The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities will discuss National Grid’s proposed five-year demonstration program to explore the use of geothermal energy as a low-carbon heating solution and as a possible technology to handle peak day needs on the gas system, as well as avoid leak prone pipe replacement. The program is estimated to cost $15.6 million, which would be recovered from firm distribution customers, and is expected to result in varying bill impacts to participating customers. For a typical residential non-heating customer, the bill increase would range from $0 to $0.66 per year, while a residential heating customer would see an increase of $0.24 to $3.48.

The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority will discuss new rate designs to address the disproportionate impact of increased electric rates on the lowest income customers and the need for the state’s businesses to remain competitive with neighboring states. The agency is set to issue a decision in Phase I of the proceeding, which pertains to Eversource Energy’s rates. The next phase will consider the implementation of an interim rate decrease, low-income rates, and economic development rates for customers of electric distribution companies. The proceeding is part of a series of reopened dockets to investigate topics considered integral for the agency’s framework for an Equitable Modern Grid. The framework seeks to foster solutions that address the challenges and opportunities facing the electric sector. 17-12-03RE11

The New York Public Service Commission will hold virtual public statement hearings on proposals regarding modernizing the natural gas system planning process and moratorium management. The first proposal would require the state’s 11 local distribution companies to file integrated resource plans on a three-year cycle to supplement annual winter readiness reviews. The second one would require utilities to try to offset gas demand through energy efficiency and demand response. In light of moratoria invoked by utilities claiming supply constraints, the commission opened the gas planning docket in March 2020, noting that conventional gas planning and operational practices have not kept pace with recent developments and demands on energy systems. The commission underscored that planning must be consistent with the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which requires the state to achieve carbon-free power by 2040. READ MORE

The Maryland Public Service Commission will hold a meeting of the Future Programming Working Group to discuss a new goal structure for EmPOWER Maryland, the state’s energy efficiency program. The commission established the workgroup in December 2020 to ensure that upcoming program cycles are well-informed and fully developed. The current goal structure for EmPOWER is mandated by legislation through the end of the 2021-2023 program cycle and the commission is required to provide the General Assembly with recommendations on future goals and cost-effectiveness tests by July 1, 2022. The December order authorized the transition to the next three-year cycle and approved various proposals by the program administrators to continue operating the core energy efficiency programs during the 2021-2023 period. 9648

The California Public Utilities Commission will host a remote access meeting of the Wildfire Safety Advisory Board to discuss draft recommendations on the 2021 wildfire mitigation plan updates for small and multi-jurisdictional utilities. The board was established in 2019 to review mitigation plans to ensure that electric utilities are taking effective actions to reduce wildfire risk. The recommendations cover a range of topics including risk assessment, mapping and resource allocation, vegetation management, grid hardening, and emergency planning and communication.

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission will discuss proposals regarding the design and implementation of long-term distributed energy programs. The commission is evaluating its distributed generation proceeding in three tracks namely, DER program, advanced rate design, and technical issues. Final proposals in the program track were filed on May 3. In March, the commission expanded the scope of the proceeding to dramatically expand DER deployment to address the impending capacity shortfalls expected from the closure of the AES coal plant. The commission issued guidance for the development of an emergency demand response program targeting a goal of 50 megawatts of DERs by 2022. 2019-0323

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will consider CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.’s application for adjustments of retail rates and charges applicable to natural gas service, and an interim rate refund plan. In March, the commission accepted CenterPoint’s settlement to reduce the proposed increase in its annual revenue requirement from $62 million to $38.5 million, and ordered a refund of interim-rate overcollections with interest. Last September, the commission approved an annual interim rate allowing the company to collect $52.7 million and keep records of collections to facilitate a prompt refund of any excess interim rates at the end of the rate case. GR-19-524