The New York Independent System Operator Inc. is due to receive stakeholder comments on its Q3 2020 short-term reliability assessment findings for the five-year study period from 2021 through 2025. The assessment identifies short-term needs starting in 2023 and increasing through 2025, driven by a combination of forecasted peak demand and the assumed unavailability of certain generation in New York City affected by the Department of Environmental Conservation’s “Peaker Rule.” The regulation established a phased reduction in emission limits of simple-cycle combustion turbines in 2023 and 2025 during the ozone season. About 1.5 gigawatts of peaker capability would be unavailable during the summer by 2025 to comply with the emissions requirements. The grid operator plans to solicit and evaluate solutions in accordance with its near- and long-term reliability planning processes.

The District of Columbia Public Service Commission is scheduled to receive comments on proposed amendments to accommodate the integration of long-term renewable energy power purchase agreements into its standard offer service program, which provides default electric service for residential and commercial consumers who do not choose a competitive supplier. The commission is in the process of developing a pilot project, to procure a target quantity of five percent of standard offer service load through long-term contracts for electricity generated by solar or wind power facilities located within the PJM Interconnection region. RM41-2020-02-M

The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority will consider tariffs for electric distribution companies for Class I renewable energy projects located in residential customers’ premises pursuant to the 2019 Act Concerning a Green Economy and Environmental Protection. The hearing follows a series of technical meetings to discuss rates, netting intervals, and other key issues, in order to establish such tariffs for residential customers. The proceeding will take into account the findings of a study focused on identifying and quantifying the benefits that distributed resources can provide to electric ratepayers, in an effort to inform future policies and initiatives that incentivize their deployment. 20-07-01

The California Public Utilities Commission is expected to receive a joint proposal from the state’s investor-owned utilities for a preliminary hydrogen injection standard to safely blend hydrogen into the natural gas system. The commission held a technical workshop in June to discuss available research and industry knowledge to inform stakeholders and assist gas utilities with the development of the standard. Utilities and stakeholders acknowledged that hydrogen blending can be a critical component of the transition towards a carbon-neutral future, but emphasized the need to prioritize safety, system integrity, and reliability in the process. READ MORE

The Utah Public Service Commission is due to receive comments on the Division of Public Utilities’ recommendation to approve revisions proposed by Rocky Mountain Power, a unit of PacifiCorp, to establish export credits for customer generated electricity. In 2017, the commission approved a cap for the company’s net metering program, a grandfathering period for interconnection applications approved prior to the cap, as well as a three-year transition program for new customers. Last month, the commission issued an order ending the transition program for customer generators under the prior schedule and established a rate structure and rates for customer generated export credits. 17-035-61

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will consider an application by Elk Creek Solar LLC for a certificate of need and site permit to build an 80-megawatt solar energy conversion facility spanning an area of about 960 acres in Rock County. The Geronimo Energy LLC subsidiary has entered into a power purchase agreement with Xcel Energy, which agreed to purchase the generated energy to support its Renewable*Connect program, a green pricing option that allows customers to meet a portion of their electricity needs from renewable energy resources. Commercial operation of the project is anticipated by the fourth quarter of 2021. CN-19-351