The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority will discuss a procurement plan from electric distribution companies for low-emission and zero-emission facilities as it seeks to review the plans and establish tariffs for non-residential customers who install such projects on their premises. The agency is examining presentations from utilities on a range of topics pertaining to the plan, including tariff structure, bid preference, and virtual net metering rules. The agency issued an interim decision in January regarding tariff options for residential customers to buy products generated from a Class I renewable energy source located on their premises. The program established a netting tariff with a monthly netting interval and an export rate at the applicable retail rates, and a “buy-all” tariff with a fixed compensation rate over the term. 20-07-01

The New York Public Service Commission is due to receive comments on the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s request for authorization to optimize and continue its Clean Energy Fund, or CEF, portfolio. The CEF includes four portfolios namely, Market Development, Innovation & Research, NY Green Bank, and NY-SUN. The commission’s review will largely focus on necessary changes to the first three portfolios to improve performance and better align with state policy goals that have evolved since the inception of the initiative in 2016 to accelerate the growth of New York’s clean energy economy. In May 2020, the commission authorized an additional $573 million in funding for the NY-Sun initiative and extended the term of the program to support the state’s goal of achieving 6 gigawatts of distributed solar by 2025. 14-M-0094

The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority will discuss a straw proposal for an “Innovation Pilots Framework” to support the development of innovative technology applications and programs that have the potential to provide net positive benefits to electric customers. The agency seeks responses from stakeholders and potential project innovators to a series of questions including whether the proposed approach provides a suitable mechanism to source and launch novel customer solutions consistent with a strategic vision document issued in December. The docket is part of a series of reopened proceedings to investigate topics considered integral for the agency’s framework for an Equitable Modern Grid. The framework seeks to foster solutions that address the challenges and opportunities facing the electric sector. The docket will consider lessons learned through the implementation of the Electric Efficiency Partners Program. 17-12-03RE05

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission will discuss the implementation of equity and customer benefits provisions of its rules regarding integrated resource plans and clean energy implementation plans, a requirement created under the 2019 Clean Energy Transformation Act. The workshop will provide an opportunity to discuss the development of customer benefit indicators, which utilities must include in their implementation plans. The commission seeks updates from utilities and stakeholders on their progress regarding the public participation processes to facilitate their timely development. The 2019 law requires the state’s electricity supply to be carbon-neutral by 2030 and carbon-free by 2045, and directs electric utilities to phase out coal from their generation portfolio by 2025. UE-210147

The Nebraska Public Service Commission will hold workshops for Black Hills Nebraska Gas LLC and NorthWestern Corporation to present information regarding the status of customer bills due to the February cold weather event that caused significant decreases in natural gas supply even as heating needs increased dramatically. As natural gas prices soared, utilities reported to the commission that the spike is likely to have a substantial impact on customer bills in the coming months. The agency opened an investigation to gather information on the issue and to consider measures to mitigate the impact. The commission also determined that the extraordinary costs of gas purchase related to the event should not be included in gas cost adjustments that are passed on to ratepayers until further findings have been made.

The California Public Utilities Commission will conduct an evidentiary hearing in its investigation into Southern California Gas Company’s operations and practices in the wake of a four-month gas leak from a disastrous blowout at the Aliso Canyon storage facility in October 2015. The commission is examining issues pertaining to the reimbursement of investigation-related costs incurred by its staff. The investigation was launched in response to safety related findings from a root cause analysis of the leak completed in May 2019 by Blade Energy Partners, an independent consultant that investigated the Aliso Canyon incident. I1906016

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is due to receive initial filings from natural gas utilities impacted by the mid-February winter storm event that resulted in rolling blackouts and natural gas price spikes. The commission seeks information on how utilities plan for gas supply and purchases including demand-side management and storage, and potential changes to how current plans are developed and reviewed. The filings should also include a review and assessment of potential impacts from increasingly frequent weather events on reliability planning and purchase strategies. For Minnesota local distribution companies that engage in gas price hedging using storage and supply or financial contracts, the commission wants to know the effect on the companies’ cost of gas during the event. READ MORE