The California Public Utilities Commission approved Pacific Gas & Electric Company’s bankruptcy reorganization plan with conditions, including changes to the company’s governance structure, enhanced oversight, and creation of local operating regions, according to a May 28 press release. Under a new oversight framework, PG&E’s operating permit will be subject to an ongoing review as part…...
The Virginia State Corporation Commission on May 20 authorized Dominion Energy Inc. to establish an experimental, voluntary residential time-of-use, or TOU, rate schedule and a solar incentive program. Under the new schedule, participants will be subject to time-varying energy charges based on the season and the time period of consumption that the company categorizes as…...
The Regulatory Commission of Alaska on May 18 opened a proceeding to establish certification standards for regional electric reliability organizations, or EROs, and create a regulatory framework to oversee them. The move stems from legislation enacted in March that authorized the commission to certify EROs and define their duties including submission of integrated resource plans,…...
National Grid released a report on May 8 supplementing its long-term capacity analysis issued earlier this year on natural gas capacity constraints in Downstate New York and available options for meeting long-term demand. The supplemental report incorporates feedback received from six public meetings, as well as the changing conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The…...
The Michigan Public Service Commission on May 8 authorized DTE Electric Co. to increase its electric rates by about $188.3 million, which is 47 percent lower than the utility’s request. The change is expected to raise monthly residential bills for customers using 500 kilowatt hours of electricity by about 4.7 percent or $4. The impact…...
Daily weekday electricity demand in the U.S. central region saw a decrease of 9 percent to 13 percent during March and April due to mitigation efforts, like business shutdowns, put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19, according to a May 7 report from the Energy Information Administration. New York experienced similar declines, while…...
The California Public Utilities Commission on May 7 approved a settlement imposing $1.937 billion in penalties against Pacific Gas and Electric Company for its role in causing the catastrophic wildfires in 2017 and 2018. The decision permanently suspends the utility’s obligation to pay a $200 million fine, so that the payment does not reduce the…...
The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority on May 6 issued a final decision adopting comprehensive marketing standards and sales practices for electric suppliers. The new standards are designed to ensure that customers choosing third-party suppliers have access to accurate information to make educated decisions. The standards apply to switching practices, solicitations and renewals, hiring and…...
Utility commissions in almost a dozen jurisdictions have canceled hearings and revised procedural schedules in several pending electric and natural gas rate cases. A few utilities have committed to delay the implementation of rates, in order to avoid burdening customers amid the difficult circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The California Public Utilities Commission on April 27 proposed to revise the current guidelines for electric utilities’ Public Safety Power Shut-off, or PSPS, events ahead of the 2020 wildfire season. The revisions include new safety measures that utilities must adopt to better understand and address the needs of affected communities, and minimize the duration and…
The California Public Utilities Commission on April 20 proposed to approve Pacific Gas & Electric Company’s bankruptcy reorganization plan with conditions, including changes to the company’s governance structure, enhanced oversight, and creation of local operating regions. The commission also proposed $1.937 billion in penalties for the utility’s role in causing the catastrophic wildfires in its…
Amid the economic downturn ensuing from the pandemic, state utility regulators are faced with the challenging task of protecting customers from power shutoffs while also considering costs incurred by utilities. A growing number of state commissions are directing utilities to establish a regulatory asset account to capture and track COVID-19-related incremental costs.
