The Maryland Public Service Commission will hold a hearing to discuss Delmarva Power & Light Company’s proposal to increase its electric retail rates. The company proposes to increase its distribution rates by $37.5 million over three years from 2023-2025. The plan proposes an increase in electric delivery revenues of about $22.7 million for 2023, $30.6 million for 2024, and $37.5 million for 2025. The company also proposes to offset the increase by including the acceleration of certain tax benefits resulting in a 50 percent offset in 2023, and a 25 percent offset in 2024. Under the plan, a residential customer would see an average monthly bill increase of 2.11 percent each for the first two years and 2.58 percent for the final year. 9681

The New York Public Service Commission will hold a meeting to discuss gas planning procedures. In an order issued in May, the commission directed local gas distribution companies to provide additional information on low- and moderate-income customers, as well as customers residing in areas classified as disadvantaged communities when filing a notice of potential moratorium on natural gas connections. In response, the companies filed comments regarding anticipated difficulty in accurately capturing the data. The commission is therefore holding a meeting with the companies and interested stakeholders to discuss difficulties and potential ways to capture the data. 20-G-0131

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation is due to receive applications for $3 million in grants under the Community Air Monitoring Capacity Building initiative to support capacity building in 10 identified communities. The first part of the grant provides $1 million for developing or strengthening existing programs focused on reducing exposure and improving public health in communities most impacted by air pollution. The department will award individual amounts ranging between $50,000 and $100,000. The additional $2 million is aimed at improving the ability of community groups in those areas to contribute or bolster their own air quality monitoring efforts by identifying and selecting carbon-free technology investment and other possible emission reduction strategies in local neighbourhoods.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority is due to receive proposals in response to its third solicitation under Competitive Tier 2, a large-scale renewable energy procurement program aimed to maximize the contributions and potential of the state’s existing resources to ensure their continued operations. The agency is seeking proposals from privately-owned hydropower and land-based wind generators that entered commercial operation prior to Jan. 1, 2015. The program will ensure that certain existing baseline renewable resources are retained through three annual solicitations. The agency will contract with awarded generators for the purchase of renewable energy certificates. READ MORE

The Maine Public Utilities Commission is due to receive information from Avangrid, Avangrid Networks, and Central Maine Power Company on issues relating to decision-making criteria. Earlier this year, the commission opened an investigation to consider how Central Maine Power and its customers are affected by decisions made at the company’s corporate parent level with regard to earnings, capital budgeting, and planning. The investigation also aims to examine regulatory approaches and structures, including those related to ratemaking and performance, which may be appropriate and better suited to ensure that sufficient resources are provided to Central Maine Power through Avangrid’s planning and capital budgeting processes. 2022-00038

The California Energy Commission will hold a workshop to discuss a funding solicitation concept for battery electric school buses under the Clean Transportation Program Investment Plan. For fiscal year 2021-2023, the plan allocates about $391 million for MD/HD infrastructure from the Clean Transportation Program and a one-time investment from the state general fund. The solicitation aims to advance and prepare the state’s public school districts to utilize vehicle-grid-integration for battery electric school buses in order to mitigate public safety power shutoff events and wildfires and create additional energy resources during high electricity demand periods. 19-TRAN-02

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will discuss Xcel Energy’s proposal to acquire and build an up to 460-megawatt solar project in Sherburne County, partially replacing the energy production of the coal-powered Sherco Generating Plant Unit 2, which is scheduled to cease operations in 2023. The project, spanning about 3,479 acres, can reutilize the interconnection service at the Sherburne County Generation Plant. The project is being developed in partnership with National Grid Renewables Development LLC. In January 2021, the companies entered into a purchase and sale agreement, which authorizes National Grid Renewables to secure a site permit and two route permits for the project on behalf of Xcel Energy. M-20-891

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is due to receive comments regarding Enbridge Solar Project LLC’s application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to build an approximately 130-megawatt solar project in Red Lake County. The project, covering a total area of about 771 acres, is expected to sell its total output to other electric utilities or entities in order to satisfy renewable energy standards, policies or goals. The company plans to construct the project on a schedule that facilitates an in-service date in 2025. CN-22-452