Top 10 Utility Regulation Trends of 2018 – So Far

With half of 2018 already in the rearview mirror, we check in on the top public utility commission (PUC) actions and trends so far this year.

Not surprisingly, the challenges PUCs are grappling with are diverse: moving toward a cleaner grid, adopting foundational electric vehicle policies, investigating utility business model reforms, exploring the integration of new technologies such as energy storage, and increasing customer choice when it comes to sourcing their energy, just to name a few. Without further ado, here is a status check on the top 10 matters before PUCs in 2018 so far.

Regulators Reject Dominion’s 100% Renewable Energy Plan in Virginia

Clean energy advocates called the decision “a victory” for customers and competition in the state.

Virginia regulators have rejected a proposal from Dominion Energy to offer 100 percent renewable energy plans to large electricity customers in the state. 

The decision was praised by clean energy groups and retail suppliers that argued that approving the utility program would effectively eliminate third-party competition. Under current Virginia law, third-party companies can sell 100 percent renewable power directly to customers, unless the customer’s incumbent utility offers a separate 100 percent renewable tariff, like the one Dominion put forward.

Michigan Begins to Unroll New Energy Laws, Study Distributed Generation Costs

A two-year legislative process to reach compromise on wide-ranging energy bills in Michigan will now turn into a two-year implementation period as state officials, utilities and stakeholders comply with provisions in the new laws.

Earlier this month, the state unveiled a new website tracking the progress of various groups involved with changing the way utilities project future energy needs, how energy usage will be managed through efficiency and demand response and how utilities will procure more renewable energy to meet the increased standard of 15 percent by 2021.

US policy outlook for renewable energy

The United States went to the polls on November 6. President Obama was returned to another four years in the White House. Democrats picked up another two seats in the US Senate where they are expected to have an effective majority of 55 seats to 45 for the Republicans. The Republicans lost seats in the House, but still retain a majority of 16 out of 435 House seats in total.

A panel of veteran Washington lobbyists for renewable energy companies talked 34 hours after the polls closed about what the election results mean for the US renewable energy market.

Michigan Energy Michigan jobs pushes for RE measure

Supporters of a Michigan ballot measure that would require utilities to get more of their electricity from renewable sources submitted more than a half-million petition signatures to the secretary of state’s office, they announced Friday.

The Michigan Energy Michigan Jobs coalition pushing the measure said it turned in 530,000 signatures, well above the approximately 323,000 required to put a proposal on the November ballot.

The proposal would require more than 80 electricity suppliers statewide to obtain 25 percent of their power from wind, solar, biomass or hydro power by 2025. The current requirement, passed in 2008 as part of a rewrite of Michigan’s energy law, requires they get 10 percent from renewable sources by 2015.

Labor, business and government officials oppose renewable energy ballot

A combination of labor, business and government officials will launch their opposition to a proposed 25 percent statewide renewable energy mandate in Detroit on Monday.

The Clean Affordable Renewable Energy for Michigan Coalition is urging voters not to support the signature drive - called 25x25 -- arguing it's too costly for consumers. Proponents say boosting Michigan's current renewable energy use - currently less than 4 percent --- will generate green energy jobs and bolster the environment.

UK policy will fail to reach carbon targets, says IEA

The U.K.’s energy policies may fail to deliver nuclear power and renewables needed for the nation to meet its goals for reducing greenhouse gases, the International Energy Agency said. 

Britain’s new electricity generation capacity is coming mainly from natural gas fired plants, the Paris-based agency, which advises 28 nations, said today in a report. The government should spur an “efficient mix of new, cleaner generation, more efficient use of existing infrastructure and more flexible demand,” the IEA said.

Legislative wrap up: Energy stances on renewable investments, merger payback, opt-out fee for smart meters and state transmission ownership lost steam

The most prominent energy issues in the Vermont Legislature this year seem to be the ones that didn’t happen.

For what seemed like half the session, lawmakers quibbled over whether to intervene in a Public Service Board docket to require utilities to give $21 million in windfall money to ratepayers. That legislation never came to fruition.

The House spent a large part of the session polishing a law that would require the state’s utilities to purchase set amounts of renewable energy. That big energy bill barely made it through, and when it did, the renewable energy mandate was stripped out.

CA: Solar advocate's say Bradford bill will stunt solar growth

Renewable energy advocates, led by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), are opposing amendments to a utility-backed legislation being advanced by Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee Chairman Steven Bradford (D-Ingelwood) they say will undermine the growth of clean energy in the state, including business, agricultural, and commercial users.

In a letter to the committee today, SEIA said Bradford’s legislation (AB 2514) is “entirely inconsistent” with the original legislation sponsored by former Assemblymember Fred Keeley that set up the policy called “net metering.” Under net metering, ratepayers received credit for the excess solar electricity they generate and put on the grid, much like rollover minutes. The Bradford bill would stop the Public Utilities Commission from moving forward with a tentative proposal announced last week to redefine the way net metering progress is calculated.