NATURAL GAS
Approval of Con Edison’s BQDM Program is a significant step for the utility to pursue non-traditional infrastructure investments to meet local demand. On December 12, 2014, the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) issued an order in Case 14-E-0302 approving Consolidated Edison Company of New York Inc.’s (Con Edison) Brooklyn/Queens Demand Management (BQDM) Program to address overload…...
The FERC has announced technical conferences to discuss the impacts of EPA’s proposed Clean Power Plan on wholesale electricity markets, reliability, and infrastructure. On December 9, 2014, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) announced that it will hold four technical conferences – one National Overview conference and three regional conferences – to discuss implications of…...
The House has passed a one-year extension of several tax provisions including the renewable energy production tax credit and several biofuel industry incentives. On December 3, 2014, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014 (H.R. 5771), a one-year tax extender package for several tax relief provisions that expired at…...
According to EIA, 32 percent of natural gas pipeline capacity into the Northeast region could be bidirectional by 2017. On December 2, 2014, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) released a report highlighting that 32 percent of natural gas pipeline capacity into the Northeast could facilitate bidirectional flow by 2017. Increased production in Pennsylvania, West Virginia,…...
The FERC has conditionally approved the proposed Constitution Pipeline Project and related interconnection facilities to enhance natural gas supply options to New York and New England. On December 2, 2014, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) conditionally granted Constitution Pipeline Company LLC’s application for authorization to construct and operate an approximately 124-mile, 30-inch pipeline from…...
The CT PURA has issued a draft decision reducing CL&P’s proposed electric rate increase by more than $100M and reflecting a penalty for CL&P’s inadequate performance during 2011 storms. On December 1, 2014, the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) issued a draft decision on Connecticut Light and Power Company’s (CL&P) rate increase request, approving a…...
State utilities – such as New York’s Con Edison – are beginning to consider non-traditional infrastructure and resource investments to meet peak load. Distributed energy resources investments and increased customer engagement will help create a more diverse, resilient energy grid. Over the next year – and beyond – State PUCs and utilities will work closely…...
According to EIA, 2014 winter natural gas prices in Boston and New York City are expected to remain higher despite an anticipated milder winter. On November 24, 2014, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) released a report projecting higher winter natural gas prices in Boston and New York City despite expectations of a milder 2014/2015 winter. Though natural…...
The Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether EPA unreasonably refused to consider cost factors in its MATS rulemaking process. On November 25, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court granted petitions to hear state and industry challenges against the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) to decide whether EPA unreasonably refused to…...
The EPA has proposed to update air quality standards for ground-level ozone to levels within 65 ppb to 70 ppb from the current level of 75 ppb. On November 25, 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to update the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone by strengthening primary and secondary ozone…...
Non-hydro utility-scale energy storage solutions are landing record-setting contracts in multiple regions, marking a transition beyond small-scale ancillary services. Fast-reacting and flexible energy storage resources can efficiently provide ancillary services to free-up traditional generation assets for wholesale market participation. The U.S. Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change recently cited that by 2022, the worldwide demand…...
The FERC has directed RTOs/ISOs to identify fuel assurance issues relevant to their respective markets and file a report on the status of their efforts to address the issues. On November 20, 2014, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued an order directing regional transmission organizations and independent system operators (RTOs/ISOs) to file reports on…...