The Maine Public Utilities Commission is scheduled to receive comments on rules related to nonwire alternative coordinator investigations. Last June, the state enacted a law establishing the position of a coordinator to investigate and identify alternatives to proposed transmission projects, and evaluate the costs and benefits of nonwire alternatives compared to utility capital investments. Nonwire alternatives refer to infrastructure, technology, or application that defers or reduces the need for additional transmission and distribution system spending, and addresses reliability needs that would be met by those investments. READ MORE

The Virginia State Corporation Commission will consider the initial three-year phase of Dominion Energy Inc’.s 10-year grid transformation plan. The $600 million proposal includes investments in a customer information platform that allows for digital management of energy usage and nearly one million smart meters, which would more than triple the number currently installed. The plan includes a component to fully deploy smart meters across the company’s service territory over the next six years. The 10-year initiative is estimated to cost $2.8 billion in capital investment and $480 million in operations and maintenance expenses. READ MORE

The South Carolina Public Service Commission will conduct a workshop regarding the filing requirements for integrated resource plans. Last May, the state enacted legislation that amends resource planning requirements to provide for an evaluation of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and demand response. The law establishes reporting requirements and calls long-term forecasts of sales and peak demand under various scenarios and several resource portfolios intended to fairly evaluate the range of demand-side, supply-side, storage, and other technologies and services to meet the utility’s service obligations. READ MORE

The California Public Utilities Commission will conduct evidentiary hearings on the agency’s investigation into Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s maintenance, operations and practices. The regulator opened the investigation following catastrophic wildfires in 2017 caused by PGE’s transmission equipment. The potential liability for the 2017 and 2018 Northern California wildfires, estimated to exceed $30 billion, prompted PG&E in January to file for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. bankruptcy code. The embattled utility is also facing scrutiny for the recent mass blackouts prompted by wildfire weather. I1906015

The Wyoming Public Service Commission will hold a public hearing on Pacificorp’s coal study in connection with its 2019 integrated resource plan to ensure that the long-term resource decisions made by the company are consistent with commission rules and in the public interest. PacifiCorp’s long-term plan proposes to retire 20 of its 24 coal units by the end of the planning period in 2038, reducing coal-fired generation capacity by about 4.5 gigawatts. The company cites economic pressures on existing coal-fired generation coupled with falling costs for new renewable resources as a justification for retirements. READ MORE

The California Public Utilities Commission is due to receive comments on its staff proposal outlining microgrid and resiliency strategies. The commission initiated a process to create a policy framework to pave the way for commercialization of microgrids for distribution customers of large electrical corporations, following legislation enacted in 2018. The law set a Dec. 1, 2020 deadline to complete specific actions, including developing microgrid service standards to meet permitting requirements, as well as separate rates and tariffs for large electrical corporations to support microgrids. READ MORE