The New York Power Authority is due to receive submissions for large-scale renewable energy projects capable of generating up to 2 million megawatt hours or more per year. In July, Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo announced solicitations seeking up to 4 gigawatts of renewable capacity, including 2.5 gigawatts of offshore wind and 1.5 gigawatts of land-based large-scale projects. The agency will coordinate with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority in conducting land-based project solicitations. The selected projects will be fast-tracked under a recent law, which established a renewable energy siting office to accelerate large-scale projects. READ MORE

The Virginia State Corporation Commission will consider Appalachian Power Company’s application for adjustments of retail rates and charges applicable to its electric service. The American Electric Company subsidiary requested an annual revenue increase of approximately $65 million, or 5 percent, and a return on equity of 9.9 percent. The change would result in a monthly bill increase of 6.5 percent for residential customers that consume 1000 kilowatt-hours. READ MORE

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is scheduled to deliver a proposed rulemaking package to the Environmental Quality Board to allow the state to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a 10-state compact that established the nation’s first mandatory emissions trading program. Democratic Governor Tom Wolf signed an executive order in October 2019, directing the department to develop regulations to join the initiative, which puts a limit on carbon emissions from the power sector. READ MORE

The District of Columbia Public Service Commission is due to receive reply comments regarding the development of a regulatory framework for microgrids as part of the PowerPath DC initiative, which was launched in August 2019 to advance the next phase of the commission’s grid modernization efforts. The agency seeks to better understand the benefits and potential impacts of microgrids on customers and the distribution system to enhance regulatory certainty and transparency in its decision making process. The commission has proposed a framework, and seeks responses to a list of questions concerning standards for safe operation, customer protections and safeguards, and interconnection rules, among others. READ MORE

The Florida Public Service Commission will consider Gulf Power Company’s settlement regarding recovery of restoration costs related to Hurricane Michael, which ravaged Northwest Florida Gulf Coast in October 2018. In June 2019, the commission approved an interim recovery charge for a period of 60 months and directed Gulf Power to submit actual costs for review and true up of any excess or shortfall. In a November 2019 filing, the company sought approval to recover about 295 million. The settlement reduces the amount by $5 million, resolving issues related to contractors’ expenses, employee payroll, and materials and supplies costs. 20190038-EI

The Illinois Commerce Commission is due to receive comments regarding potential changes to its rules and regulations governing public utilities, in order to ensure reliable electricity and natural gas services. The commission seeks responses from utilities on a series of questions concerning the processes involved in performing inspections of plants or equipment and addressing issues identified. The solicitations come in wake of a gas explosion in Baltimore, Maryland on Aug. 10 wherein a property in the northwest region of the city was destroyed. Utilities are also required to provide explanations of the current processes to permit reporting from the public and implement safety awareness training measures. READ MORE

The Maryland Public Service Commission will consider Baltimore Gas and Electric Company’s proposed multi-year rate plan to address electric and gas revenue deficiencies from 2021 to 2023. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Exelon Corp. subsidiary said it is not proposing to increase revenues in 2021 or 2022, and is seeking increases of $140.4 million for electric and $94.9 million for gas service in 2023. The proposal is expected to result in an increase of about 8.3 percent in the total bill for an average residential customer receiving both electric and gas service from the company in 2023. 9645

The Florida Public Service Commission will host a workshop to provide a forum for staff and stakeholders to brief the commission on net metering and customer-owned renewable generation in the state. The number of renewable systems rose from 577 to 59,508 interconnections since the state adopted net metering in 2008, allowing customers with grid-connected solar to exchange excess generation for kilowatt-hour credits. From 2018-2019, the generation capacity from customer-sited installations increased by about 62 percent, reaching 514.5 megawatts.

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities will discuss whether the state can achieve its long-term clean energy and environmental goals under the current resource adequacy paradigm. The commission will assess alternatives to the state participating in the regional capacity market administered by PJM Interconnection LLC as the means to ensure sufficient generation resources for ratepayers. The move is in response to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s December 2019 decision to expand the minimum offer price rule in the capacity market, thereby supporting fossil fuel generation and making clean energy more costly. READ MORE

The California Energy Commission is due to receive comments on proposed updates to the regulations for existing residential building additions and alterations for the 2022 Energy Code as part of its three-year update cycle. The 2022 code will improve upon the 2019 standards by revising and updating efficiency standards for new buildings, as well as expansions and alterations to existing buildings. Following workshops and a public comment process, the new code will become effective at the start of 2023. The 2019 code established a requirement to have solar photovoltaic systems installed in newly constructed low-rise residential buildings. In May 2018, the commission adopted standards requiring most new homes to install rooftop solar starting in 2020, making California the first U.S. state to adopt such a mandate.

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will discuss Xcel Energy Inc.’s demand response plan to comply with a January 2017 order that directed the company to acquire at least 400 megawatts of additional demand response by 2023. The commission is considering whether it should direct Xcel to make periodic compliance filings to demonstrate it is on track to meet the requirement. It has been three years since the commission’s order – issued in Xcel’s 2015 integrated resource plan – and the company has not yet proposed a new demand response product. In a bid to expedite compliance, the Advanced Energy Management Alliance requested the commission to initiate a process to adopt a demand response tariff or tariff revisions. M-20-421