On September 19, 2017, CT PURA approved two grid modernization proposals submitted by the Connecticut Light and Power Company – Distributed Energy Resources Portal and Management System and Distributed Energy Resources Hosting Capacity Map. The DER portal will create a two-way communication platform allowing customers and developers to identify more optimal locations for siting and interconnecting…
Rhode Island’s Power Sector Transformation Initiative, launched in April, aims to develop a framework that promotes a dynamic grid and enables consumers to utilize new clean energy technologies. The state is also investigating (Docket No. 4600) the changing distribution system with regard to the costs and benefits of activities on the distribution system, cost-allocation, and…
Ohio launched the PowerForward initiative in March 2017 to conduct a comprehensive review of both technological and regulatory innovation related to the distributed grid and consider how the innovation could serve to enhance the customer electricity experience.
New York’s REV initiative, unveiled in 2014, seeks to transform the state’s utility regulatory structure by creating distributed service platform (DSP) providers for integrating greater levels of DERs and empowering customers with better energy management options. The DSP is the functional center of the REV framework and is defined as an intelligent network that will…
Massachusetts embraced distributed generation early on, having instituted a proceeding (Docket No. 12-76) in October 2012 to investigate grid modernization. In August 2015, Massachusetts electric distribution companies filed grid modernization plans in docket numbers 15-122, 15-121, and 15-120, respectively, pursuant to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (MA DPU) June 2014 order. Massachusetts is also…
FERC’s 2017 summer assessment forecasts tighter supplies in New England and Texas while anticipating adequate summer capacity in most regions. Increased hydroelectric generation from heavy snowpack levels is expected to mitigate risks from limitations at the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility in Southern California. Natural gas futures prices are expected to rise due to lower storage inventories, decrease in production rates, and above normal temperatures.