Member states of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI, will discuss considerations for the electricity sector analysis, a key component of the third review of their regional carbon program, the nation’s first mandatory cap-and-trade program to cut power sector emissions. The review will consider successes, impacts, and design elements including emissions cap beyond 2030. Currently, the RGGI cap declines by 3.655 million tons each year through 2030 and is held steady thereafter. The emissions cap in 2030 is about 86.9 million tons. RGGI’s latest quarterly carbon auction cleared at a record high price of $13 per allowance, generating over $350 million in revenues. The staets have completed two comprehensive program reviews so far, resulting in improvements and a continued trajectory for emissions reductions. Another meeting will be held on Dec. 15.

The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission will hold a hearing on Eversource Energy’s proposed schedule for its default energy service solicitation for service beginning on Feb. 1, 2022. The solicitation follows a 2017 order requiring the company to issue separate requests for proposals for energy service supply for its large and small customer groups twice a year. The solicitations address 100 percent of power supply requirements for a six-month period beginning February and August each year for both customer groups. DE 21-077

The Maine Public Utilities Commission is due to receive comments on a request for information regarding a statewide on-line multi-user energy data platform. The move is in response to recently enacted legislation that calls for an evaluation of the feasibility of establishing and operating such a platform to provide natural gas and electric utility customers with secure access to information about their energy usage. The law directs the commission to seek information on several topics including allowing third party access to customer energy data, providing an opt-in option for customers when sharing data with third parties, and ensuring customer privacy rights. 2021-00378

The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority is due to receive comments regarding the functions and responsibilities of third-party administration models to implement a non-wires alternative, or NWA, program. The agency has already received feedback on a proposal to establish a competitive process for comparing potential NWAs with traditional distribution system upgrades, and is seeking additional stakeholder input to compare administration models in other jurisdictions. Non-wires alternative solutions are considered to be feasible and may be less expensive and more reliable compared to traditional utility solutions. The agency is also seeking information on how the NWA process can be used as an extension of the traditional review of utility investments, as well as performance criteria to design NWA solutions. The proposal details the components of a program including goals and objectives, design elements, and utility cost recovery and incentives. 17-12-03RE07

The Nevada Public Utilities Commission will discuss Southwest Gas Corporation’s application for adjustments of retail rates and charges applicable to natural gas services. The Southwest Gas Holdings subsidiary is seeking an increase in base revenues of $26.1 million, or 5.6 percent, for Southern Nevada, and an increase of $4.4 million, or 3.81 percent, for Northern Nevada, with a return on equity of 9.9 percent. 21-09001

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will consider Xcel Energy Inc.’s request for approval of a power purchase agreement with St. Paul Cogeneration LLC, a 33-megawatt wood and natural gas-fired combined heat and power facility in downtown Saint Paul. The current agreement is set to expire on Dec. 31, 2022. The power purchase contract contributes to Xcel Energy’s requirement to comply with the state’s Biomass Power Mandate, which requires a public utility that operates a nuclear power plant within the state to construct, operate, purchase, or contract for 110 megawatts of biomass generated power. M-21-590