimately wins, the process could set the project behind schedule. An expedited schedule is one reason Massachusetts selected the line — its schedule was two years shorter than other proposals. A spokesperson for the Massachusetts Attorney General said yesterday the decision “raises serious questions about this timetable.” That announcement follows Healey’s calls for an investigation into the process used to select Northern Pass.

ISO RELEASES WEB-BASED TRAINING MODULE ON ENERGY MARKETS
The ISO released a new training module: New England’s Energy Markets that provides a brief overview of the region’s wholesale electricity markets, explaining how and why they were formed and the role of each market in the broader wholesale marketplace. The training focuses on the ISO’s day-ahead and real-time energy markets, the financial settlement of the markets, and how they are monitored.  

The module is the fourth in a series of core modules. Click here to access this training in ISO-TEN, the ISO’s Training and Events Network. The three previous modules are available in the links below:

  1. Overview of the Bulk Power System and ISO New England
  2. Introduction to ISO New England System Operations
  3. Introduction to ISO New England System Planning

ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY NEWS:

Maine’s governor puts the kibosh on new wind power in the state

Will the country’s first mandatory residential demand charge slow the Massachusetts solar boom?

2018 CONNECTICUT LEGISLATIVE SESSION
The 2018 Regular Session of the Connecticut General Assembly convenes on February 7, 2018.  Information about the Energy and Technology Committee is available here.

ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY INFORMATIONAL MEETING 
On February 8th and 13th at 1:00pm the Energy and Technology Committee will hold a Stakeholders Status Report on Energy in Connecticut. Where are we? Where are we going?  (LOB Room 2D)

CPES Policy Committee Update: January 23, 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:

  • Operational Fuel-Security Analysis Released
  • U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari in Allco v. Klee
  • Update on the Economic Stability of Millstone
  • CT Legislative Session will convene on Wednesday, February 7th
  • PURA Dockets released in January

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

OPERATIONAL FUEL-SECURITY ANALYSIS RELEASED
On January 17th, ISO New England released its Operational Fuel-Security Analysis, a study assessing whether possible future resource combinations have enough fuel to ensure bulk power system reliability throughout an entire winter. The results indicate that maintaining reliability is likely to become more challenging, especially if current power system trends continue. Read the press release, and find more information on the ISO New England website.

ALLCO V.KLEE
The U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari in Allco v. Klee. In June 2017, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s dismissal. It concluded that Connecticut’s renewable energy procurement program was not preempted by the Federal Power Act and the state’s rule that the state’s RPS program did not violate the dormant Commerce Clause. The opinion is particularly significant because it is the first federal court decision to discuss the scope of the Supreme Court’s 2016 Hughes decision. The Second Circuit’s interpretation of Hughes will inform district courts that are weighing motions to dismiss claims about zero emission credits (ZECs) for nuclear plants. Click here to view the procedural overview courtesy of the State Power Project.  

CONNECTICUT

UPDATE ON THE ECONOMIC STABILITY OF MILLSTONE
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) have released a revised draft report in Docket No. 17-07-32: DEEP and PURA Joint Proceeding to Implement the Governor’s Executive Order Number 59. The joint proceeding is tasked with reviewing the economic stability of the Millstone nuclear generating station in Waterford, Connecticut.  The most recent draft report reverses previous conclusions reached by PURA/DEEP regarding Millstone’s retirement risk and supports implementing a multi-tiered solicitation to procure energy from nuclear power facilities such as Millstone. DEEP/PURA have requested comments on the revised draft report which are due this Thursday, January 25, 2018. The notice and draft report are available here: http://www.dpuc.state.ct.us/dockcurr.nsf/All/E08A9CCEF25C28FB8525821D0055E28F?OpenDocument

2018 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
The 2018 Regular Session of the Connecticut General Assembly convenes on February 7, 2018.  Information about the Energy and Technology Committee is available here.

RECENTLY RELEASED PURA DOCKETS
On January 16, 2018, PURA established the following docket: Docket No. 18-01-31:  2017 Report to the Legislature – Electric Supplier Report 

On January 11, 2018, PURA established the following dockets:
Docket No. 18-01-29:  Annual Report to the Legislature – The State of Electric Competition 
Docket No. 18-01-28:  2018 Report to the General Assembly Regarding the Connecticut Electric Efficiency Partners Program 

On January 3, 2018, PURA established the following docket: Docket No. 18-01-15:  PURA Review of Rate Adjustments Related to the Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 

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: September 18, 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:

  • New Clustering Methodology Proposed for ISO New England’s Interconnection Procedures
  • 2017 Draft Comprehensive Energy Strategy Comments due by September 25

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

NEW CLUSTERING METHODOLOGY PROPOSED FOR ISO NEW ENGLAND’S INTERCONNECTION PROCEDURES
Earlier this month, ISO New England, jointly with the New England Power Pool Participants Committee and the Participating Transmission Owners Administrative Committee, filed proposed tariff changes to incorporate a new clustering methodology in the ISO’s interconnection procedures. When specific conditions are present in the ISO’s interconnection queue, the proposed methodology would allow two or more interconnection requests to be analyzed in the same System Impact Study and for developers to share costs for certain interconnection-related transmission upgrades. Typically, each individual interconnection request involves complex and often lengthy engineering studies to identify the necessary system upgrades to accommodate the proposed resource. Therefore, at times, individual interconnection projects are not able or willing to make the necessary system upgrade investments.

The filing parties propose to first implement the clustering methodology to help move forward the backlog of interconnection requests experienced in Northern and Western Maine, where more than 5,800 megawatts of proposed new resources, mostly wind, are seeking to interconnect to the regional grid. For more information, visit the ISO Newswire.

2017 DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY STRATEGY COMMENTS DUE 9/25

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) released a draft of the 2017 Comprehensive Energy Strategy (CES) on June 26th. Comments are due by September 25th. Visit the DEEP website for more information.

CPES Policy Committee Update: August 28, 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:

  • RGGI States Announced Proposed Program Changes Beginning in 2021
  • United State Department of Energy Releases Report on Electric Grid Reliability and Resilience
  • 2017 CES Technical Meeting: September 13

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

RGGI STATES ANNOUNCE PROPOSED PROGRAM CHANGES BEGINNING IN 2021
On August 23, 2017, the nine Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) announced proposed changes to the program beginning in 2021. The proposed changes, stemming from a 2016 Program Review, include a regional cap of 75,147,784 tons of CO2 in 2021, which will decline by 2.275 million tons of CO2 per year through 2030, resulting in a 30% reduction in the regional cap from 2020 to 2030. Additional adjustments have been proposed to account for the full bank of excess allowances at the end of 2020, as well as other proposed modifications.

The RGGI states will seek stakeholder comment on the draft program elements in a public meeting scheduled for September 25. Materials, including a stakeholder meeting notice and a supplementary table of year-by-year regional numbers, are posted to the RGGI, Inc. website.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY RELEASES REPORT ON ELECTRIC GRID RELIABILITY AND RESILIENCE
On August 23, 2017, the US Department of Energy (DOE) released a report focused on a variety of challenges impacting the reliability and resilience of the electric grid. The report was initiated by the Secretary of Energy in April, with a focus on the effects of various economic and political factors on electric grid operations, including baseload generation powered by nuclear and coal.

The report highlights the significant impact of lower-cost natural gas on the retirement of generators that previously operated as baseload generation. The report also discusses the impacts of lower electricity demand (in part due to investments in energy efficiency), increased output from renewable resources, and various environmental regulations on nuclear and coal-fired power plants. DOE makes several recommendations for ways to improve reliability and resiliency, including for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to move forward with efforts to improve price formation in wholesale markets and potentially find ways to compensate assets providing important reliability characteristics.

The full report is available at: https://energy.gov/staff-report-secretary-electricity-markets-and-reliability

CONNECTICUT

DATES SET FOR THE DRAFT 2017 COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY STRATEGY TECHNICAL HEARINGS
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) released a draft of the 2017 Comprehensive Energy Strategy (CES) on June 26th. They will hold a technical meeting on September 13, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in Hearing Room 1, at DEEP’s New Britain Office, Ten Franklin Square, New Britain, Connecticut Directions to DEEP’s New Britain Office. The purpose of the technical meetings are to allow stakeholders an opportunity to present oral comments and to pose questions to DEEP staff and consultants involved in the preparation of the analytics and the findings in the draft Strategy. DEEP requests that you RSVP and send your questions to DEEP.EnergyBureau@ct.gov three business days prior to the scheduled date if you plan on attending and/or participating in any of the scheduled technical meetings. Visit the DEEP website for more information.