The Vermont Public Utility Commission will review Vermont Gas Systems Inc.’s request for a 3.8 percent decrease in its natural gas rates. This decrease represents the net of a 14.8 percent decline in the natural gas charge and a 4 percent increase in daily distribution rates. The filing also accounts for benefits of lower federal income tax expense associated with the recently enacted tax laws. (18-0409-TF)

ISO New England Inc. is scheduled to receive approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a proposed two-stage process for its capacity market auction designed to accommodate the entry of subsidized electric generators and maintain competitive pricing. The proposal includes financial incentives for existing, high-cost resources to transfer their capacity obligations to subsidized new resources and then permanently exit the capacity market. The grid uses its annual auction to secure supply commitments from generators three years in advance in order to ensure sufficient capacity is available to maintain service during periods of high electricity usage. (ER18-619)

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission will consider a proposal by IDACORP Inc. subsidiary Idaho Power Company to create a separate compensation scheme for net metering ratepayers, who are paid for the excess rooftop solar power supplied to the grid. The utility argues that the full retail rate payouts are too generous. A separate technical conference will take place March 8. (IPC-E-17-13)

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission will adopt rules for community solar companies, covering licensing and registration, annual reporting, fees and consumer protection. The measures are being put in place following legislation passed last year that seeks to promote local renewable energy. (UE-171033)

The California Public Utilities Commission is taking final comments on its resource adequacy program, including input on its annual procurement obligations for 2019 and 2020 and possible refinements needed to accommodate changes in the generation mix. California’s resource adequacy program is designed to ensure that the system has sufficient electric supplies to maintain service during periods of high consumption as well as to drive investments in new power plants needed to ensure reliability in the future. (R1709020)

The Montana Public Service Commission is scheduled to receive final testimonies for its review of the proposed acquisition of Avista Corp. by Hydro One Limited, a Canadian transmission and distribution service provider. The commission will consider the impacts of the merger on Avista’s in-state power generators, which include a coal-fired facility and hydropower plant. (D2017.9.71)

The Public Utilities Commission of Texas will consider an application by American Electric Power Company Inc.’s subsidiary Southwestern Electric Power Co. for a 12.7 percent base rate increase. The agency will also review issues arising from the chapter 11 bankruptcy of Energy Future Holdings Corp. as well as electric reliability and market development in the state’s grid run by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas Inc.

The California Independent System Operator Corp. will publish a draft report on local capacity requirements for 2019, which establishes electricity supply procurement targets. The California Public Utilities Commission is scheduled to issue a final decision on the study by the end of June in order to provide utilities with sufficient time to secure the necessary capacity commitments from power suppliers for next year. (R1709020)