The Maine Public Utilities Commission will discuss Versant Power Company’s application for adjustments of distribution rates and charges applicable to electric services. The ENMAX Corp. subsidiary seeks an increase in base revenues of $33.49 million, while maintaining the same return on equity due to the company’s recognition of customers struggling with high supply rates. The request reflects the company’s need for investing in a new metering system, and improve the reliability of the grid. 2022-00255

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority is due to receive proposals for its third offshore wind solicitation expanding on the state’s existing portfolio of about 4,300 megawatts, which currently consists of five offshore wind projects. The solicitation includes the first phase of a $500 million investment in offshore wind ports, manufacturing, and supply chain infrastructure. Further, the solicitation includes provisions for the first of a kind “meshed ready” offshore transmission configuration based on recommendations from the New York State Power Grid Study to strengthen reliability and provide redundancy. The procurement is a critical step to bring the state toward the goal of achieving 9 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035.

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities will conduct a hearing to discuss an update to the state’s Energy Master Plan, or EMP, the state’s blueprint to achieve 100 percent clean energy by 2050. The update will address a set of strategies enumerated in the 2019 EMP and incorporate progress information acquired through interagency collaboration and stakeholder feedback to provide recommendations on advancing the state’s overall clean energy and climate goals. The board will focus on three strategies to achieve its clean energy goals namely, reducing energy consumption and emissions from the transportation sector; accelerating deployment of renewable energy and distributed resources; and decarbonizing and modernizing the state’s energy system. Another hearing will be held on Feb. 16. EO22020080

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will consider Minnesota Power’s application for adjustments of retail rates and charges applicable to electric services. The ALLETE, Inc. subsidiary is seeking a net increase of $108.3 million, or 17.58 percent, for 2022 with a return on equity of 10.25 percent. The proposal is expected to increase the bill of an average residential electric customer consuming 701 kilowatt hours monthly by about $15.08. In December, the commission approved an interim rate increase of 14.23 percent, or $87.3 million, with an exception. The commission will consider whether to adopt the recommendations in an administrative law judge’s report regarding the rate request. According to Minnesota Power, adopting the report in its entirety would result in its request being reduced to $75.6 million. GR-21-335

The Utah Public Service Commission is expected to hold a technical conference to discuss standards and guidelines for Dominion Energy Inc.’s 2023 integrated resource plan, or IRP, for the plan year of June 1, 2023 through May 31, 2024. Discussions in subsequent conferences will include project details under the resource plan, long-term planning, and updates to future rural expansion. The company plans to file its IRP in early June. 23-057-02

The California Energy Commission will discuss its proposed natural gas research initiatives for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. Research initiative themes for the fiscal year include hydrogen infrastructure safety, building decarbonization, entrepreneur development, and leveraging cost share. The commission serves as the administrator of the gas research fund, which includes surcharges from customers receiving gas service from public utility corporations. The fund supports public interest research and development through the program, which is evaluated on an annual basis. 16-PIER-01