The New York Public Service Commission is due to receive comments on issues related to the decommissioning of the Indian Point Energy Center, which ceased operations last year. The commission recently held a joint meeting of the Indian Point Closure Task Force and Decommissioning Oversight Board to examine their scope and goals, and receive presentations on key issues related to the decommissioning and spent fuel management. The task force is charged with exploring ways to mitigate local tax and workforce impacts and evaluate new economic opportunities and initiatives, as well as identifying a decommissioning timeline that is in the interest of local communities. The oversight board is required to assess ways to protect the interest of affected communities including current workforce and public safety. The three-unit Indian Point shut down its last nuclear reactor having a capacity of 1,040 megawatts on April 30, 2021, marking the end of 59 years of continuous power generation. 21-01188

The South Carolina Public Service Commission will hold a workshop to review proposed minimum filing requirements for rate case applications. State law requires an agency to conduct a formal review of its regulations every five years. In its comments filed in the docket, Dominion Energy suggested an amendment to require the filing of direct testimony within two weeks of filing a rate application, while the Office of Regulatory Staff recommended filing both simultaneously. Staff noted that this would be time-efficient, reduce compression in the time available for reviewing rate requests, and facilitate flexibility in the overall procedural schedule. The workshop will discuss the second-revised version of the proposed requirements. 2020-247-A

The Maine Public Utilities Commission will hold a conference to discuss semi-annual emergency response plans filed by Versant Power and Central Maine Power Company, outlining their planned responses in the event of catastrophic weather events. This conference is intended to give interested parties the opportunity to seek more information or clarification from the companies. The meeting will include a presentation of the utilities’ 2022 plans, as well as a discussion of any considerable changes from previously filed plans. 2022-00138

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority is due to receive comments on draft criteria for identifying disadvantaged communities to guide the equitable implementation of the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Under the law, New York must reduce economywide greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030 and 85 percent by 2050 from 1990 levels, and attain a carbon-free power system by 2040. The draft provides an interactive map and a list of communities as well as criteria to direct initiatives that cut emissions, open economic development opportunities, and support investments in clean energy and energy efficiency. The department held 11 hearings during May and June to receive public input on the draft criteria based on geographic, public health, environmental hazard, and socioeconomic factors.

The California Public Utilities Commission will hold a virtual briefing on utility preparedness for 2022 public safety power shutoff, or PSPS, events, whereby utilities temporarily turn off power to specific areas as a last safety resort to reduce the risk of fires caused by electric infrastructure. The state’s electric utilities will describe their efforts to mitigate customer impacts and also identify changes to processes or operations in 2022 based on lessons learned. Utility presentations will include updates on the status of preparation efforts and coordination with public safety partners, critical infrastructure and facilities, and customers.

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission will hold meetings to discuss the contents and evaluation of gas distribution utilities’ clean heat plans. Legislation enacted in 2021 directed the commission to create rules requiring utilities to file clean heat plans and reduce carbon emissions resulting from distributing gas to customers. Gas distribution utility companies are now required to submit clean heat plans beginning in 2023 demonstrating how they will achieve the goals of four percent emissions reductions in 2025 and 22 percent by 2030, based on a 2015 baseline. The discussion will incorporate community-specific energy concerns. The commission has scheduled six public meetings to discuss the topic in disproportionately impacted communities. 21R-0449G