The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission will consider Duquesne Light Company’s application for adjustments of retail rates and charges applicable to its electric service. The DQE Holdings LLC subsidiary asked for an annual revenue increase of $115 million. The revision would result in an average monthly bill increase of 7.72 percent for residential customers consuming an average of 600 kilowatts per hour. R-2021-3024750

The District of Columbia Public Service Commission will hold a technical conference to review Washington Gas Light Company’s implementation plan to track the progress of PROJECTpipes, a 40-year accelerated pipeline replacement program launched in 2014 to enhance the safety and reliability of the utility’s system. In March 2014, the commission approved the program including an initial five-year plan referred to as PROJECTpipes 1. In December 2020, the commission granted approval for the three-year PIPES 2 Plan, part two of the program, with spending caps established at $150 million. FC1154

The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority will conduct a hearing to consider revisions to regulations implementing the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, or PURPA, which established requirements for utilities to purchase power from small independent electricity generators and cogeneration facilities. The agency seeks to replace outdated regulations with an approach that complies with federal requirements and is better aligned with state policy objectives and electricity market structures. Current regulations, which were enacted prior to the deregulation of the state’s electric industry in 1998, do not reflect the changes since that time including the development of wholesale electricity markets and competitive procurement process to achieve state policies. In 2020, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission updated PURPA implementation rules to increase flexibility for states in establishing rates at which qualifying facilities sell their output. 16-09-26

The Utah Public Service Commission will discuss Dominion Energy Inc.’s integrated resource plan for the period of June 1, 2021 through May 31, 2022. The commission held a technical conference last month to discuss project details under the resource plan, as well as updates on long-term planning, a hydrogen pilot, and the future sustainable transportation and energy plan. The company’s resource plan for natural gas distribution operations forecasts a cost-of-service gas production level of about 58.4 million dekatherms, representing 49.6 percent of forecast demand, assuming the completion of new drilling projects. The plan projects a balanced portfolio of gas purchases of about 60 million dekatherms. Dominion plans to focus on methane reduction programs and renewable natural gas projects as part of its commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2050. 21-057-01

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission will discuss the implementation of certain sections of the 2019 Clean Energy Transformation Act, which requires utilities to phase out coal-fired power by 2025, achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, and transition to a carbon-free electric system by 2045. The commission is examining the treatment of energy storage, particularly how the energy used and provided by storage resources should be accounted for, so that the nonpower attributes of renewable generation are not double counted. The workshop will include panel discussions to address specific topics, such as tracking the source of electricity for charging, whether compliance would be determined by comparing generation to load – disregarding storage charging and discharging – and demonstrating delivery of renewable generation. UE-210183

The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission will hold a rulemaking workshop regarding the recently passed Community Solar Act. The legislation prescribed requirements effective June 18 for community solar facilities, subscriptions, and administration of community solar programs. Topics of discussion include consumer protection requirements, such as fair disclosure of costs and benefits and contract terms, ratemaking and subsidization, market oversight, and community outreach and involvement. The commission will also discuss how pending project applications should be addressed, and whether utilities are tracking community solar participation from potential subscribers. 21-00112-UT