The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities issued a final order on Oct. 7 approving National Grid’s electric rate request, with a $41.8 million or 32 percent cut to the company’s original application for a $132.2 million hike. Regulators also approved performance-based ratemaking proposals, storm cost recovery and a limited part of the company’s aggressive electric vehicle…
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on Oct. 7 approved Xcel Energy Inc.’s subscription pilot for electric vehicle charging services for residential ratepayers. The program, which intends to make the energy-related costs of operating electric cars more predictable, allows customers to charge the vehicle for a flat monthly fee for a two-year period, instead of paying for…
The Illinois Commerce Commission approved Commonwealth Edison Company’s four-year residential rate pilot designed to incentivize participants to shift their energy use from peak periods to times when energy and capacity costs are lower, according to an Oct. 9 news release. The initiative is also intended to encourage electric vehicle charging during off peak periods, so…
In the last year alone, states from Maine to New Mexico have enacted measures mandating the study of microgrids, showing the growing interest in harnessing the technology to shore up grid reliability and accomplish broader policy goals in which microgrids may play a role.
The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission has approved Unitil Energy Systems, Inc.’s request to recover the costs of power supply through a bump in rates of about 10.3 cents per kilowatt-hour, according to the Oct. 4 order. The average monthly bills for small residential customers taking energy service from Unitil will increase by about 15.5 percent…
The New Hampshire Public Utility Commission issued a second order on Oct. 2 demanding that retail power supplier Agera Energy LLC make alternative compliance payments totalling over $2.2 million to satisfy compliance with the state’s 2018 renewable portfolio standards. Agera, which filed for bankruptcy with a federal bankruptcy court in New York on Oct. 4th,…...
The Michigan Public Service Commission authorized a contract allowing Consumers Energy Co. to purchase a 166-megawatt wind farm in Hillsdale County, according to an Oct. 7 news release. The project, which will be developed by Crescent Wind LLC, is expected to come online by the end of next year. The agency also approved cost recovery…
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin issued a draft environmental impact statement for Wisconsin Electric Power Company-Gas Operations’ Lakeshore Lateral natural gas line, according to the Oct. 4 filling. The draft report identified impacts and minor route adjustments, with recommendations available in the final report. The new natural gas transmission would be approximately 46 miles in length,…
PacifiCorp unveiled its draft long-term resource plan on Oct. 3 that proposes to retire 20 of its 24 coal units by the end of the planning period in 2038, reducing coal-fired generation capacity by about 4.5 gigawatts. The plan, which envisions about 7 gigawatts of renewables and storage by 2025, identifies battery installations as part…
The U.S. Department of Energy issued an order to Ferus Natural Gas Fuels, L.P. approving exports of domestically produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) from its Eagle Jacksonville Project, according to an October 4 press release. Under the order, Eagle LNG will have the authority to export up to 0.14 billion cubic feet per day of…
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is scheduled to issue an environmental review for two natural gas compressor projects by February 8, 2020, according to a Sept. 24 press release. Kinder Morgan Louisiana Pipeline LLC’s $145 million Acadiana project and Columbia Gulf Transmission LLC’s $470 million Louisiana Xpress project will have a combined environmental review. The Acadiana project,…
The Illinois Commerce Commission denied a request by solar developer Sunrise Energy Ventures LLC to investigate the Illinois Power Agency’s Adjustable Block Program lottery conducted in April to select projects for renewable energy credit, or REC, contracts, according to an Oct. 2 order. The commission found that the lottery is within the discretion granted to…
