New York Simplifies Grid Connection for Energy Storage as it Seeks to Meet Half of Electricity Needs With Renewables by 2030

Minnesota Regulator Adopts Process to Implement Performance-Based Rates

EnerKnol Pulse, Retail Power and Gas

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on Jan. 8 established a procedure to determine goals and metrics for Xcel Energy Inc.’s performance-based rates. The commission adopted the Office of Attorney General’s recommendation which outlines a “goals-outcomes-metrics process” as an effective method to gather stakeholder input and develop performance metrics. The possible outcomes identified include affordability, reliability,…

Electric Car Charging Stations

Maryland Regulator Authorizes Utilities to Install 5,000 Electric Car Charging Stations

Electric Vehicles, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse

The Maryland Public Service Commission approved a five-year electric vehicle charging program for the state’s largest utilities, taking a major step towards its ambitious goal of putting 300,000 electric vehicles on roadways by 2025, according to a Jan. 14 press release. The order permits utilities to own a limited number of public charging stations, in…

Montana State Lawmaker Proposes Bill to Establish Carbon Tax

Montana State Lawmaker Proposes Bill to Establish Carbon Tax

Climate Change and Emissions, coal, Emissions, EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Pulse, Environmental Markets

Montana House Lawmaker Mary Dunwell, a Democrat, introduced legislation on Jan. 14 that would impose a carbon tax of $10 per metric ton on large emissions sources from 2020, increasing annually by $1, plus the rate of inflation. The bill would set an emissions reduction goal of 25 percent by 2035, and 50 percent by…...

PG&E to Seek Bankruptcy Protection Amid Wildfire Liability

PG&E to Seek Bankruptcy Protection Amid Wildfire Liability

EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, Power & Utilities, Retail Power, Retail Power and Gas

PG&E Corporation announced it intends to reorganize under Chapter 11 of the U.S. bankruptcy code as it faces billions of dollars in potential liability resulting from the 2017 and 2018 Northern California wildfires, according to a Jan. 14 press release. The move comes a day after Geisha Williams stepped down as CEO. The company said…...

U.S. Energy Department to Invest $88 Million in Oil, Gas Recovery Projects

U.S. Energy Department to Invest $88 Million in Oil, Gas Recovery Projects

EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, Natural Gas

The U.S. Energy Department announced funding for cost-shared research and development projects aimed to improve technologies used for oil and natural gas recovery, according to a Jan. 10 press release. The Initiative intends to further the technology and innovation that resulted in the shale revolution, which has transformed the U.S. energy landscape. The agency said…

California Begins Process to Determine Wildfire Cost Recovery Amid PG&E’s Troubles

California Begins Process to Determine Wildfire Cost Recovery Amid PG&E’s Troubles

EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, Power & Utilities, Retail Power, Retail Power and Gas

The California Public Utilities Commission on Jan. 10 opened a docket to implement the provisions of Senate Bill 901 enacted last year, allowing utilities to pass some of their costs to ratepayers. The commission said it will adopt a methodology for wildfire cost recovery, but will not adopt any specific financial outcome for future applications…....

Power Suppliers Seek Supreme Court Review of State Nuclear Subsidies

Power Suppliers Seek Supreme Court Review of State Nuclear Subsidies

EnerKnol Impact-Misc Categories, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, Nuclear, Nuclear Power, Renewables, Wholesale Power

The Electric Power Suppliers Association on Jan. 7 filed a petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review appellate court rulings that upheld zero-emission credit programs designed to support financially struggling nuclear plants in New York and Illinois. The organization argues that the subsidy programs infringe on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s jurisdiction over wholesale…...

Dominion Energy Seeks $114 Million Rate Hike to Fund Environmental Projects

Dominion Energy Seeks $114 Million Rate Hike to Fund Environmental Projects

EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, Retail Power and Gas

The Virginia Electric and Power Company filed a rate adjustment clause proposing a revenue requirement of $113.6 million to recover the costs of complying with state and federal environmental regulations for the 2019 rate year starting Nov. 1 and ending Oct. 31, 2020, according to a Jan. 10 press release from the Virginia State Corporation…

Renewable Generation Additions Expected to More Than Double Natural Gas in 2019

Renewable Generation Additions Expected to More Than Double Natural Gas in 2019: EIA

EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse, Natural Gas, REC Feed, Solar, Wind

In 2019, the U.S. is expected to add 23.7 gigawatts of generation capacity and retire 8.3 gigawatts, according to a Jan. 10 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. About 8 gigawatts of coal, nuclear, and natural gas generation are scheduled to retire this year, with coal accounting for 53 percent of the retirements. Texas,…

High Costs, Infrastructure Challenges Hinder Electric Vehicle Penetration

High Costs, Infrastructure Challenges Hinder Electric Vehicle Penetration: Illinois Report

Electric Vehicles, EnerKnol Impacts, EnerKnol Pulse

The Illinois Commerce Commission on Jan. 9 released a report identifying challenges and opportunities related to electric vehicle deployment and its impact on the grid. The report identifies high upfront costs, range anxiety, lack of charging stations, and inadequate consumer awareness as the key barriers to widespread adoption. The main benefits surrounding electric vehicles pertain…

ComEd Unveils $1.7 Billion Energy Efficiency Plan for Illinois Customers

APS Faces Investigation in Arizona Following Complaints of Increased Electricity Bills

EnerKnol Pulse

The Arizona Corporation Commission on Jan. 9 opened a docket to conduct a regulatory audit and a rate review of Arizona Public Service Company after the agency received complaints of large bill increases from the utility’s electric customers. The commission said that the significant number of complaints indicate inadequate customer outreach efforts after the recent rate increase…