It’s been a busy couple of recent weeks on the regulatory front inside the Bay State. In this post, we’ll attempt to bring you up to speed and summarize some of the latest regulatory developments impacting the competitive energy market across the Commonwealth. Enjoy!
GAS
- On July 23, Fitchburg Gas and Electric d/b/a Unitil had its basic/default service rates effective September 1, 2010 approved by the MA DPU. Electric rate summaries can be found HERE, beginning on page 10 (Docket No. 10-BSF-A3).
- On August 2, New England Gas Company (NEGC) filed its proposed 2010-2011 Local Distribution Adjustment Factor (LDAF) for both its Fall River and North Attleboro service areas.
ELECTRIC
- On July 29, WMECO filed its Basic Service Tariff and results of solicitation for its Medium & Large Commercial and Industrial customers (Docket No. 10-BSF-B3).
- WMECO also filed for distribution rate increases effective February 2011.
CAPE WIND
- On July 30, 2010, Attorney General Martha Coakley, Cape Wind Associates, National Grid, and the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) jointly filed a notice of settlement in Docket No. 10-54 – for approval by the MA DPU of two Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) between Cape Wind and National Grid. The terms of the Agreement in Principle can be found HERE. Several parties, including TransCanada, Morris Energy, and the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound have begun to file pre-filed testimony or notices of intent to file testimony in this docket.
SOLAR CARVE-OUT
- The MA DOER has filed revised Solar Carve-Out regulations instituting changes that were addressed in filed comments made by the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy on July 14. The comments addressed maximum capacity caps, floor values for SRECs and associated opt-in terms and conditions. Click HERE for more on the ongoing public rulemaking process.
SMART GRID
- On July 27, the MA DPU issued a Final Order approving National Grid’s Smart Grid Pilot Program (Docket No. 09-32).
- On July 27, the MA DPU approved a Settlement Agreement with the Attorney General, the DOER, and the Network regarding WMECO’s Smart Grid Pilot Program (Docket No. 09-34).
- On July 28, the MA DPU issued a Memorandum announcing the first meeting of its new Smart Grid Pilot Evaluation Working Group. The purpose of the WG is to develop uniform statewide smart grid evaluation standards. The meeting will be held on August 16 at 10 AM.
- Click HERE for more on Smart Grid dockets.
MORE RENEWABLE
- MA DOER and Unitil, National Grid, NSTAR, and WMECO collectively filed a joint petition for approval of a proposed timetable and methods for the solicitation and execution of long-term contracts for renewable energy (Docket No. 10-76). The Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound, Minuteman Wind, and TransCanada all filed comments on July 28, 2010.
- On July 27, the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound filed a motion in Docket No.’s 10-71, 10-72, and 10-73 requesting that the DPU direct NSTAR to immediately disclose all redacted information from the PPAs and exhibits originally filed with the DPU. The Attorney General has also filed a Notice of Intervention in each docket. NSTAR Electric has filed petitions for approval of three separate Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) contracts with American Pro Wind, Pioneer Valley Wind, and New England Wind.
- The MA DOER released its 2008 Annual RPS Compliance Report.
OTHER
- The MA DOER released its Electric Customer Migration Data through the month of April 2010.
- Find more Massachusetts energy news HERE!
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