Gov. Names City Exec For PSC Seat
Gov. Jack Markell nominated Wilmington’s economic development director to the Public Service Commission last week. Harold Gray would take the seat of former commission member Arnetta McRae, who left the PSC in 2011. Her seat has remained vacant since then, and plans to reduce the five-member body to a three-member commission were shelved. Gray is a former member of the state Environmental Appeals Board and was an officer with United Way of Delaware. He was president and CEO of TehniData America, an IT consulting company.
More: The News Journal
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Pepco, DOT File for Undergrounding Lines
Pepco and the District Department of Transportation last week asked permission to move more electric lines underground in a project that would take up to a decade and cost $1 billion. The plan would result in an increase to the average residential electric bill of $1.50 a month in the first year and up to $3.25 a month after seven years. Moving the lines underground is expected to reduce the number and length of service interruptions.
More: The Washington Post
ILLINOIS
ICC Set To Hear 345-kV Line Route
Ameren Transmission Co. completed public comment sessions on its proposed 345-kV transmission line on June 12 and will make recommendations to the Commerce Commission later this summer on the route from Peoria to Galesburg. Ameren says the line is needed to serve an increase in wind and other renewable energy sources in the state.
More: Peoria Public Radio
MICHIGAN
Gov. Signs Law Allowing Coal Ash for Construction
Gov. Rick Snyder signed a law allowing coal ash to be used in cement and asphalt last week. The law will also protect those who store coal ash and other byproducts from legal liability if proper procedures are followed. Snyder said the law will help keep waste disposal costs low and support the environment.
More: Mining Journal
OHIO
New Rules Threaten Future Wind Farms
Just days after signing a bill freezing the state’s renewable energy standards, Gov. John Kasich signed House Bill 483, vastly increasing the setbacks required at wind farms. The setbacks, which increased from 550 feet to about 1,300 from the base of wind turbine bases to the nearest home, will drastically cut the number of turbines at proposed wind farms. Wind energy proponents were upset, with some saying that the new regulations could spell the end of new wind energy projects in Ohio.
The bill “basically zones new wind projects out of Ohio,” said Eric Thumma, director of policy and regulatory affairs for Iberdrola Renewables Inc. Thumma said the practical effect of the new regulations would cut the number of turbines at one project from 50 to seven and from 75 to three at another. “The economics are not going to work if you have such reduced projects,” he said. The new regulations were put in place in response to complaints about wind turbine noise and visual pollution.
More: Midwestern Energy News
New Pipeline Sends Gas To Indiana, Illinois
Rockies Express Pipeline said its new 24-inch natural gas pipeline will start delivering gas from the state’s Utica shale gas fields to Indiana and Illinois this week. The Seneca lateral in southeast Ohio sends gas from the MarkWest Energy Partners Seneca processing plant to the main pipeline, and from there to markets in the west. Construction of additional compressor stations could allow gas to be sent as far as Missouri, pipeline owners say.
More: Columbus Business First
PENNSYLVANIA
New Well Fees Mean Millions for State
The state Environmental Quality Board has approved a final rule hiking the fees for unconventional well permits, a move that will result in about $4.7 million in additional revenue for the state, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection. “Under the Corbett administration, there has been a strategic, proactive approach to the oversight of this industry,” DEP Secretary and EQB Chairperson E. Christopher Abruzzo said. “The efforts to date have been unprecedented, and this fee increase will give us the ability to continue to grow and strengthen our program along with the growing industry.” The increased revenue will be used on additional staff and information technology projects to aid regulators in monitoring the increase in drilling.
More: Fierce Energy
PUC Eyes Settlement with Electric Company for Slamming
The Public Utility Commission is seeking public comment on a proposed settlement with an electric marketer for switching customers’ electric providers without full permission. The PUC proposes to fine ResCom $59,000 and require it to abide by “Do Not Call” lists. The company would also be required to file quarterly reports with the commission. The settlement arose after three ResCom customers complained to the commission that their service provider was switched without their permission.
More: Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
State Agencies Target Five Energy Suppliers for Slamming
The Bureau of Consumer Protection and the Office of Consumer Advocate are targeting five electricity suppliers for a variety of alleged fraudulent tactics, including switching customers without their knowledge and overcharging them.
The joint complaints were filed before the Public Utility Commission, Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane announced on Friday. The complaints seek the revocation of the licenses of Energy Services Providers Inc. d/b/a Pennsylvania Gas & Electric; IDT Energy Inc.; Respond Power LLC; Hiko Energy LLC; and Blue Pilot Energy LLC.
Among the allegations are that the suppliers promised low or “competitive” rates if customers switched, and then charged them up to 300% more than they had been paying. Other customers complained that they were switched without their consent, a practice known as “slamming.” In addition to license revocation, the complaints seek civil penalties and refunds for the customers.
More: CBS Philly
VIRGINIA
Dominion Faces Opposition to Jamestown Tx Tower Path
Dominion’s plan to build a transmission line across the James River within sight of Jamestown Island and other historic sites is facing opposition from groups who say it would be a blight. The company is seeking permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build 17 towers, some as tall as 295 feet, for the four-mile river crossing. Historic preservationists say the project would be a shocking sight among the area’s historic places. “I’m hard-pressed to find a worse place for Dominion to build this power line,” said Rob Nieweg, field director with the District of Columbia office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Dominion has argued that the project is necessary to ensure the reliability of service to the area.
More: CBS Local
WEST VIRGINIA
Meter Reading Law Means Higher Bills
FirstEnergy subsidiaries Mon Power and Potomac Edison amended their rate hike requests to include $7.5 million for monthly meter readings. The new filings, prompted by a recent PSC order, boosts the combined rate increases to about $103 million. The commission ordered both companies to ensure each customer’s meter is read monthly. Both companies have already started hiring and training enough new meter readers to comply with the order.
More: Market Watch