The California Public Utilities Commission on May 30 approved wildfire mitigation plans for the state’s electric utilities in response to legislation enacted last year that directed electric corporations to file annual plans describing measures to prevent, combat, and respond to wildfires in their service areas. The commission also made enhancements to communication and notification guidelines…
The Ohio House on May 29 passed legislation that would require electric customers to pay monthly charges from 2020 through 2026 to ultimately raise about $198 million per year, most of which would be passed on in the form of “clean air credits” to rescue FirstEnergy Solutions Corp.’s ailing nuclear plants. Simultaneously, the bill seeks…
The total wholesale cost of electricity in the ISO New England Inc.’s markets was $12.1 billion in 2018, about 32 percent higher than the previous year, according to the grid operator’s annual market report released on May 23. The report said that the overall performance of the region’s capacity, energy, and ancillary service markets was…
The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission released an order identifying specific goals and best suited regulatory performance-based rate mechanisms for each outcome to be addressed in the upcoming Phase 2 of its investigation of performance-based rules, set to begin next month, according to a May 23 order. Building on a staff proposal issued in February 2019, the commission…
Southern California Edison on May 20 rolled out its Charge Ready Transport program, which aims to add charging stations for medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles in at least 870 commercial sites within the utility’s service territory. The utility plans to install infrastructure to support nearly 8,500 industrial vehicles over a five-year period. The utility said…
Republican Governor Larry Hogan announced on May 22 that he is allowing the Clean Energy Jobs bill, which raises the renewable portfolio standard to 50 percent by 2030, to take effect without his signature, expressing concerns that the measure could send jobs and environmental benefits to other states. Hogan chose to allow the measure to…
The Texas legislature on May 21 approved a measure aimed at mitigating the risk of cyber and physical attacks that may affect the reliability of the state’s electric systems. The legislation would establish the electric grid security council as an advisory body to implement and disseminate best security practices for the power industry, including generation,…
The New Hampshire legislature approved a measure on May 23 requiring at least two new community solar projects per year in each utility’s service territory to benefit low- and moderate-income ratepayers, starting next year. (SB165) Under the legislation, the host may choose to receive credits on bills for each member and the host, along with a…
The New York State Public Service Commission predicts that the cost for electricity supply this summer will remain near historically-low levels thanks to a decline in the amount of electricity consumed, according to a May 16 press release. Energy price forecasts based on projections from the New York Mercantile Exchange are down between 1 to…
The Florida Public Service Commission on May 21 approved settlement agreements allowing Duke Energy Florida LLC and Tampa Electric Company to use the savings from the 2017 federal tax reforms to cover the costs of restoring power after recent storms. The agreements also establish standardized processes for future storm restoration activities. Duke Energy will use $484…
Xcel Energy Inc. plans to retire its last two coal power plants in Minnesota by 2030, a decade earlier than scheduled, while extending operations of its Monticello nuclear plant until at least 2040, according to a May 20 announcement. The closures are part of the company’s integrated resource plan, which will be filed with the…
The unabating momentum of electric vehicle (EV) growth has prompted regulators and legislators to examine policies and standards of utilities regarding charging infrastructure. Utilities can assume a larger role in developing EV charging because of their ability to install and operate widely distributed electrical assets.
