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week of Jun. 18, 2018

Don't get blindsided by regulators, stay ahead of them with the EnerKnol Week Ahead. Coming up, FERC reviews its 1990s-era policy for vetting natural gas pipelines, Minnesota regulators hold final deliberations on Enbridge's controversial $7-billion oil line and South Carolina gets into the weeds of the SCANA-Dominion merger. All of this and more via the EnerKnol Platform. Make us even better with your feedback at research@enerknol.com.

Featured Entities


California PUC

D.C. PSC

FERC

Florida PSC

Iowa UB

Massachusetts DPU

Minnesota PUC

Pennsylvania PUC

South Carolina PSC

Federal Agencies

Monday,
June 18
FERC EDF Renewable vs. Grid Operators

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s comment deadline for a dispute between EDF Renewable Energy Inc. and regional system operators over the funding of transmission upgrades for new projects. EDF says the process is muddled and unfair, delaying projects and boosting costs and uncertainty for developers. EDF is the U.S. subsidiary of French government-owned electric utility Électricité de France SA. (AD18-8)

Tuesday,
June 19
FERC Pipeline Policies Review Deadline

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to take comments as it mulls updates to its nearly two-decade-old policy for vetting and approving natural gas pipelines. FERC seeks input on its process for determining the need for a project, the exercise of eminent domain, as well as the consideration of landowner interests and environmental impacts. The agency was prompted to explore policy reforms from a litany of factors, including a record expansion of the nation’s pipeline network, surging gas production, heightened opposition to projects, and a push to add global warming impacts in project evaluations. (PL18-1)

Thursday,
June 21
FERC Monthly Commission Meeting

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s agenda features a review of the Midwest system operator’s grid connection procedures and Andeavor Field Services LLC’s complaint against Mid-America Pipeline Company LLC over the operation of its system for shipping natural gas liquids. (Agenda)

Eastern Region

Tuesday,
June 19
FL PSC Utility Hurricane Preparedness

The Florida Public Service Commission will consider a report on utilities’ preparedness for hurricanes. Last September, hurricane Irma, the first major storm to hit the state since 2005, cut power for over 60 percent of all customers, prompting the commission to investigate how utilities plan for extreme weather. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts greater odds that the 2018 season will be near- or above-normal. (20170215-EU)

Tuesday,
June 19
D.C. PSC Electric Vehicle Workshop

The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia will discuss Potomac Electric Power Company’s proposal for expanding the use of electric vehicles in the District of Columbia. Pepco will consider ways to boost penetration and overcome barriers to the adoption of the cars by broader and more diverse populations. Pepco is a subsidiary of Exelon Corp. (FC1130)

Tuesday,
June 19
SC PSC SCANA-Dominion Merger Deadline

The South Carolina Public Service Commission is scheduled to receive submissions on Dominion Energy Inc.’s $14.6-billion acquisition of SCANA Corporation, including information on integrating departments, timelines for combining services and construction progress reports. The companies announced the merger in January after SCANA subsidiary South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. decided last July to abandon a $9-billion expansion of the V.C. Summer nuclear plant. Dominion seeks to complete the transaction by year end. (2017-305-E)

Wednesday,
June 20
MA DPU Vineyard Offshore Wind Deadline

The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities’ Energy Facilities Siting Board to receive information on the construction, testing and commissioning of the 1.6-gigawatt Vineyard Wind project, set to be the first large-scale offshore wind farm in the U.S. The project, which would be located in the waters south of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, is co-owned by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and Avangrid Renewables, a unit of Iberdrola SA. The wind farm is scheduled to start construction in 2019, according to the company website. (EFSB17-05)

Thursday,
June 21
PA PUC Columbia Gas Rate Hike Hearing

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission will consider Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania Inc.’s request for an annual revenue boost of $46.9 million or 8.16 percent, as the company seeks to fund natural gas system upgrades. The higher revenues would hike the average monthly bill for a residential customer by 9 percent. From 2007 to 2017, the company said it invested over $1.6 billion to expand its distribution system, and plans to invest $274 million this year. Columbia Gas is a subsidiary of Nisource Inc. (R-2018-2647577)

Western Region

Monday,
June 18
MN PUC Enbridge Line 3 Hearing

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission enters final deliberations on Enbridge Energy LP’s application for its Line 3 project, an approximately $7-billion project to replace over 1,000 miles of oil pipeline between Hardisty, Alberta, and Superior, Wisconsin. Commission staff recommended the approval of the company’s proposed new route on June 8, saying that it would have limited environmental impact and serve as a better alternative than operating the 1960s vintage line. The project is slated to go into service in 2019, according to the company website. (14-916)

Monday,
June 18
IA UB Alliant NatGas Rate Hike Meeting

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)

Thursday,
June 21
CA PUC SDG&E Gas Line Project Hearing

The California Public Utilities Commission will vote on San Diego Gas & Electric Company and Southern California Gas Company’s $640 million, 47-mile Pipeline Safety & Reliability natural gas project. The commission issued a draft decision on May 2 ruling that the project is contrary to the state’s goal of curbing dependence on natural gas, a major contributor to climate change. If approved, the project would go into service in 2022. San Diego Gas & Electric Company is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy. Southern California Gas Company is a subsidiary of Pacific Enterprises Inc. (A1509013)