Smart Grid

Supreme Court Rules Maryland Power Contract Structure Unconstitutional

EnerKnol Research Reports, Power & Utilities, PRODUCTS, Smart Grid

On April 19, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a Maryland program to subsidize the participation of a new power plant in the wholesale energy market infringed on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) exclusive jurisdiction over wholesale electricity rates. The Court limited its ruling to the contractual structure of the Maryland program and specified that states may promote generation through other measures that do not intrude on FERC authority. FERC-state jurisdictional overlap will continue to grow as the energy landscape further evolves to incorporate new generation portfolios and comply with environmental mandates.

Utah Law Expands Energy Storage Markets to Meet Growth of Renewables

EnerKnol Research Reports, Power & Utilities, PRODUCTS, Smart Grid

On March 29, 2016, Utah signed into law the Sustainable Transportation and Energy Plan Act (SB 115), which establishes utility investments in battery storage, electric vehicle infrastructure, and several clean energy programs. The new law seeks to boost energy storage solutions to improve the reliability and cost-efficiency of the electric grid, and joins a list of states enacting similar measures, including California, New York, and Texas. New regulatory measures at the state level will expand opportunities for emerging storage technologies, such as lithium-ion batteries, flywheels, and sodium-sulfur battery systems, to provide better operational flexibility and faster response.

DOE Sets Precedent with Interstate Transmission Project Overriding State Concerns

EnerKnol Research Reports, Power & Utilities, PRODUCTS, Smart Grid

On March 25, 2016, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced its decision to participate in the development of the Plains & Eastern transmission project, a 705-mile direct current transmission line, which would deliver approximately 4,000 MW of wind power from the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandle regions to the Mid-South and Southeast. The decision marks the first time that the DOE has used congressional authority under the 2005 Energy Policy Act that allows the Department to bypass state approval by directly partaking in a major interstate infrastructure project. Should the project succeed, many others could follow, boosting the development of renewable energy in the wind and solar regions in the upper Great Plains, Rocky Mountains, and Southwest desert.

California Tariff Proposal Opens Wholesale Market to Small Distributed Energy Resources

EnerKnol Research Reports, Power & Utilities, PRODUCTS, Smart Grid

New policy proposals at both regional and state levels could increase access to wholesale markets for aggregated distributed energy resources (DERs). The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) filed tariff revisions with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on March 4, 2016, to enable aggregated DER to participate in the ISO’s wholesale markets. DER initiatives in New York, Hawaii, and Texas could also identify optimal solutions to balance renewable energy growth with grid safety and reliability. Access to these markets will be a critical advancement for rooftop solar and solar storage, particularly as DER adoption continues to expand with enhanced technology capabilities, environmental regulations, and fossil-fuel retirements.

Oregon Bill Sets Precedent To Phase Out Coal

EnerKnol Research Reports, Power & Utilities, PRODUCTS, Smart Grid

Oregon’s SB 1547, signed into law on March 8, 2016, will phase out coal-fired generation from the state’s electricity mix by 2035 and double the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to 50 percent by 2040. The coal phase-out will require utilities to cease importing coal-fired power to Oregon customers, while the ambitious RPS goal will shape the state’s energy mix, corresponding with renewable generation’s ability to displace fossil fuels.

Washington DC Regulators Propose Additional Requirements For Exelon-Pepco Merger

EnerKnol Research Reports, Power & Utilities, PRODUCTS, Smart Grid

On February 26, 2016, the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia (DC PSC) rejected a proposed merger for Exelon Corporation’s acquisition of Pepco Holdings, but proposed alternative terms that would require active participation in renewable energy initiatives and improved cost allocation. The growing complexity of the approval process demonstrates the need for more flexible merger plans that address infrastructure modernization and environmental goals.

FERC’s Revised Critical Infrastructure Protection Demands Active Vigilance

EnerKnol Research Reports, Power & Utilities, PRODUCTS, Smart Grid

The FERC’s Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Version 5 standards are based on a tiered impact rating methodology, which would bring all cyber assets that could impact BES facilities into the scope of the CIP standards. The CIP Version 5 standards require that responsible entities actively consider the BES security needs beyond mere compliance with minimum standards.

State Commission Findings Influence Ongoing Net Energy Metering Valuation Debate

EnerKnol Research Reports, Power & Utilities, PRODUCTS, Smart Grid

California’s decision to retain retail rate net metering is in stark contrast to a December 2015 decision in Nevada that changes the compensation for solar providers from retail to much lower wholesale rates and also decreases the credit solar owners receive for net excess generation. Of key interest is whether the controversial decisions – particularly in Nevada – will set precedent for other ratemaking decisions across the nation. Some states have initiated studies or opened dockets to address these issues, and others have effected changes, and critical findings across commissions will influence the outcomes in other states.

U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Heightens Need For Demand-Response Regulatory Coordination

EnerKnol Research Reports, Power & Utilities, PRODUCTS, Smart Grid

Key Takeaways: The Supreme Court ruling on FERC Order 745 establishes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) jurisdiction over demand response (DR) in the wholesale energy market The ruling will ensure that eligible DR resources receive the same compensation as generation resources, facilitating increased DR participation in wholesale energy markets The decision will further the…...

Revisions to MISO Capacity Market Rules Could Lower Illinois Electricity Prices

EnerKnol Research Reports, Power & Utilities, PRODUCTS, Smart Grid

Key Takeaways: The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) will no longer calculate the reference level for its annual capacity auctions based on opportunity costs of selling capacity into the PJM Interconnection region The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has directed revisions to MISO rules to reflect the counter-flows created by capacity exports to neighboring regions,…...

Transmission Investments Critical to Accommodate Changing Resource Mix

EnerKnol Research Reports, Power & Utilities, PRODUCTS, Smart Grid

Key Takeaways: Transmission investments are expected to increase significantly to replace aging infrastructure, maintain reliability, and meet environmental obligations and state renewable energy goals Transmission is critical for connecting high-quality renewables and other lower-carbon resources far from load centers to the grid The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued a decision reducing the base return…...

States Seek New Net Metering Models To Address Balance In Distributed Generation

EnerKnol Research Reports, Power & Utilities, PRODUCTS, Smart Grid

Key Takeaways: Arizona will investigate the costs and benefits of distributed generation (DG) to address net metering cost-shift issues and ensure a balanced share of grid maintenance costs between DG and non-DG ratepayers Arizona’s decision could set national model for states seeking reasonable net energy metering (NEM) reimbursement as DG penetration increases Reforms to NEM…...