Tag Archives: Legislature

CPES Policy Committee Update: June 19, 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:

  • Connecticut Selects Over 250 MW of Renewable Energy Projects 
  • Green Bank Launches Pilot Program for New Construction
  • Summary of 2018 Energy Legislation
  • “Pay-for-performance” capacity market incentives implemented as of June 1, 2018

CONNECTICUT

CONNECTICUT SELECTS OVER 250 MW OF RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS  
Last week, as part of DEEP’s recent Clean Energy Request for Proposals, week the state selected over 250 MW of clean and renewable energy projects. The projects include the state’s first procurement of offshore wind, in addition to multiple fuel cell projects and a new anaerobic digestion facility.  For more information on the projects, see DEEP’s press release.

GREEN BANK LAUNCHES PILOT PROGRAM FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION
On Friday, the Green Bank announced a two-year pilot program that will broaden the use of its popular Commercial and Industrial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program to those designing and constructing new buildings, as well as major redevelopments. New commercial and industrial buildings designed and built to exceed what is required by Connecticut building and energy codes will be eligible to receive C-PACE financing for a portion of their overall eligible construction cost. C-PACE New Construction can be applied for a wide range of property types, including major redevelopment of existing and historic sites. The funding can be used to pay for expenses related to engineering, design and energy modeling as well as HVAC, elevators, clean energy generation, among other costs. Read more in the Green Bank’s press release.

SUMMARY OF 2018 ENERGY LEGISLATION
Earlier this month the CT Office of Legislative Research released their annual report on “Acts Affecting Energy and Utilities” summarizing laws passed during the 2018 regular legislative session affecting energy and utilities.

“PAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE” CAPACITY MARKET INCENTIVES IMPLEMENTED AS OF JUNE 1, 2018
“Pay-for-performance” (PFP)—a cornerstone of ISO New England’s ongoing, multi-faceted effort to address trends that are challenging power system reliability—became effective on June 1, 2018. PFP is part of New England’s Forward Capacity Market (FCM) design, which acquires obligations from resources needed to meet demand three years into the future. 

CPES Policy Committee Update: May 15, 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:

  • ISO-NE publishes 2018 forecast of capacity, energy, loads, and transmission
  • NYISO, PJM, and ISO New England interregional committee releases 2017 Northeast Coordinated System Plan
  • PURA Dockets Recently Established
  • Energy & Technology Committee bills that passed both chambers during the Regular Session

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

ISO-NE PUBLISHES 2018 FORECAST OF CAPACITY, ENERGY, LOADS AND TRANSMISSION
ISO New England’s recently published  2018-2027 Forecast Report of Capacity, Energy, Loads, and Transmission (CELT) provides a snapshot of the New England power system and is a primary source for assumptions used in ISO system planning and reliability studies. The long-term forecast for electricity use is developed each year using state and regional economic forecasts, 40 years of weather history in New England, results of both the ISO’s energy-efficiency (EE) forecast and solar photovoltaic (PV) forecast, and other factors. The 2018 CELT projects that both energy usage and peak demand will decline slightly in New England 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. For more information on the CELT projections for 2018 to 2027, see ISO’s Newswire article.  Detailed forecasts and models are available on ISO’s Load Forecast webpage.

NYISO, PJM, AND ISO NEW ENGLAND INTERREGIONAL COMMITTEE RELEASES 2017 NORTHEAST COORDINATED SYSTEM PLAN
The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), ISO New England (ISO-NE), and PJM (i.e., the Regional Transmission Organization [RTO] for all or parts of 13 eastern and Midwestern states and the District of Columbia) work collaboratively to coordinate the planning of their interconnected systems. The 2017 Northeast Coordinated System Plan (NCSP17) summarizes the ISO/RTOs 2016 and 2017 interregional planning efforts.  The report covers compliance with FERC Order No. 1000, interregional planning activities and protocol, each region’s planning processes, and other interregional activities.  No new needs for interregional transmission projects were identified in the analysis. For more information on the report and its findings, see ISO-NE’s summary.

CONNECTICUT

On May 11, 2018, PURA established the following: Docket No. 18-05-10:  Application of Yankee Gas Services Company d/b/a Eversource Energy to Amend its Rate Schedules 

On May 8, 2018, PURA established the following: Docket No. 18-05-04:  PURA Implementation of June Special Session Public Act 17-3 

The 2018 Regular Session of the Connecticut General Assembly adjourned May 9, 2018.  The following Energy & Technology Committee bills passed both chambers during the Regular Session:

  • SB 333:  AAC MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC UTILITIES AND RATE DESIGN STUDIES
  • HB 5348:  AA MAKING USEFUL THERMAL ENERGY GENERATED FROM BIODIESEL A CLASS I RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCE AND CREATING A HOMEOWNER-GENERATED USEFUL THERMAL ENERGY PROGRAM
  • SB 9:  AAC CONNECTICUT’S ENERGY FUTURE

CPES Policy Committee Update: May 1, 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:

  • FERC’s State of the Markets Report 2017
  • ISO New England Winter Recap
  • Setting Regional Solar and Wind Power Records in New England
  • FERC Issues Letter Accepting the Results of the 12th Forward Capacity Auction
  • Docket No. 18-04-25: PURA Investigation Regarding Issues Related to Uncollectible Accounts and Docket No. 10-06-18RE02: Application of Spark Energy, L.P. for an Electric Supplier License – Investigation Into Marketing 

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

FERC’S STATE OF THE MARKETS REPORT 2017
FERC’s Office of Enforcement’s Division of Energy Market Oversight published their annual assessment of natural gas, electric, and other energy markets developments during the past year.  The Commission’s accompanying presentation is always available on their website.

ISO NEW ENGLAND WINTER RECAP
ISO New England published a recap of the 2017/2018 winter conditions, describing the effect of the historic cold snap in the final week of December and first week of January. For more on how these cold weather conditions impacted grid operations, see ISO-NE’s analysis.

SETTING REGIONAL SOLAR AND WIND POWER RECORDS IN NEW ENGLAND
Over 130,000 solar power installations now span the six New England states, totaling about 2,400 MW (nameplate)—over 5,800 MW are expected by 2027. Almost all this solar power is connected to local distribution utilities or “behind the meter” (BTM) directly at retail customer sites. On April 9, a cool, cloudless day across New England, BTM solar power set a new regional record. Wind, energy-efficiency measures and storage are also contributing to the changing grid, reducing  the region’s emissions. Learn more at ISO-New England’s website.

FERC ISSUES LETTER ACCEPTING THE RESULTS OF THE 12TH FORWARD CAPACITY AUCTION
FERC issued a letter order accepting ISO New England’s filing of the results of the twelfth Forward Capacity Auction, held on February 5-6, 2018 for the June 1, 2021 through May 31, 2022 Capacity Commitment Period. The document has been posted to the ISO’s website. 

CONNECTICUT

RECENT PURA DOCKETS
On April 26, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 18-04-25:  PURA Investigation Regarding Issues Related to Uncollectible Accounts 

On April 25, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 10-06-18RE02:  Application of Spark Energy, L.P. for an Electric Supplier License – Investigation Into Marketing 

CONNECTICUT LEGISLATIVE SESSION
The 2018 Regular Session of the Connecticut General Assembly convened on February 7, 2018 and will adjourn on May 9, 2018.  General information about the Energy and Technology Committee is available at: https://www.cga.ct.gov/et

 

 

 

 

CPES Policy Committe Update: March 27, 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:

  • ISO New England Video Presentation: Demand Resources: Energy Market Offers & Asset Management
  • PURA Dockets Released on March 20
  • Meeting Minutes from the Energy & Technology Committee Meeting on March 20
  • Energy & Technology Committee Meeting on March 29 at 10:00AM in Room 1D

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

DEMAND RESOURCES: ENERGY MARKET OFFERS & ASSET MANAGEMENT
This ISO New England video presentation provides a demonstration of tasks in eMarket and in the Customer Asset Management System (CAMS) that demand resource operators will need to perform on a regular basis with the implementation of the Price-Responsive Demand project on June 1, 2018 (48 minutes; chapter markers in the video description that you can use to jump to any section).

CONNECTICUT
On March 20, 2018, PURA established the following dockets:

  • Docket No. 18-03-28:  2018 PURA Report to the General Assembly Concerning Lost and Unaccounted for Gas 
  • Docket No. 18-03-29:  2018 PURA Review of Connecticut Public Service Company Plans for Restoration of Service that is Interrupted as Result of an Emergency 
  • Docket No. 18-03-32:  Review of the 2017 System Expansion Reconciliation Mechanisms Filed By: Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation, The Southern Connecticut Gas Company and Yankee Gas Services Company 

2018 CONNECTICUT LEGISLATIVE SESSION
The 2018 Regular Session of the Connecticut General Assembly convened on February 7, 2018 and will adjourn on May 9, 2018.  General information about the Energy and Technology Committee is available here.

  • The Energy and Technology Committee held a committee meeting on March 20, 2018.  Meeting Minutes   
  • The Energy and Technology Committee will hold a committee meeting on March 29, 2018 in Room 1D to review bills. 

CPES Policy Committee Update: February 13, 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:

  • ISO’s Forward Capacity Auction
  • CT’s Net Metering Program
  • Energy and Technology Committee Information
  • PURA Docket No. 18-02-02:  Annual Reconciliation of the Conservation Adjustment Mechanisms

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

ISO’S FORWARD CAPACITY AUCTION
New England’s annual capacity auction for power system resources concluded Tuesday with sufficient resources to meet peak demand in 2021-2022, and preliminary results indicate the clearing price was the lowest in five years due to a surplus of capacity in the region. The auction is run by ISO New England Inc. to procure the resources that will be needed to meet consumer demand for electricity in three years. Finalized auction results, with resource-specific information, will be filed with FERC by the end of this month.  ISO’s press release with more information is available here.

CONNECTICUT

NET METERING PROGRAM
DEEP recommendation to revise and phase out Connecticut’s net metering program has been met with opposition.

 

2018 CONNECTICUT LEGISLATIVE SESSION
The 2018 Regular Session of the Connecticut General Assembly convened on February 7, 2018.  Information about the Energy and Technology Committee is available here. The committee’s bill record book is available here. 

PURA DOCKETS
On February 1, 2018, PURA established the following docket: Docket No. 18-02-02:  Annual Reconciliation of the Conservation Adjustment Mechanisms filed by: The Connecticut Light and Power Company, the United Illuminating Company, Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation, the Southern Connecticut Gas Company and Yankee Gas Services Company