The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission will review PECO Energy Company’s request to boost annual revenues by $82 million, or 2.2 percent, hiking the average monthly residential electric bill by 3.2 percent to $105.93. PECO seeks to finance investments in new utility plants. (R-2018-3000164)

ISO New England Inc.’s Reliability Committee will discuss rules for retaining retiring power plants needed for reliability and the participation of energy storage in the forward capacity market. The operator recently announced a plan to ensure Exelon Corp.’s 1,400-megawatt Mystic generator clears the next two capacity auctions with low bids after determining the power plant is critical for the region’s reliability. The proposal has been met with protests by competing electricity producers that say it will squeeze market revenues.

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative will hold its second auction this year with over 13 million allowances projected to be on sale. The RGGI is the first mandatory cap-and-trade program to limit carbon emissions in the U.S., selling over 900 million carbon allowances for $2.8 billion since its inception in 2009.

The District of Columbia Public Service Commission will review Canada-based AltaGas Ltd.’s $4.5-billion acquisition of WGL Holdings Inc., the parent company of Washington Gas. Under a settlement filed on May 8, AltaGas and WGL have committed approximately $41 million in direct benefits for the District of Columbia, paving the way for the regulator’s approval. The D.C. commission is the last regulator needed to complete the deal. (FC1142)

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission will gather input on so-called supplier consolidated billing, a billing practice favored by competitive electric suppliers because it enables the expansion of customer service offerings where smart meters are installed, including home security, HVAC maintenance, and surge protection. Supplier consolidated billing would provide electricity suppliers with the flexibility to directly bill customers for both retail generation supply charges and utility distribution charges. (M-2018-2645254)

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission will consider Duquesne Light Company’s request to hike electric distribution rates by $133.8 million, bumping the average monthly residential bill by 8.82 percent to $106.80. Duquesne operates as a subsidiary of Duquesne Light Holdings, Inc. (R-2018-3000124)

The Illinois Commerce Commission will hold an update and public comment session on NextGrid, an 18-month consumer-focused study to explore ways to modernize and improve Illinois’ electric grid. The study will culminate in a final report to be issued by the commission later this year. (NextGrid)

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas Inc. to provide a summer weather outlook, a report on summer operations, and a review of factors driving electricity prices. ERCOT President and Chief Executive Officer Bill Magness to provide a presentation on the market. The operator of the Texas market previously warned that peak power demand on the grid this summer could soar to a record 73,000 megawatts, fueled by the breakneck pace of the state’s economy.

The Iowa Utility Board will review Interstate Power and Light Company’s request to hike Iowa customers’ natural gas rates by 8.4 percent, boosting the typical Iowa residential customer’s bill by $8 to about $60 per month. The company seeks to raise $19 million annually for gas line improvements. Interstate Power and Light Co. is a subsidiary of Alliant Energy. (RPU-2018-0002)

The Michigan Public Service Commission will provide an update on its method for calculating the rates a utility must pay for electricity supplies from a small power producer under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act. Michigan-based utility CMS Energy Corp. has fought the purchase contracts, arguing that it already has a glut of supplies to meet demand. (U-18090)

The California Independent System Operator Corp. is scheduled to take comments on a plan to enhance the ability of distributed generation, like rooftop solar, demand response and electric vehicles, to participate in the wholesale market. The grid is relying more heavily on customer-sited power supplies and power curtailment measures as the state looks to achieve massive cuts in carbon emissions.