The New York Public Service Commission is due to receive comments on a proposal filed in response to a September 2021 order requiring the utilities to plan for large-scale transmission and distribution projects pursuant to the 2020 Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act. Among other things, the law requires the commission and utilities to plan the electric transmission infrastructure needed to meet the state’s clean energy and climate goals. The 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act requires the state to reach 70 percent renewable electricity by 2030, zero-emissions electricity by 2040, and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions economy-wide by 2050. In January, the commission held a conference on a coordinated grid planning process. 20-E-0197

The New York Public Service Commission will discuss Consolidated Edison Company of New York Inc.’s proposal to increase its annual electric and gas delivery revenues effective Jan. 1, 2023. The company seeks an increase in electric delivery revenues of $1.2 billion, a 11.2 percent hike in total revenues. For natural gas, the company proposes an increase of $500 million, or 18.2 percent. The request is based on a return on equity of 10 percent. Another hearing will be held on March 29. 22-G-0065

The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority will hold a hearing to review United Illuminating Company’s annual rate adjustment mechanisms. The agency will examine the company’s proposed 2022 adjustments for the non-bypassable federally mandated congestion charge, transmission adjustment clause, and systems benefit charge, all to be effective for one year from May 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023. The hearing will also review the costs associated with the 2021 rate adjustment mechanisms, detailing the company’s over- or under-recovery for 2021, and the weighted-average associated with such recovery. Another hearing will be held on March 24. 22-01-04

The New York Public Service Commission is due to receive comments on issues related to the decommissioning of the Indian Point Energy Center, which ceased operations last year. The commission recently held a joint meeting of the Indian Point Closure Task Force and Decommissioning Oversight Board to examine their scope and goals, and receive presentations on key issues related to the decommissioning and spent fuel management. The task force is charged with exploring ways to mitigate local tax and workforce impacts and evaluate new economic opportunities and initiatives, as well as identifying a decommissioning timeline that is in the interest of local communities. The oversight board is required to assess ways to protect the interest of affected communities including current workforce and public safety. The three-unit Indian Point shut down its last nuclear reactor having a capacity of 1,040 megawatts on April 30, 2021, marking the end of 59 years of continuous power generation. 21-01188

The Utah Public Service Commission is due to receive comments from an independent evaluator on Rocky Mountain Power’s all-source request for proposals. The RFP follows the company’s 2021 integrated resource plan, which identified a need of about 1,345 megawatts of new renewable wind and solar resources, and 600 megawatts of battery storage, all capable of delivering energy and capacity to the company’s system by Dec. 31, 2026. The PacifiCorp subsidiary said that it will also accept long-lead time resources such as nuclear and pumped storage hydro, which require a longer development and construction schedule, as long as they deliver service by Dec. 31, 2028. 21-035-52

The Oregon Public Utilities Commission will consider Pacific Power’s application for adjustments of distribution rates and charges applicable to electric services. The PacifiCorp subsidiary is seeking an increase in distribution revenue of approximately $84.4 million, or 6.8 percent, and a return on equity of 9.8 percent, to be effective by Jan. 1, 2023. The company proposes to offset a portion of the increase by moving the recovery of the Oregon corporate activity tax credit from a rider to recovery in the base rate, which brings the requested hike to a net $82.2 million, or 6.6 percent. UE 399

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will discuss Xcel Energy’s proposed electric vehicle programs as part of the company’s investments aimed to assist in the state’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. In July, Xcel sought changes to one of its pilots – Fleet EV Service Pilot – to extend the participants of the program to private and non-profit entities, and install charging stations at car dealerships to expand EV sales. The company filed a detailed portfolio of projects in its 2020 proposal covering EV purchase rebates, public fast charging stations, Xcel’s fleet electrification, and expansion of existing EV fleet pilot service. The proposal includes up to $150 million in rebates, with $50 million dedicated to light-duty purchases, and $100 million to buses. M-20-745