The Michigan Public Service Commission on Aug. 20 ordered DTE Electric Co., Consumers Energy Co., and Indiana Michigan Power Co. to file electricity distribution and maintenance plans consistent with the goals set forth in MI Power Grid – Michigan’s grid modernization initiative. MI Power Grid, launched in October 2019 with support from Democratic Governor Gretchen…...
Recently, state regulators have stepped up efforts to value distributed energy resources (DERs) more accurately while looking for ways to better reflect the costs they impose on the grid. Among recent actions, New York adopted a mechanism to move the market towards more cost-reflective rates, while California decided to include avoided transmission costs in the valuation, and Connecticut unveiled a study on quantifying the benefits of these resources.
The New York Public Service Commission on Aug. 13 adopted a settlement with Consolidated Edison Company of New York Inc. and Orange and Rockland Utilities Inc. resolving an investigation into the utilities’ response to power outages during two consecutive winter storms in 2018. The joint agreement provides ratepayer value of $10.75 million paid for by…...
The Illinois Commerce Commission on Aug. 12 opened an inquiry to gather information regarding its rules and regulations governing public utilities, in order to ensure safe and reliable electricity and natural gas services. The move follows a gas explosion in Baltimore, Maryland on Aug. 10 wherein a property in the northwest region of the city…...
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission on August 12 issued an order directing jurisdictional utilities to maintain their policy of offering extended payment arrangements for a minimum of six months to all customers through October 12. The order pertains to the first phase of the commission’s investigation into the impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic on…...
From 2011 to 2019, the U.S. repurposed 121 coal-fired plants to burn other fuels, of which 103 switched to natural gas, according to an Aug. 5 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The agency attributed the trend to stricter emission standards, low gas prices, and more efficient natural gas turbine technology. Of the 316.8-gigawatts…...
The Florida Public Service Commission on Aug. 10 approved agreements on the storm protection plans filed by four of the state’s investor-owned utilities. A 2019 law directed utilities to file 10-year plans to reduce restoration costs and outage times associated with extreme weather events and enhance reliability. The agreements resolve issues in the plans filed…...
The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources on Aug. 4 announced the launch of the Clean Peak Energy Standard, an incentive program designed to encourage the use of clean energy resources during times of peak electricity demand. The first-in-the-nation program requires retail electricity suppliers to increase their kilowatt-hour sales from clean energy during seasonal peak demand…...
The Kansas Corporation Commission on Aug 5 decided to launch a review of Evergy’s new five-year strategic plan, in order to evaluate its impacts on electric ratepayer’s interests. The Sustainability Transformation Plan was approved by the company’s Board of Directors with a focus on shareholder value creation and grid modernization. The plan, which is designed…...
The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission on Aug 4 approved new rules for advanced meter infrastructure, following a two-year rulemaking process. The regulations require investor-owned utilities employing residential smart meters to focus on customer data privacy and service continuity. Customers are allowed to opt-out of smart meters. Smart meters are critical to grid modernization as…...
The debate over ratepayer subsidies for struggling nuclear power plants has resurfaced, following a racketeering investigation related to a controversial Ohio law, which created a $1 billion bailout for FirstEnergy Corp. last year. The economic troubles of the embroiled industry come to the fore even as states such as New Jersey and Illinois evaluate plans to opt out of the regional capacity market in response to reforms that expanded the minimum offer price rule to subsidized resources.
The South Carolina Court of Common Pleas Thirteenth Judicial Circuit on July 21 approved a $520 million settlement to refund customers of state-owned Santee Cooper for costs incurred toward the construction of the abandoned VC Summer nuclear power project. The deal includes a four-year rate freeze by the utility, constituting an additional $510 million benefit…...
