The District of Columbia Public Service Commission seeks comments on various matters related to electric utility distribution system planning, including a draft proposal on an integrated distribution system planning, or IDSP, framework. The commission has launched a proceeding to initiate an IDSP process to prepare the electric grid to support the demands of the clean energy transition and integrate distributed energy resources. In addition to the traditional distribution planning that utilities undertake, IDSP incorporates advanced technologies, data analytics, and distributed energy resources, such as solar panels, energy storage, electric vehicles, demand response, energy efficiency, and federal and local policy. Reply comments are due by April 14. FC1182

The Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission will conduct a hearing on Rhode Island Energy’s proposed Gas Infrastructure, Safety and Reliability, or ISR, Plan for fiscal year 2026. The plan sets forth proposals the company has identified as necessary to sustain and enhance the safety and reliability of its gas distribution system. For fiscal year 2026, the plan proposes capital spending that reflects an incremental revenue requirement of $24.6 million over the amount in the fiscal year 2025 plan, to be collected through the Distribution Adjustment Charge effective April 1, 2025. The average residential heating customer using 845 therms per year is expected to see an annual bill increase of 4.4 precent. 24-55-NG

The Maine Public Utilities Commission will hold a technical conference to discuss the allocation of the benefits of distributed generation under the net energy billing, or NEB, program. The commission has engaged Sustainable Energy Advantage LLC to conduct a structured and comprehensive study of the net benefits of distributed generation under the state’s two NEB programs: kilowatt hour credit program and tariff rate program. The costs of distributed generation under net energy billing are determined through annual stranded cost rate investigations. This proceeding aims to determine the benefit categories under the program, identify which benefits may be monetized and to whom they accrue, and adopt a methodology for calculating benefits that will be applied annually in stranded cost rate proceedings to streamline the process. 2024-00149

The New York Public Service Commission seeks comments on Somerset Solar LLC’s application for approval to construct a 125-megawatt solar electric generation facility. The company seeks a certificate of public convenience and necessity and lightened regulation as a wholesale electric generator to build the facility in the town of Somerset in Niagara County. The project is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 177,000 tons each year and produce enough energy to power nearly 25,000 homes. 24-E-0666

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission seeks supplemental comments on Plum Creek Wind Farm LLC’s request for amendments to site and route permits issued by the commission to build a 414-megawatt wind project and an associated 345 kilovolt transmission line in Cottonwood, Murray, and Redwood counties. The amendments include an extension of the construction commencement date, to allow construction to begin by Sept. 25, 2027, and changes to turbine models in certain locations to replace previously decided models that are no longer available in North America.

The California Energy Commission will hold a workshop on a potential solicitation aimed to demonstrate electric vehicle charging solutions that integrate direct current-coupled solar microgrids and connect to the grid through flexible service agreements. This effort is a part of the Electric Program Investment Charge, or EPIC, program. Pacific Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison will discuss their flexible energization pilots and commission staff will outline a proposed solicitation concept planned to be released in Q3 2025. Many sites seeking to develop charging infrastructure, particularly for medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles, lack adequate distribution capacity, often resulting in lengthy, ratepayer-funded utility upgrades to support new loads. Co-locating behind-the-meter distributed energy resources with charging infrastructure has emerged as a potential solution to mitigate grid strain, lower ratepayer costs, and enhance resiliency. 23-ERDD-01