Utilities Are Reshaping Rate Design Strategies

Policy Primer: Utilities Are Reshaping Rate Design Strategies

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The growing adoption of clean energy standards, energy efficiency, and customer-sited resources is driving the need for innovative ratemaking principles. Utilities are exploring rate structures that facilitate the integration of variable and distributed generation, and align customer behavior with grid needs. Smart meters are paving the way for time-based and dynamic rate options to balance the grid under the increased penetration of renewable and distributed energy resources, as well as electric vehicles.

U.S. Offshore Wind Industry Update

Policy Primer: U.S. Offshore Wind Industry Update

Climate Change and Emissions, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Research Reports, EnerKnol Visual Primer, Grid Modernization, Integrated Resource Plans, PRODUCTS, REC Feed, Renewable Energy Credit Market, Renewables, Retail Power and Gas, Wind, Wind Power

Amid commitments to procure more than 29 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind capacity by 2035, U.S. states are exploring measures for transmission planning, interconnection reforms, supply chain development, and components production.

New York Commission Slashes NYSEG, RG&E Rate Increase Request by 70 Percent

New York Commission Slashes NYSEG, RG&E Rate Increase Request by 70 Percent

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The New York Public Service Commission on Nov. 19 established a three-year rate plan for New York State Electric & Gas Corporation and Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation, both subsidiaries of Avangrid Inc., starting from April 2020. The commission approved a combined first-year rate increase of $65million, which is about 70 percent lower than what…...

Alaska Commission Begins Process to Regulate Electric Reliability Organization

Con Edison Faces $25 Million in Penalties for 2019 Power Outages in New York

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New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, on Nov 19 announced that Consolidated Edison Company of New York Inc. faces $25 million in penalties as well as possible license revocation for failure to respond to outages in July 2019 that left over 100,000 customers without power for two days. The potential penalty is in addition…...

West Virginia Regulator Orders Cost Adjustments Slashing Gas Bills For 95 Percent of Customers

Minnesota Regulators Approve CenterPoint’s Renewable Natural Gas Interconnection Plan

EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, Natural Gas, REC Feed, Retail Power and Gas

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on Nov. 21 granted CenterPoint Energy’s request to offer renewable natural gas, or RNG, interconnection service. The approval establishes a process for producers to inject RNG into the company’s system and creates terms and conditions for the service, including proposed interconnection rates. CenterPoint said that the proposal responds to demand…

California Utilities’ Renewable Generation Reached 40 Percent of Total Procurement in 2018

California Regulator Strengthens Enforcement Practices

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The California Public Utilities Commission has adopted a new enforcement policy that provides guidance to achieve a consistent approach to enforcement practices and ensure that regulated entities demonstrate maximum compliance with rules and requirements, according to a Nov. 5 press release. The measure, which builds on existing tools and processes, is designed to promote consistency…...

Missouri Regulator Launches Probe into Winter Storm Event

Texas Grid Operator Projects Sufficient Generation for Upcoming Winter, Spring

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The Electric Reliability Council of Texas Inc. expects nearly 83,000 megawatts of resource capacity to be available to meet the projected peak demand of 57,699 megawatts for the upcoming winter season from December 2020 to February 2021. The winter peak demand forecast in the grid operator’s final winter resource adequacy assessment, released on Nov. 5, …...

State Regulators Scrutinize Gas Utility Planning to Align With Climate Goals

Visual Primer: State Regulators Scrutinize Gas Utility Planning to Align With Climate Goals

Climate Change and Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, Fossil Fuels, Grid Modernization, Natural Gas, Natural Gas, PRODUCTS, REC Feed, Retail Power and Gas

A growing number of states are investigating long-term planning of natural gas utilities to explore cost-effective alternatives that better align with climate policies. Investigation into the future of the gas industry is becoming important to develop strategies that facilitate progress toward a net-zero emissions energy future while safeguarding ratepayer interests and ensuring reliable service.

New York Governor Announces Creation of Special Counsel for Ratepayer Protection

New York Governor Announces Creation of Special Counsel for Ratepayer Protection

Climate Change and Emissions, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, Natural Gas, PRODUCTS, Retail Power and Gas, Solar, Wind

Democrat Governor Andrew Cuomo appointed New York City Council Member and former Assembly Member Rory Lancman to the new role of Statewide Special Counsel for Ratepayer Protection, according to an Oct. 30 press release. In the new role, Lancman will assess the performance of the state’s regulated utilities across the electric, natural gas, water, and…...

Arizona Law Prevents Local Restrictions on Natural Gas Use in Buildings

Colorado Regulators Probe into Retail Natural Gas Industry Emissions

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The Colorado Public Utilities Commission on Nov. 4 opened a proceeding to investigate retail natural gas industry emissions as the state explores ways to meet the requirements of a 2019 law that set statewide goals to achieve emission cuts of 26 percent by 2025, 50 percent by 2030, and 90 percent by 2050, relative to…...

Southwest Power Pool Proposes Rules to Implement Western Power Market

New York Governor Proposes Bill to Strengthen Enforcement Tools for Utilities

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Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo on Oct. 28 proposed legislation to strengthen the state’s enforcement mechanisms to hold utilities accountable for inadequate preparedness and response to extreme weather events such as Tropical Storm Isaias. The bill would increase penalties to shareholders for failing to comply with emergency response plans and other violations, and also expedite the…...

Hydrogen Offers Promising Potential for Clean Energy Transition

Visual Primer: Hydrogen Offers Promising Potential for Clean Energy Transition

Climate Change and Emissions, Electric Vehicles, Energy Storage, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Research Reports, EnerKnol Visual Primer, Grid Modernization, Integrated Resource Plans, Natural Gas, Power & Utilities, PRODUCTS, REC Feed, Retail Power and Gas, Smart Grid, Solar, Wind

Hydrogen is emerging as an important player in the U.S. energy landscape because of its ability to decarbonize multiple sectors. A number of exciting projects harnessing the technology are taking shape as hydrogen and fuel cells can store energy to help enhance the power grid and maximize opportunities to deploy renewable energy.