Tag Archives: Energy & Technology Committee

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: 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

NEP: Energy Legislation 101: The Process and What Passed in 2017


Half Day Event, 9am – Noon
Connecticut Legislative Office Building
Thursday, September 28, 2017
Lobbying 101 Presentation 

Wrap Up:

CPES Holds Second 101 Series Event for New Energy Professionals!

On September 28, 2017, the Connecticut Power and Energy Society’s New Energy Professionals Committee hosted “Energy Legislation 101: The Process and What Passed in 2017” at the Legislative Office Building and State Capitol in Hartford, Connecticut. Energy Legislation 101 is the second in a series of informational sessions established to assist recently joined CPES members and those new to the industry as they become acclimated and involved within the organization. The overarching goal of the 101 series is to provide a meaningful overview of state agencies and businesses with whom professionals in the industry interact. While the event was geared toward New Energy Professionals, many established professionals were also in attendance.

The day began with an overview of the legislative process in Connecticut from Melissa Biggs, a partner at DePino, Nunez & Biggs, LLC, and Christopher Cordima, an attorney in the Connecticut Legislative Commissioners’ Office.

The overview was followed by a timely discussion of energy legislation that passed during the 2017 legislative session and what issues may arise next session. Joining the conversation were Senator Bob Duff, Representative Tim Ackert, Representative Holly Cheeseman, Representative Mike Demicco, Representative Stephen Harding, and Representative Jonathan Steinberg.  All serve on the General Assembly’s Energy & Technology Committee, Environment Committee, or both!

The day ended with a tour of the Legislative Office Building and State Capitol.

Blurb:
Please join us as Connecticut’s key energy and environment legislative staff and leaders offer a three-part Energy Legislation 101 to CPES New Energy Professionals*!  Come brush up on all the details of the legislative process.  Continue into a timely discussion of the bills which become effective as of October 1st.  Finish with a tour of the Legislative Office Building and Capitol.

This is a free event, but please register at your earliest convenience as space is limited.

Agenda:
9:00am – Networking, Coffee and Danish
(Second Floor Atrium of the Legislative Office Building)

9:30am – Energy Legislation 101:  Basics and Procedures (Hearing Room 2E)
Melissa Biggs, DePino, Nunez & Biggs, LLC
Christopher Cordima, CT Legislative Commissioners’ Office

10:00am – Current and Future Legislation Discussion: A detailed and timely conversation about the energy bills that just passed and become effective as of October 1st. (Hearing Room 2E)

11:15am: (Optional) The League of Women Voters is offering a tour of the Legislative Office Building and Capitol

*This group is not limited to age range or years of experience.  We welcome everyone to reach out to us.

The goal of the 101 series is to provide a meaningful overview of state agencies and businesses with whom professionals in our industry interact.  While this series was established with our New Energy Professionals in mind, all are welcome.” – Alex Isaac, NEP Group Member

 

CPES Policy Committee Update: June 6, 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.

This week’s feature:

  • New England’s Wholesale Electricity Markets Were Competitive in 2016
  • Drift Is a New Startup Applying Peer-to-Peer Trading to Retail Electricity Markets
  • Eversource Energy to Buy Aquarion in $1.68 Billion Deal
  • PURA established a docket for the Application of The Southern Connecticut Gas Company to Increase Its Rates and Charges
  • Sub. Sen. Bill 900 passed in both chambers over the weekend

STATE AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

New England’s Wholesale Electricity Markets Were Competitive in 2016

The 2016 Annual Markets Report (AMR), issued by ISO New England’s Internal Market Monitor (IMM), concluded that New England’s wholesale power markets were competitive in 2016. The 2016 AMR covers the period from January 1 to December 31, 2016, and contains the IMM’s analyses of market operations and results.

The total value of the region’s wholesale electricity markets, including the cost of electric energy, capacity, ancillary services, and the cost of transmission services and upgrades, fell by about $1.7 billion, or 18%, from roughly $9.3 billion in 2015 to roughly $7.6 billion in 2016.

The total value of the region’s wholesale electric energy market in 2016 was $4.1 billion, which is 30% lower than the 2015 value of $5.9 billion. The 2016 electric energy market value was the lowest since 2003, when New England’s wholesale energy markets were launched in their current form. Over that same time period, the previous record-low market value was $5.2 billion in 2012

The decline in wholesale power prices mirrored a 34% year-over-year decline in the average price of natural gas, which is the fuel used most often to generate electricity in New England. Natural-gas-fired power plants produced 49% of the power generated in New England last year.

The full report is available on ISO New England’s website.

Drift Is a New Startup Applying Peer-to-Peer Trading to Retail Electricity Markets
The company is taking all the hottest tech in Silicon Valley and bringing it to New York’s retail energy market.

A Seattle-based startup is taking some of the most talked-about technology applications — machine learning, high-frequency trading, and peer-to-peer selling — and applying them to retail energy markets.

The 15-person company, called Drift, is attempting to change electricity delivery in deregulated markets by connecting consumers directly to energy producers on a cryptographically secure system (think blockchain), allowing it to granularly match a customer’s environmental or cost preferences.

Drift is made up of engineers who’ve worked at Amazon, Google and Microsoft; a data scientist from Argonne National Laboratory; a head of marketing from Uber; and a former FERC attorney.

Greg Robinson, the co-founder and CEO, said the platform was designed to “ruthlessly lower costs in the supply chain” and provide a more customized experience for people looking for energy choice.

https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/drift-is-a-startup-applying-peer-to-peer-trading-to-retail-electricity

Eversource Energy to Buy Aquarion in $1.68 Billion Deal
On June 2nd, The Hartford Courant reported that Eversource Energy had announced they had reached an agreement to buy Aquarion Water Co. for $1.68 billion, combining New England’s largest electric and gas utility with a dominant water company in Connecticut. MORE INFO

PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY NEW DOCKET:

On May 26, 2017, PURA established the following docket:

 

CONNECTICUT LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

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

The Energy and Technology Committee’s JF deadline was March 23, 2017.  The list of bills reported out of the Energy and Technology Committee is available at:  https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/CommJFList.asp?comm_code=et and additional information about the status of these bills is available at: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2017/etdata/cbr/et.asp

Sub. Sen. Bill 900 passed in both chambers over the weekend.  Below is the title of the bill and two links to find the language.

AN ACT CONCERNING MINOR REVISIONS TO ELECTRIC SUPPLIER COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS REGARDING ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS, RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARDS AND ADVERTISING AND CONTRACT PROVISIONS AND THE PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY’S REPORTING OF ELECTRIC RATES. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2017/FC/pdf/2017SB-00900-R000344-FC.pdf and https://www.cga.ct.gov/2017/amd/S/pdf/2017SB-00900-R00SA-AMD.pdf

CPES does not take a position on these legislative proposals; this is provided for informational purposes only to CPES members.

CPES Policy Committee Update: April 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.

This week’s features:

  • ISO New England Releases Draft 2017-2026 Load Forecast Showing Energy Usage Declining Slightly and Peak Demand Remaining Flat
  • New England States Committee on Electricity Releases Scenario Analysis Report
  • CT DEEP has issued a revised Request for Proposals
  • The Energy and Technology Committee’s JF deadline was March 23, 2017

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

ISO New England Releases Draft 2017-2026 Load Forecast Showing Energy Usage Declining Slightly and Peak Demand Remaining Flat

Every year, ISO New England develops a projection of how much electricity the region will use and how high demand will peak during each of the next 10 years. The 10-year forecast is a key system planning tool, helping ensure New England has an adequate supply of resources to meet future demand, and a transmission system that can do the job of carrying power to residents and businesses.

The draft long-term forecast for 2017 to 2026 projects that energy usage will decline slightly in New England and peak demand will remain flat over the 10-year period. The primary factors are continuing robust installation of energy-efficiency measures and behind-the-meter solar arrays throughout the region, as well as a slightly lower forecast for economic growth in New England.

For more information, visit the ISO Newswire.

New England States Committee on Electricity Releases Scenario Analysis Report

The New England States Committee on Electricity (NESCOE) has released the first portion of a two-phase economic analysis of a variety of hypothetical renewable and clean energy futures in New England. NESCOE characterized the analysis as “one piece of information, together with other studies, data and information produced by [ISO New England], individual states, and market participants that may inform policymakers’ consideration of issues related to New England’s competitive wholesale electric market and hypothetical resource futures.” NESCOE also said that it “welcomes from market participants or others any facts or data that clarify, correct, or should be considered in reviewing the study results.”

For more information, visit the NESCOE website.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (“DEEP”) has issued a revised Request for Proposals (“RFP”) regarding  the Shared Clean Energy Facility Pilot Program pursuant to Public Act 15-113. The revised RFP seeks to align the definition of core forest with the responses to questions received. The revised RFP is available here.

CONNECTICUT LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:

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

The Energy and Technology Committee’s JF deadline was March 23, 2017.  The list of bills reported out of the Energy and Technology Committee is available at:  https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/CommJFList.asp?comm_code=et and additional information about the status of these bills is available at: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2017/etdata/cbr/et.asp

CPES does not take a position on these legislative proposals; this is provided for informational purposes only to CPES members.