Tag Archives: Energy & Technology Committee

CPES Policy Committee Update: March 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 Meeting: March 19
  • PURA Docket Number 19-03-10
  • Off shore wind measures advance out of committee
  • Dominion to keep Connecticut Millstone nuclear plant in service
  • Hartford Courant “At New London’s State Pier, wind power gives Connecticut its next economic development opportunity
  • 2018 Report of the Consumer Liaison Group Published
  • ISO New England Press Release on 2018 Wholesale Electricity Prices

CONNECTICUT

LEGISLATIVE
ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
The Energy & Technology Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly will hold a Committee Meeting on March 19 at 10:30 AM in Room 2B of the Legislative Office Building. The Bill Record Book, which contains proposed House and Senate bills, is available here.

PURA DOCKET
On March 12, 2019, PURA established Docket No. 19-03-10: 2019 PURA Report to the General Assembly Concerning Lost and Unaccounted for Gas

INDUSTRY

OFF SHORE WIND MEASURES ADVANCE OUT OF COMMITTEE
The co-chairs of the Energy & Technology Committee announced that two off shore wind important measures moved out committee. The legislation, SB 875, An Act Expanding Connecticut’s Offshore Wind Energy Portfolio, would expand offshore wind energy and HB 7156, An Act Concerning The Procurement Of Energy Derived From Offshore Wind, would authorize the procurement of energy derived from offshore wind. Article 

DOMINION TO KEEP CONNECTICUT MILLSTONE NUCLEAR PLANT IN SERVICE
Dominion Energy Inc said on Friday that it reached a 10-year agreement with Connecticut utilities that will keep the state’s only nuclear power station in service. Read article here

HARTFORD COURANT “AT NEW LONDON’S STATE PIER, WIND POWER GIVES CONNECTICUT ITS NEXT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY” Read the full story here.

INDUSTRY

2018 REPORT OF THE CONSUMER LIAISON GROUP PUBLISHED
The report, prepared jointly by the Consumer Liaison Group (CLG) Coordinating Committee and ISO New England highlights the 2018 activities of the CLG and provides an update on other consumer-related, wholesale electricity industry topics. 

ISO NEW ENGLAND PRESS RELEASE ON 2018 WHOLESALE ELECTRICITY PRICES
ISO-NE’s average wholesale electricity price in 2018 rose over the 2017 price, but still ranked as the six-lowest since the current wholesale markets were implemented in 2004. Read more in the press release.

 

 

CPES Policy Committee Update: March 5, 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: March 5
  • Finalized Auction Results Confirm Sufficient Capacity Resources for 2022–2023
  • FERC Accepts Revisions for Batteries and Other Emerging Storage Technologies to More Fully Participate in the New England Markets

CONNECTICUT

LEGISLATIVE
ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
The Energy & Technology Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly will hold a public hearing on March 5 at 10:00 AM.  Agenda  The agenda includes An Act Concerning Energy Efficiency Standards (HB 7151) introduced by Governor Lamont.

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

INDUSTRY
FINALIZED AUCTION RESULTS CONFIRM SUFFICIENT CAPACITY RESOURCES 2022–2023
ISO New England has filed the finalized results of FCA-13 with FERC. A press release summarizing the filing, and the full filing, can be found on the ISO’s website.

FERC ACCEPTS REVISIONS FOR BATTERIES AND OTHER EMERGING STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES TO MORE FULLY PARTICIPATE IN THE NEW ENGLAND MARKETS 
The revisions allow emerging storage technologies to be dispatched in the Real-Time Energy Market in a manner that more fully recognizes their ability to transition continuously and rapidly between a charging state and a discharging state and provides a means for their simultaneous participation in the energy, reserves, and regulation markets. Learn more about these market changes from ISO.

FERC SCHEDULES RELIABILITY TECHNICAL CONFERENCE ON RELIABILITY OF THE BULK-POWER SYSTEM
FERC will hold a Technical Conference on Thursday, June 27, 2019, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM to discuss policy issues related to the reliability of the Bulk-Power System

CPES Policy Committee Update: February 26, 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 Hearing Feb 26
  • Governor Lamont Introduces Two Energy Bills
  • ISO-NE Publishes 2019 “State of the Grid” Media Briefing Materials
  • Registration Open for ISO Webinars: FCM Show of Interest for New Demand Resources and FCM Show of Interest for New Generation and Imports

CONNECTICUT

LEGISLATIVE
ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
The Energy & Technology Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly will hold a public hearing on February 26 at 1:45 PM.  Agenda 

The Bill Record Book, which contains House and Senate Energy bills, is available here.

CONNECTICUT
GOVERNOR LAMONT INTRODUCES TWO ENERGY BILLS
As part of the 2019 Legislative Proposal from Governor Lamont’s administration, two energy bills address offshore wind energy procurements and energy efficiency standards:
SB 875, An Act Expanding Connecticut’s Offshore Wind Energy Portfolio
HB 7151, An Act Concerning Energy Efficiency Standards

 

ISO-NE PUBLISHES 2019 “STATE OF THE GRID” MEDIA BRIEFING MATERIALS
ISO New England President and CEO Gordon van Welie updated reporters on the state of the region’s power system during a media briefing on February 20, 2019. The presentation and remarks are now available on ISO’s website.

REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR ISO WEBINARS: FCM SHOW OF INTEREST FOR NEW DEMAND RESOURCES AND FCM SHOW OF INTEREST FOR NEW GENERATION AND IMPORTS
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. Register now.

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

 

 

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.