The Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission is due to receive comments on whether the moratorium on service terminations implemented in response to COVID-19 should be continued or modified. The commission issued an order in March directing regulated utilities to cease termination of service for nonpayment and to refrain from sending termination notices with shut-off dates before April 15, and subsequently extended the order multiple times, most recently to July 17. The agency also seeks comments on the duration of any extension of the moratorium on service termination. 5022

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission will consider Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania Inc.’s application for adjustments of retail rates and charges applicable to its gas service. The NiSource Inc. subsidiary asked for an annual revenue increase of approximately $100.4 million, which would result in an increase of $15.62, for a typical residential customer consuming 70 therms per month. R-2020-3018835

The Louisiana Public Service Commission will discuss the responses to its questions regarding the best approach to develop green tariffs and programs, in an effort to bring new renewable resources to the state. The commission staff reported in November 2019 that 23 green tariffs in 17 states have been proposed or approved since 2013, paving the way for more than 900 megawatts of new solar and wind projects. Green pricing options allow customers to meet a portion of their electricity needs from renewable energy resources. These programs provide larger consumers the option to meet their varying sustainability and renewable energy goals. R-35423

The Virginia State Corporation Commission will hold a public comment session to examine the development and impacts of electric vehicle charging infrastructure on the state’s power grid. The commission opened the proceeding in March to explore the impact of increased electric vehicle deployment on the affordability and reliability of utility electric services. The agency seeks information on a broad range of issues including existing development and projected growth, rate design, storage-specific issues, and the role of utilities in deploying public charging stations. PUR-2020-00051

The Oregon Public Utility Commission will hold a public comment hearing to discuss Idaho Power’s integrated resource plan, outlining the company’s strategy to meet energy and capacity needs over the next 20 years. The IDACORP Inc. subsidiary proposes to add 120 megawatts of solar generation by 2022-2023 and exit from four units of coal operations by 2026, including the termination of its share of coal-fired operations at the Boardman Plant. The plan calls for the construction of Boardman to Hemingway transmission line with an in-service date of 2026.

The Utah Public Service Commission will discuss an application by Rocky Mountain Power, a unit of PacifiCorp, for adjustment of rates and charges applicable to electric service. The company asked for an increase of $95.8 million to current base rates and a return on equity of 10.2 percent. PacifiCorp also proposes rate mitigation measures, including the use of about $66.5 million of the tax benefits from the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, to phase-in the increase over three years. The law slashed the corporate income tax rate to 21 percent from 35 percent effective Jan. 1, 2018. The proposed phase-in would reduce the retail electric rate by $44.3 million in 2021 and $22.2 million in 2022. 20-035-04