Tag Archives: Policy Update

CPES Policy Committee Update: August 28, 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:

  • EPA Proposal to Replace the Clean Power Plan
  • Federal Hearing Explores Energy Sector Application of Blockchain
  • ISO New England Updates Battery Storage Projections  

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY

EPA PROPOSAL TO REPLACE THE CLEAN POWER PLAN
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently released its plan to replace 2015’s Clean Power Plan . The plan is subject to a 60-day comment period.   To read the proposal, visit EPA’s website.

FEDERAL HEARING EXPLORES ENERGY SECTOR APPLICATION OF BLOCKCHAIN
The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources held a hearing on August 21st, Energy Efficiency of Blockchain and Similar Technologies, to discuss the energy efficiency of blockchain and similar technologies and the cybersecurity possibilities of such technologies for energy industry applications.   The recorded webcast and witness testimonies are archived on the committee’s webpage. 

ISO NEW ENGLAND UPDATES BATTERY STORAGE PROJECTIONS   
Grid-scale (also called utility-scale) battery storage is coming on fast in New England, according to ISO-NE.  By 2022, currently proposed new projects could add almost 850 MW of battery storage capacity in the region- an increase of 4,000% from the 19 MW currently on line.  To learn more about state efforts spurring storage resources, the different technologies, and how they participate in ISO’s markets, visit ISO’s webpage. 

CONNECTICUT

PURA HEARING ON MILLSTONE “AT-RISK” DETERMINIATION
On Wednesday, August 29th at 10:00 a.m., PURA will hold a hearing to review Dominion’s petition to be deemed an “existing resource confirmed at risk”, for purposes of the DEEP RFP.  More information is available in the Notice of Hearing.

REQUEST FOR COMMENTS IN PURA’s GRID MODERNIZATION DOCKET 
Comments are due August 22nd to PURA under Docket #17-12-03 “PURA Investigation into Distribution System Planning of the Electric Distribution Companies.  The request for written comment poses a series of questions regarding distributed energy resources, electrification, and distribution system planning that PURA is seeking public input on. 

PURA DOCKET NO. 18-08-14: REVIEW OF THE COMBINED HEAT AND POWER PROJECT SOLICITATION  
On August 7, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 18-08-14: PURA Review of the Combined Heat and Power Project Solicitation Pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. §16-258e 

CPES Policy Committee Update: August 14, 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 England Governors Issue Statement on Energy Affordability and Reliability
  • ISO-NE’s Community Liaison Group’s September Meeting to be held in Windsor Locks
  • FERC Hearing on Reliability

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY

NEW ENGLAND GOVERNORS ISSUE STATEMENT ON ENERGY AFFORDABILITY AND RELIABILITY
On Aug 13, the New England Governors issued a statement on energy affordability and reliability in New England at the 42nd Annual Conference of the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG-ECP). The meeting was hosted in Stowe, Vermont by Vermont Governor Phil Scott. 

ISO-NE’S CONSUMER LIASION GROUP’S SEPTEMBER MEETING TO BE HELD IN WINDSOR LOCKS
ISO’s fall Consumer Liaison Group (CLG) meeting is scheduled for September 20, 2018 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Hartford-Bradley Airport in Windsor Locks.  The topic is “Electrification of the Heating Sector: Exploring Consumer Choices” and the meeting will include a keynote, a panel discussion, and a presentation from ISO New England.  Register for the meeting here.

The CLG is the consumers’ voice in the electric industry. Meetings are free and open to the public. For more information on the CLG, visit the CLG webpage.

FERC HEARING ON RELIABILITY
On July 31, FERC held a technical conference on reliability.  Presentations included topics such as the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s reliability standards, grid resilience, cybersecurity, and power system planning and operations challenges and opportunities as a result of the changing generating resource mix.  materials from the conference are available on the Commission’s website.

CPES Policy Committee Update: June 26, 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 Published Latest Edition of Wholesale Markets Project Plan
  • ISO New England Launches Updated App for Smart Devices
  • Recent Dockets Established by PURA
  • Hartford Business Journal Publishes “Malloy Inks Climate Change, Renewable Energy Bills”‘

REGIONAL/INDUSTRY

ISO PUBLISHED LATEST EDITION OF WHOLESALE MARKETS PROJECT PLAN
ISO’s recently released 2018 Wholesale Markets Project Plan describes the current status of market initiatives and is updated biannually in the summer and winter.  The report allows readers to follow the progress of market projects cited in the Annual Work Plan, as well as additional wholesale market initiatives.

CONNECTICUT

On June 21, 2018, the Hartford Business Journal published “Malloy inks climate change, renewable energy bills”

On June 21, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 16-06-04RE02:  Application of the United Illuminating Company to Increase Its Rates and Charges – Residential Customer Charge. 

On June 25, 2018, PURA established Docket No. 18-06-15:  PURA Review of the Implementation Requirements of Section 7 of Public Act 18-50  Section 7 of Public Act 18-50, An Act Concerning Connecticut’s Energy Future, requires PURA to initiate several proceedings and to take additional actions related to the LREC/ZREC program, net metering, and clean energy procurement. 

 

 

CPES Policy Committee Update: May 29, 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:

  • Executive Order Regarding Efficient Federal Operations
  • The Day: “New London, state leaders push offshore wind development as Mass., R.I. projects move forward”

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

EXECUTIVE ORDER REGARDING EFFICIENT FEDERAL OPERATIONS                     
Read more here.

THE DAY: “NEW LONDON, STATE LEADERS PUSH OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT AS MASS., R.I. PROJECTS MOVE FORWARD”
Massachusetts and Rhode Island on Wednesday tapped two offshore wind developers who also remain in the hunt to provide offshore wind power to Connecticut, where local officials and energy companies are pushing for a new hub of manufacturing in a growing industry. Read more here.

CPES Policy Committee Update: May 22, 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:

  • Coalition Sues State Over Sweep of Energy Efficiency Funds
  • ISO New England’s Summer Outlook Now Available
  • ISO’s Price-Responsive Demand Structure Effective June 1, 2018
  • ISO’s Annual Markets Report Now Available
  • Recent PURA Docket on Electric Distribution Company System Reliability

REGIONAL AND INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

COALITION SUES STATE OVER SWEEP OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY FUNDS
A group of energy efficiency contractors and both consumer and environmental advocates sued the state of Connecticut on Tuesday, claiming that the legislature illegally swept ratepayer funds to close last year’s budget deficit. As part of the bipartisan budget agreement, $155 million was diverted from Conservation & Load Management, Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority funds to help fill a large budget gap. The group was vocal last year about the sweep and warned the General Assembly that they would litigate. However, the General Assembly took no action before they adjourned on May 9.

ISO NEW ENGLAND’S SUMMER OUTLOOK NOW AVAILABLE
ISO-NE’s Outlook for Summer 2018 finds that electricity supplies should be sufficient to meet New England consumer demand, but tight system conditions could develop if forecasted extreme peak conditions occur.  Read the factsheet here and learn more at ISO’s Seasonal System Outlook webpage.

ISO’S PRICE-RESPONSIVE DEMAND STRUCTURE EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2018
On June 1, 2018, new price-responsive demand (PRD) structure will go into effect in ISO New England’s marketplace. Information on the types of demand response and participation requirements are available under the FCM Participation Guide on the Price-Responsive Demand webpage.  Related training are available on the Training Materials webpage.

ISO’S ANNUAL MARKETS REPORT NOW AVAILABLE
According to the 2017 Annual Markets Report issued by the Internal Market Monitor at ISO-NE, the region’s wholesale power markets were competitive in 2017.   The report addresses the development, operation, and performance of the wholesale electricity markets administered by the ISO and presents an assessment of each market based on market data and performance criteria. Read the full report here.

CONNECTICUT

On May 17, 2018, PURA established the following docket: Docket No. 18-05-13:  PURA 2018 Annual Report to the General Assembly on Electric Distribution Company System Reliability