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week of Oct. 20, 2022

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, Idaho regulators discuss a study of the costs, benefits, and compensation of excess energy associated with customer-sited generation; the California Energy Commission examines ways to identify suitable sea space for wind energy areas in federal waters to accommodate the state’s offshore wind planning goals; Connecticut considers a framework to establish performance-based regulation for electric utilities.

Featured Entities


California EC

Connecticut PURA

DOE

EIA

Idaho PUC

Maryland PSC

Minnesota PUC

New York PSC

Federal Agencies

Wednesday,
October 26
EIA Monthly Energy Review

The U.S. Energy Information Administration will issue its Monthly Energy Review, providing data on energy production, consumption, prices, and trade. The share of electricity generated from renewable sources is expected to grow from 20 percent in 2021 to 24 percent in 2023, according to the agency’s latest short-term outlook. Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions are expected to increase 1.5 percent in 2022 followed by a decrease of 2.3 percent in 2023.

Starts
Wednesday,
October 26

Ends
Thursday,
October 27
DOE Electricity Advisory Committee

The U.S. Energy Department will host a meeting of the Electricity Advisory Committee, which provides advice on modernizing the nation’s electricity delivery infrastructure, implementing the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and executing the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Topics of discussion include the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s winter assessment and ways to improve the planning process for electric vehicle infrastructure deployment. The meeting will discuss updates from the Grid Deployment Office, as well as subcommittees on energy storage, smart grids, and grid resilience for national security.

Friday,
October 28
DOE Geothermal Energy Development

The U.S. Energy Department is due to receive applications for its Geothermal Energy from Oil and Gas Demonstrated Engineering initiative. An award of up to $10 million will be used to select the entity to run the initiative and create a roadmap for subsequent years’ research and outreach initiatives. The department will form a consortium of experts to develop the roadmap for addressing technology and knowledge gaps in geothermal energy, based on best practices used within the oil and gas industry. The award is part of a $165 million funding to expand U.S. geothermal energy deployment.

Eastern Region

Monday,
October 24
MD PSC Delmarva Power’s Multi-Year Rate Plan

The Maryland Public Service Commission will hold a hearing to discuss a settlement regarding Delmarva Power & Light Company’s request to increase its electric retail rates. The company proposes to increase its distribution rates by $37.5 million over three years from 2023-2025. The plan proposes an increase in electric delivery revenues of about $22.7 million for 2023, $30.6 million for 2024, and $37.5 million for 2025. The company also proposes to offset the increase by including the acceleration of certain tax benefits resulting in a 50 percent offset in 2023, and a 25 percent offset in 2024. Under the plan, a residential customer would see an average monthly bill increase of 2.11 percent each for the first two years and 2.58 percent for the final year. 9681

Monday,
October 24
CT PURA Performance-Based Ratemaking

The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority will hold a meeting to discuss its third concept paper regarding the implementation of a performance-based ratemaking, or PBR framework. The concept paper includes a summary of key themes and stated positions from docket participants’ and stakeholders’ regulatory assessment comments, and suggests a prioritized set of revised outcomes to guide the remainder of the proceeding. The paper also discusses the evolving role of the electric companies in the context of the priority outcomes. The agency initiated a docket in May 2021 to investigate, develop, and adopt a framework for executing PBR for the electric distribution companies. 21-05-15

Friday,
October 28
NY PSC Champlain Hudson Power Line

The New York Public Service Commission is due to receive comments regarding the establishment of a trust to address adverse aquatic impacts and protect water bodies from the construction and operation of facilities related to the Champlain Hudson Power Express, a 1,250-megawatt transmission line that will supply hydropower from Canada to New York city. The endeavor is one of two contracts for transmission projects by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority representing the largest renewable energy and transmission projects contracted for the state in the last 50 years. The other contract is with Clean Path NY to deliver solar and wind energy from upstate New York through a 1,300-megawatt power line. 10-T-0139

Western Region

Tuesday,
October 25
CA EC Clean Transportation Advisory Committee

The California Energy Commission is due to receive comments on the Clean Transportation Program Advisory Committee’s first project under the 2022-2023 Investment Plan for the program. The commission has an annual budget of approximately $100 million for the program and provides financial and technical support for a number of projects. These include projects that reduce transportation sector emissions, support the deployment of electric vehicle charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure, and address clean air, employment, and mobility needs of low-income or disadvantaged communities. 22-ALT-01

Wednesday,
October 26
CA EC Offshore Wind Development

The California Energy Commission will hold a workshop to identify suitable sea space for wind energy areas in federal waters sufficient to accommodate the offshore wind planning goals for 2030 and 2045. In identifying a suitable sea space, the commission is required to take into account existing data and information on offshore wind resource potential and commercial viability, and existing and necessary transmission and port infrastructure. The agency is also required to consider the protection of cultural and biological resources with the goal of prioritizing least-conflict ocean areas. 17-MISC-01

Thursday,
October 27
ID PUC On-Site Generation Cost Benefit Study

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission will hold a public hearing on a net-metering study conducted by Idaho Power Company to examine the costs, benefits and compensation of excess energy associated with customer-sited generation. The commission had ordered the company to prepare and file a credible and fair study of the costs and benefits of distributed on-site generation to its power system. The hearing will examine whether the study satisfies the commission’s directives. In June, the company released its Value of Distributed Energy Resources study pertaining to its on-site generation program that allows customers to pay an independent contractor to have solar panels or other systems installed on their homes or property and receive credit from the utility for surplus energy delivered. IPC-E-22-22

Thursday,
October 27
MN PUC 150 MW Hayward Solar Project

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will discuss Hayward Solar LLC’s proposal to build an up to 150-megawatt solar project in Freeborn County. The final design is expected to occupy about 1,272 acres within an overall project area of nearly 2,000 acres. Once the commission grants permission to sell the generation output, the company plans secure a power purchase agreement to sell the output to power utility companies within Minnesota. Commercial operations are anticipated to begin in 2023.

Friday,
October 28
MN PUC Xcel Energy Electric Rate Plan

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is due to receive reply comments on Northern States Power Company’s application for adjustments of retail rates and charges applicable to electric services. The Xcel Energy subsidiary is proposing a rate plan with a net increase of $122.1 million, or 4.01 percent, for 2023 with a return on equity of 10.2 percent. The request would result in an increase of $4.65 for residential customers consuming an average 514 kilowatt-hour on a monthly basis.