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week of Jun. 1, 2020

The EnerKnol Week Ahead is back to give you the key energy policy events happening next week, all powered by the EnerKnol Platform. Coming up, Massachusetts doubles the capacity of the SMART program to 3.2 gigawatts, bringing relief to solar developers grappling with the impacts of COVID 19; New Jersey regulators explore a pathway for the buildout of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the state; the Regulatory Commission of Alaska seeks input to establish certification standards for electric reliability organizations.

Featured Entities


Alaska RCA

Arizona CC

Connecticut PURA

DOE

Massachusetts DPU

New Jersey BPU

Nevada PUC

New York PSC

Pennsylvania PUC

Federal Agencies

Monday,
June 1
DOE Lightbulb Standards Review Comments

The U.S. Energy Department is due to receive comments on whether there have been sufficient technological or market changes to amend the energy conservation standards for general service fluorescent and incandescent reflector lamps. Under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, the department must review the standards every six years. The agency seeks information to determine whether amendments would result in significant energy savings. EERE-2019-BT-STD-0030

Monday,
June 1
DOE LNG Project Environmental Review Revisions

The U.S. Energy Department is due to receive comments on its proposed updates to review liquefied natural gas export projects under the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA. The agency said it need not review the impacts associated with the construction or operation of export facilities because it lacks authority to approve them. Further, the department said that the changes are consistent with the legal principle that environmental effects reviewed under NEPA do not consider impacts that the agency has no authority to prevent. The agency complies with NEPA before making a decision on applications to export natural gas to countries with which the U.S. does not have a free trade agreement. DOE-HQ-2020-0017

Eastern Region

Monday,
June 1
CT PURA Energy Affordability Public Forum

The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority is due to receive bids in response to its request for proposals for public forums to consider energy affordability and equity for the state’s commercial and industrial customers. The agency aims to engage customers who are most impacted by high energy costs and pave the way for long-term solutions to improve energy affordability for the state’s businesses. Last October, the agency began examining energy affordability for all customer classes following the approval of a framework for achieving an “Equitable Modern Grid,” designed to foster innovative solutions to address the challenges and opportunities facing the electric sector. READ MORE

Monday,
June 1
MA DPU SMART Program Extension Comments

The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources is due to receive comments on emergency regulations that doubled the capacity of the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target, or SMART, program to 3.2 gigawatts, bringing relief to developers grappling with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The declining block program was launched in 2017 to provide a long-term, sustainable solar incentive solution. New guidelines clarifying changes to the emergency regulations will be open for comments through June 18. READ MORE

Wednesday,
June 3
NJ BPU Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Proposal Meeting

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities will discuss its Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Ecosystem 2020 Straw Proposal, which will inform recommendations to develop an approach for charging infrastructure build-out, as well as the roles of private and public entities. The board is seeking input on how to expand EV service equipment infrastructure and encourage charger ready investment, ensure equity in the EV ecosystem, and integrate charging into the rate structure. New Jersey enacted legislation in January that sets a goal of having 2 million light-duty plug-in electric vehicles in the state by 2035 and requires at least 85 percent of new light-duty vehicles sold or leased to be electric by 2040. READ MORE

Wednesday,
June 3
NY PSC Invenergy 340 MW Wind Project Decision

The New York Public Service Commission will consider Alle-Catt Wind Energy LLC’s proposal to build and operate a 340-megawatt wind energy project in the western part of the state. The Invenergy LLC subsidiary proposes to install 116 turbines spanning an area of about 3,000 acres. The project would generate enough power to supply up to 123,000 homes and is set to begin operation in Q4 2020. 17-F-0282

Thursday,
June 4
PA PUC UGI Utilities Rate Case Hearing

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission will hold a telephonic hearing on UGI Utilities Inc.’s application for adjustments of retail rates and charges applicable to natural gas service. The UGI Corp. subsidiary asked for an annual revenue increase of approximately $74.6 million, which would result in an increase of $8.68, or 10.6 percent, for residential customers using 73.5 cubic feet of natural gas per month. R-2019-3015162

Friday,
June 5
CT PURA Advanced Metering Infrastructure Investigation

The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority is due to receive comments in response to a solicitation inviting proposals for advanced metering infrastructure, or AMI, plans. Electric distribution companies may consider these comments in their initial proposals for AMI business and implementation plans to be submitted by July 31. The agency aims to engage stakeholders and industry experts to develop the business case for cost-effective AMI deployment, enhance the utilization of existing assets, and maximize the value of AMI through strategic deployment. 17-12-03RE02

Western Region

Tuesday,
June 2
AZ CC Tucson Electric Rate Case Prehearing

The Arizona Corporation Commission will consider Tucson Electric Power Company’s application for adjustments of retail rates and charges applicable to electric service. The UNS Energy Corp. subsidiary asked for an annual revenue increase of $76 million, which would result in an increase of $7.61 for residential customers consuming 1076 kilowatt-hours in the summer and 615 kilowatt-hours in the winter. E-01933A-19-0028

Wednesday,
June 3
AK RCA Electric Reliability Organization Standards Conference

The Regulatory Commission of Alaska will hold a technical conference to discuss the procedure for establishing certification standards for electric reliability organizations, or EROs, and create a regulatory framework to oversee them. The move stems from legislation enacted in March that authorized the commission to certify EROs and define their duties, including submission of integrated resource plans, and mandated preapproval of large interconnected facilities. The first conference will focus on deciding the applicable standards to ensure that an ERO applicant will be capable of performing its duties. READ MORE

Wednesday,
June 3
NV PUC Customer Price Stability Tariff Comments

The Nevada Public Utilities Commission is due to receive comments on NV Energy’s application to establish a new tariff to help large customers during the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Customer Price Stability Tariff includes a fixed energy price component that has a basis in the solar generation costs of the company’s three recently-approved power purchase contracts. The fixed-price rate is expected to provide customers the ability to more accurately budget for energy costs over the program’s proposed five-year term. The company said that the new plan is in response to overwhelming requests from customers for price stability and cost savings in meeting specific business requirements, as well as sustainability goals. 20-05003