Governor Cuomo has announced five initiatives consistent with the REV strategy to advance the local clean energy industry and modernize utility sector operations. On December 12, 2014, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced new clean energy initiatives consistent with the Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) strategy to spur innovation and investment, improve customer choice…...
Utilities are increasingly pursuing rate design reform to earn revenue as kilowatt-hour demand growth flattens. As net energy-metered residential solar PV installation growth continues, utilities will be challenged with building and maintaining infrastructure with diminishing revenue streams. The fixed charge and net energy metering NEM compensation debate will continue as utilities fight for sustained revenue…...
Approval of Con Edison’s BQDM Program is a significant step for the utility to pursue non-traditional infrastructure investments to meet local demand. On December 12, 2014, the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) issued an order in Case 14-E-0302 approving Consolidated Edison Company of New York Inc.’s (Con Edison) Brooklyn/Queens Demand Management (BQDM) Program to address overload…...
PJM has announced it will request from FERC a higher cost-based offer cap of $1,800/MWh to set energy market prices through March 2015 to prepare for potential fuel cost increases. On December 10, 2014, the PJM Members Committee announced that PJM will submit a Section 206 filing – approved by the PJM Board – requesting…...
Federal tax incentives, strong state renewable portfolio standards, and associated renewable energy certificate programs facilitate regional installation growth. New England states must continuously analyze and update their RPS policies to ensure renewable energy growth, as developers currently rely on the standards and associated REC markets for project demand and financing. With federal and state policies…...
PJM Interconnection has issued a Capacity Performance proposal modeled after the New England ISO Pay-for-Performance capacity market design. On December 3, 2014, PJM Interconnection issued a Capacity Performance proposal — a modified version of the October 7 staff proposal — reflecting the need for stronger incentives within the existing capacity market structure to encourage investment by new…...
The House has passed a one-year extension of several tax provisions including the renewable energy production tax credit and several biofuel industry incentives. On December 3, 2014, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014 (H.R. 5771), a one-year tax extender package for several tax relief provisions that expired at…...
The CT PURA has issued a draft decision reducing CL&P’s proposed electric rate increase by more than $100M and reflecting a penalty for CL&P’s inadequate performance during 2011 storms. On December 1, 2014, the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) issued a draft decision on Connecticut Light and Power Company’s (CL&P) rate increase request, approving a…...
State utilities – such as New York’s Con Edison – are beginning to consider non-traditional infrastructure and resource investments to meet peak load. Distributed energy resources investments and increased customer engagement will help create a more diverse, resilient energy grid. Over the next year – and beyond – State PUCs and utilities will work closely…...
The DOI will offer approximately 742,000 acres offshore Massachusetts for commercial wind energy development in a competitive lease sale scheduled for January 29, 2015. On November 26, 2014, the Department of Interior’s (DOI) Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) published a notice to offer approximately 742,000 acres of the Massachusetts Wind Energy Area (WEA) for…...
According to EIA, 2014 winter natural gas prices in Boston and New York City are expected to remain higher despite an anticipated milder winter. On November 24, 2014, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) released a report projecting higher winter natural gas prices in Boston and New York City despite expectations of a milder 2014/2015 winter. Though natural…...
The Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether EPA unreasonably refused to consider cost factors in its MATS rulemaking process. On November 25, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court granted petitions to hear state and industry challenges against the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) to decide whether EPA unreasonably refused to…...