The Maryland Public Service Commission seeks applications for the first round of an energy storage solicitation under the 2025 Next Generation Energy Act to procure 800 megawatts of capacity. The law requires the commission to issue at least two solicitations for a cumulative 1,600 megawatts of front-of-the-meter, transmission-connected energy storage, with each device having a minimum four-hour duration. The second solicitation must be issued by Jan. 1, 2027. Electricity suppliers will be responsible for purchasing storage capacity credits at a monthly fixed price schedule proportional to their capacity obligations.

The District of Columbia Public Service Commission seeks reply comments on the scope, issues, and proposed timeline for its newly opened investigative proceeding examining strategies to mitigate rising energy costs for residents and businesses. The commission opened the investigation in response to a petition from the Office of the People’s Counsel. The proceeding aims to assess and enhance energy affordability measures to protect ratepayers. FC1186

The Utah Public Service Commission will hold a technical conference to discuss the development and results of Enbridge Gas Utah’s 2026 integrated resource plan, or IRP, and to allow parties and the commission an opportunity to ask questions. The conference will include a review of IRP standards and guidelines, the commission’s 2025 order regarding the IRP, transportation and storage planning, gas supply hedging, and supply sourcing. Enbridge intends to submit an IRP in early June for the plan year of June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027. An additional conference will be held on April 7. 26-057-02

The Washington Department of Ecology will hold its 13th quarterly carbon auction, which will offer current vintage allowances. The current auction will offer 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 vintage allowances totaling about 5.3 million. No future vintage allowances will be offered. A summary report is expected to be released on March 11. The previous quarterly auction held in December sold out, with current allowances clearing at $70.86 per allowance, and future allowances clearing at $29.40 per allowance. READ MORE

The California Energy Commission seeks comments on guidelines for its 2026 Demand Side Grid Support, or DSGS, program. The program offers incentives to electric customers who provide load reduction and backup generation to support the grid during extreme events, with payments for committed capacity and for per-unit reductions in net load. The fourth edition of the program guidelines adopted in April 2025 includes a newly added incentive option that offers capacity-based compensation for load reduction capacity committed by dispatchable virtual power plants. The commission recently held a workshop where staff presented a summary of lessons learned from the implementation of the DSGS program in order to receive input on potential modifications to the program guidelines. 22-RENEW-01