CONNECTICUT 

Moody’s Downgrades Eversource’s CL&P to Negative Outlook

Moody’s Ratings last week downgraded Eversource Energy’s Connecticut Light and Power subsidiary to a negative outlook based largely on “an inconsistent and unpredictable regulatory environment.” 

The downgrade reinforces longstanding complaints by Eversource and United Illuminating, also recently downgraded, that their ability to raise capital is suffering from what they call “arbitrary” regulatory decisions that undercut their ability to earn on the hundreds of millions of dollars that they invest annually in clean energy projects and other grid improvements. 

“CL&P’s electric distribution business operates under the purview of the [Public Utilities Regulatory Authority], a regulatory framework that has become increasingly difficult due to higher political scrutiny and inconsistent regulatory decisions and rate case outcomes,” Moody’s said. 

More: Hartford Courant 

LOUISIANA 

Craig Greene Won’t Seek Re-election to PSC

Public Service Commissioner Craig Greene last week announced he will not seek re-election once his term concludes at the end of the year. 

“When you know, you know,” Greene, first elected in 2017, said in a news release. “For almost a decade, I’ve worked hard to keep a watchful eye on our utility providers, holding them accountable to keep prices affordable for the many families in our community struggling to get by.” 

Greene, who works full time as an orthopedic surgeon in Baton Rouge, said he will spend the extra time enjoying activities with his family and caring for his patients. 

More: Louisiana Illuminator 

MISSISSIPPI 

Hinds County Approves Apex Solar Farm

The Hinds County Board of Supervisors last week voted 3-2 to approve the 396-MW Soul City Solar farm. The 6,000-acre project, developed by Apex Clean Energy, will be the largest in the state when completed. Construction is planned to start this year and be completed by 2027. 

More: The Clarion-Ledger 

NEBRASKA 

Oldest Operating Wind Turbines in State to be Removed

Lincoln Electric System will remove two 290-foot-tall turbines, installed in 1998 and 1999, in July, as they have reached the end of their productivity. 

They were the oldest continuously operating wind turbines in the state, producing 1.3 MW combined. Both could have lasted a little longer, LES said, but it estimates it will save $100,000 by taking them down now. 

Scott Benson, manager of resource and transmission planning at LES, said the turbines helped the utility learn enough about wind power to enter its first small contracts for wind farms. “We learned a lot from them.” 

More: Nebraska Examiner 

NEW YORK

National Grid Says More Staff Needed to Comply with Climate Law

National Grid last week asked the Public Service Commission to raise annual electric delivery rates by $525 million a year across its upstate territory. If approved, the rate hike would raise the average monthly electric bill by $18.92 (15%). 

National Grid said one of the reasons for its request is the state’s 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, as it is putting new pressures on the company to hire more employees to comply with the law. 

“The company is seeking to add incremental [full-time employees] to support its customer programs,” National Grid said in its filing with the PSC. “From a broad perspective [this] is necessitated primarily by the need to achieve the [law’s] energy efficiency and emissions-reduction goals.” 

More: Times Union 

NYSEG Fined $11.4M for Poor Customer Service Performance

New York State Electric and Gas was fined $11.4 million by the Public Service Commission for failing to meet all four of its customer service performance metrics. NYSEG’s sister company, Rochester Gas & Electric, also failed to meet all four metrics, resulting in a $7.1 million penalty. 

“Ensuring that the utilities operation in New York state maintain good customer service is a top priority for the commission,” said Chair Rory Christian. 

More: WETM 

Old Gas Line Left Open Caused Blast that Destroyed Syracuse Home

An explosion that collapsed a Syracuse house and injured 13 people last week was caused by an open natural gas line, fire officials said. 

Fire investigators inspecting the basement noticed a gas line intended to feed a clothes dryer was not connected to an appliance. The gas line had an open valve and was free-flowing natural gas at the time of the explosion. 

The landlord said there hadn’t been a dryer hooked up to the gas line for years. The line was not capped and had a shutoff valve that was found in the open position. The line should have been capped, officials said. 

More: Syracuse.com 

OHIO 

Texts Show DeWine Initiated Dark Money Payment, Sparks New Bill

Newly revealed texts show that despite claiming no knowledge of the extent of FirstEnergy’s dark money support for his gubernatorial races, Gov. Mike DeWine (R) personally solicited money from CEO Charles Jones. 

About a month before the 2018 election that launched DeWine into the governor’s office, he sent a text to Jones — indicted earlier this year on bribery charges — looking for cash. Jones forwarded the text to Senior Vice President Mike Dowling, who also was indicted this year on bribery charges. A $500,000 “dark money” contribution was later made. DeWine has not been accused of any criminal wrongdoing. 

The news has prompted Republican lawmakers to draft legislation requiring greater campaign finance disclosure from dark money groups. 

More: Cleveland.com; Ohio Capital Journal 

RHODE ISLAND

McKee Signs Legislation to Regulate Solar Companies

Gov. Dan McKee last week signed legislation designed to regulate solar companies and protect consumers from deceptive sales practices. 

The act will require solar retailers to register their business and a roster of their representatives soliciting sales. Retailers also must conduct criminal background checks on principal officers and sales representatives, as well as follow municipal restrictions on door-to-door sales and federal telemarketing rules. 

The law will take effect March 1, 2025. 

More: WPRI 

VERMONT 

Legislature Overrides Scott, Passes Renewables Bill

The state legislature last week overturned Gov. Phil Scott’s (R) veto and enacted a law that requires utilities to source all of their electricity from renewable resources by 2035. 

Scott had said the bill would be too costly for ratepayers. Under the legislation, the biggest utilities will need to meet the goal by 2030. 

Senate President Pro Tempore Philip Baruth (D) called the governor’s veto an attempt to continue rejecting “critical progress on climate action” at a time when residents are still facing “the impacts of recent climate disasters.” 

More: The Associated Press