The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority will hold a technical meeting to discuss flexible payment arrangements proposed by Eversource Energy and The United Illuminating Company in response to guidance provided in the agency’s December 2020 decision. The discussion will include the companies’ existing payment arrangement options, proposed customer metrics and centralized reporting requirements, and the expansion of payment center capabilities. The program is designed to meet the needs of financially challenged customers by providing information about weatherization programs and energy assistance, as well as partnering with community-based organizations to educate consumers about the assistance programs and other initiatives. 21-07-01

New York electric utilities, in consultation with the Department of Public Service staff, will hold a stakeholder session to present their electric vehicle charging infrastructure forecasts as part of the EV Make Ready Initiative. In its order establishing the initiative, the Public Service Commission directed utilities to allow for stakeholder engagement to receive input that will inform future forecasting processes. The commission recently approved rules allowing utility companies to fully implement the initiative, facilitating a ten-fold increase in the number of non-residential charging ports within four years. The program budget is capped at $701 million, of which $206 million will benefit disadvantaged and low- or moderate-income communities. The utilities are Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corporation, Consolidated Edison Company of New York Inc., Orange and Rockland Utilities Inc., New York State Electric & Gas Corporation, Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation, and Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation. The Long Island Power Authority and Public Service Electric and Gas-Long Island will also take part in the meeting. 18-E-0138

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission is due to receive comments on revised draft rules for implementing 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. On Nov. 16, the commission released a draft that includes provisions to prevent double counting of unbundled renewable energy certificates, or RECs, which a utility may use as an alternative compliance option. The proposal also contains provisions to address accounting of electricity from storage resources and retained RECs. UE-210183

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will consider Northern States Power Company’s application for adjustments of retail rates and charges applicable to electric services. The Xcel Energy Inc. subsidiary proposed a multi-year rate plan requesting a net increase of $396 million for 2022, $150 million for 2023, and $131 million for 2024, with a return on equity of 10.2 percent. The request would result in a net incremental increase of $677 million, or about 21.2 percent, over the three-year period. Xcel also proposed 2022 and 2023 interim rate increases of $423 million over present revenues. Further, the company provided forecasted rate increases for 2025 and 2026 for information purposes in evaluating the reasonableness of a new multi-year plan. GR-21-630

The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission is due to receive comments on a proposed rule to implement the Community Solar Act enacted in April prescribing requirements for community solar facilities, subscriptions, and administration of community solar programs. The law established an initial statewide capacity program cap of 200 megawatts allocated to investor-owned utilities until Nov. 1, 2024, with the cap excluding native community solar projects and rural electric distribution cooperatives. The legislation requires 30 percent of electricity produced from each community solar facility to be reserved for low-income customers and service organizations. The commission must adopt rules by April 1, 2022. Since opening the docket for this rulemaking proceeding in May, the commission held three workshops followed by meetings of working groups interested in addressing specific issues in the process. 21-00112-UT