The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities is due to receive comments on a proposed framework to administer energy efficiency and peak demand reduction programs following a 2018 law that established annual energy use reductions of at least 2 percent for electric utilities and 0.75 percent for gas utilities. The Clean Energy Act of 2018 directed the board to establish quantitative performance indicators to evaluate each utility’s achievement of the target, and apply performance incentives or penalties tied to the achievement of utility-specific targets. READ MORE

The New York Public Service Commission is scheduled to receive comments on National Grid’s long-term capacity report analyzing available options to meet natural gas demand in its service territory. The analysis is required under a November 2019 settlement under which National Grid agreed to lift the moratorium on gas service in Long Island, Queens, and Brooklyn. The settlement requires an analysis of long-term options, including renewable energy sources, a new pipeline, liquefied natural gas, compressed natural gas facilities, and conservation strategies. The company imposed the moratorium in May 2019 following the Department of Environmental Conservation’s decision to deny a water permit for Williams Co.’s Northeast Supply Enhancement project, which would provide service to the utility. READ MORE

The Maine Public Utilities Commission is due to receive applications in response to its request for proposals to procure the output of distributed generation resources in the state. A 2019 law directed the agency to conduct solicitations to obtain 250 megawatts of distributed generation from shared resources and 125 megawatts from commercial and institutional accounts over the next five years. The agency seeks proposals for the Block 1 procurement in one of two categories namely, commercial/institutional or shared projects for a procurement target of 25 megawatts and 50 megawatts, respectively. READ MORE

The Michigan Public Service Commission will consider DTE Electric Company’s application regarding the rates, terms, and conditions associated with its renewable energy plan. The company filed a revised plan on March 31, proposing a 225-megawatt wind farm and two solar power purchase contracts of about 125 megawatts. The revisions follow a July 2019 order, in which the commission deferred a final determination on the company’s proposed renewable generation assets not qualifying for the full production tax credit. READ MORE

The California Public Utilities Commission will host a virtual meeting of the Wildfire Safety Advisory Board, which was established last year to review mitigation plans for 2020 and beyond to ensure that electric utilities are taking effective actions to reduce wildfire risk. The commission encourages the public to provide input on the board’s draft 2020 mitigation plan recommendations. The 2019 plans, approved last May, directed electric corporations to track data and evaluate the outcomes to improve future plans. Catastrophic fires in 2017, 2018, and 2019 resulted in billions of dollars in damage across the state, forcing Pacific Gas & Electric to declare bankruptcy last year.

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission will hold a remote hearing on Public Service Company of Colorado’s proposal to implement default time-of-use, or TOU, rates for residential customers once they have a smart meter. The Xcel Energy Inc. subsidiary has been conducting a large-scale trial of TOU rates since 2017, following a settlement agreement in its last rate case. The company proposes to change the rate from year-round to summer only, and modify the on-peak, shoulder, and off-peak periods. The commission consolidated public comment hearings scheduled for April 8 and April 16 and converted it into a remote hearing. 19AL-0687E