Tag Archives: Policy Update

CPES Policy Committee Update: March 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:

  • FERC Issues Order Accepting ISO-NE’s CASPR Revisions
  • ISO-NE’s Grid Resilience Filing with FERC
  • ISO New England Market Training
  • New England’s Wholesale Electricity Prices in 2017 were the Second-Lowest Since 2003
  • The Energy and Technology Committee will hold a public hearing on March 20.

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

FERC ISSUES ORDER ACCEPTING ISO-NE’s CASPR REVISIONS
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“Commission”) issued an order late Friday, March 9, 2018 accepting the Competitive Auctions with Sponsored Policy Resources (“CASPR”) filing. FERC concludes that the CASPR proposal is consistent with the primary principles of capacity markets and appropriately addresses the potential of resources receiving out-of-market state revenues to undermine these principles. The Commission notes that out-of-market state revenues can result in building more capacity than a region needs, overpayment by consumers for capacity, inefficiently low capacity market prices and the erosion of investor confidence. The Commission concludes that the CASPR proposal, along with the New England region’s minimum offer price rules (MOPR), appropriately addresses the issues associated with out-of-market state revenues while ensuring that the overall capacity market can continue to attract and maintain appropriate levels of new resource investment. For more details, read the order here.  To learn more, view the CASPR project page on ISO New England’s website.

ISO-NE’s GRID RESILIENCE FILING WITH FERC
ISO New England filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission its response to the January 8, 2018 Order Terminating Rulemaking Proceeding, Initiating New Proceeding, and Establishing Additional Procedures in Docket No. AD18-7. The ISO’s response focuses on the most significant challenge for the New England bulk power system’s resilience – fuel security.  In its response, the ISO requests the Commission afford the ISO time to work with regional stakeholders to develop a long-term solution to the fuel-security challenges facing the region. 

ISO NEW ENGLAND MARKET TRAINING
ISO New England released two new video trainings available online:

  • Pay-for-Performance Introduction – A short introduction to the new pay-for-performance (PFP) incentive program effective as of June 1, 2018 (7 minutes).
  • Pay-for-Performance Overview and Settlement – An overview of the Forward Capacity Market performance incentives known as pay for performance.  It explains what triggers the incentives and shows how performance payments are calculated.  It also includes information on settlements reports that have changed or are new for pay for performance (20 minutes, includes the seven-minute Pay-for-Performance Introduction video.)

NEW ENGLAND’S WHOLESALE ELECTRICITY PRICES IN 2017 WERE THE SECOND-LOWEST SINCE 2003
New England’s wholesale electricity prices in 2017 were the second-lowest in 15 years, following 2016, which holds the record for the lowest average annual price since 2003, according to ISO New England.  Get more details from ISO’s press release here.

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

  • The Energy and Technology Committee will hold a committee meeting on March 20, 2018 to review bills.  The meeting agenda is available here.

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 

 

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: January 9, 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:

  • Why Utility-Scale Solar Works for Connecticut, article from Francis Pullaro
  • Clare Kindall to run for Attorney General

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY NEWS

  • Why Utility-Scale Solar Works for Connecticut, article from Francis Pullaro, executive director of RENEW Northeast, a nonprofit association uniting environmental advocates and the renewable energy industry.  
  • Clare Kindall, former Energy Department head of the Connecticut Attorney General’s Office, has announced she is running for Attorney General, view the article here.

CPES Policy Committee Update: December 19, 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:

  • Millstone Finances Expected To Be Strong In Coming Years

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

MILLSTONE FINANCES EXPECTED TO BE STRONG IN COMING YEARS

The Millstone nuclear plant in Waterford is expected to be profitable, according to a state report examining whether Connecticut’s sole plant is able to remain in business. 
The Millstone Power Station is expected to be profitable for years to come, according to preliminary results released Thursday from a study that Gov. Dannel P. Malloy ordered to determine if it can operate in energy markets increasingly dominated by natural gas. The report, issued by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, said that under various market conditions the present value of Millstone’s cash flow from 2021 through 2035 is expected to be between $1.3 billion and about $2.4 billion. Even at the low end, Connecticut’s sole nuclear plant should remain “deep in the black,” the study said. The financial results show Millstone “is likely to operate profitably from the early 2020s through the mid-2030s,” the report said. 

Hartford Courant article
CT MIrror article