EarlyBird News

Next month’s solar eclipse could threaten solar farms and rooftop panels across the United States, in the process wiping out enough power to supply seven million homes. A total solar eclipse has not occurred in the U.S. since 1979. On August 21, however, the moon will totally obscure the sun and cast a 70-mile-wide shadow […]

Recently, Public Service Company of New Hampshire (Eversource) filed new default energy service rates with the New Hampshire PUC effective January 1, 2018. Currently, all Eversource customer classes are eligible to receive the same fixed default service rate (except for cases of competitive supply). With this new filing, however, Eversource will have two default service […]

On May 16, 2017, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) issued an order (docket D.P.U. 17-10) instituting a rulemaking process to modify current net metering regulations (220 C.M.R. § 18.00) as they relate to hydropower. The new provisions would, for example: add the definition of “small hydroelectric net metering facility” to the current net […]

On Monday, June 5, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) filed 225 CMR 20.00, an emergency regulation with the Secretary of the Commonwealth to implement the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program. The SMART Program is designed to establish a statewide solar incentive program to encourage the continued use and development of generating units […]

Last week, Rep. Mark Romanchuk (R) introduced legislation (House Bill 247) that would give Ohio full electric deregulation. The legislation would force utilities to base customer rates on wholesale power market prices, and, in the process, replace Ohio’s current electric power regime. Since 2008, Ohio has been run by the Energy Security Plan (ESP), which […]

On May 11, Sens. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Rep Jim Langevin (D-R.I.-2) announced the “Offshore Wind Incentives for New Development Act” or the “Offshore WIND Act.” If passed, the Offshore WIND Act would extend the 30 percent investment tax credit (ITC) under Section 48 of the Internal Revenue Code for offshore […]

Eversource has filed with the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities new electric basic service rates for the upcoming summer and fall months beginning July 1, 2017. These newly published rates have increased compared to current 2017 rates and are significantly higher, over 30%, than last year’s 2016 rates. To better understand this rate increase, below […]

National Grid has filed with the Massachusetts DPU new basic service rates for residential, commercial, and industrial customers effective May 1, 2017. Taking into account pending changes to National Grid’s Basic Service Administrative Cost Adjustment Factors (BSACFs) and Smart Grid Customer Cost Adjustment Factors (SGCCFs) which are the subject of another proceeding, the new rates […]

Last week, Scott Pruitt, head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indicated that he does not think carbon dioxide is a significant contributor to global warming. In an interview with CNBC, Pruitt suggested that we do not know yet whether carbon dioxide caused by human activity is a primary contributor to global warming. Pruitt’s suggestion […]

ISO New England, the operator of New England’s power grid, reported last week that 2016 wholesale electricity prices in the region fell to their lowest since 2013. Cheap natural gas and lower consumer demand for electricity contributed to the fall in prices. ISO New England noted that, according to the Energy Information Administration, 2016 natural […]