PUC To Host Nov. 25 Technical Conference On Adequacy Of Electricity Supplies In Pennsylvania

On November 21, the Public Utility Commission announced it will hold a technical conference on the adequacy of electricity supplies in Pennsylvania Monday, November 25 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The technical conference will be open to the public via livestream the morning of the event.

The agenda for the conference includes three sessions--

-- What are the right mix of resources and how do we get them online? Will effective load carrying capacity (ELCC), properly designed, accomplish this? 

     Panelists include--

-- Joseph Bowring, Independent Market Monitor for PJM

-- Frederick “Stu” Bresler III, PJM Interconnection, LLC

-- Adrien Ford, Constellation

-- Diane Holder, ReliabilityFirst

-- Travis Kavulla, NRG Energy

-- Marjorie Philips, LS Power Development, LLC

-- Tom Rutigliano, Natural Resources Defense Council

-- How do we facilitate completion of the construction of those generation resources? 

     Panelists include--

-- Kati Austgen, Nuclear Energy Institute

-- Joseph Kerecman, Calpine

-- Darren Olagues, Talen Energy

-- Liz Robinson, Philadelphia Solar Energy Association

-- Robert Routh, Natural Resources Defense Council

-- What can the PUC do to ensure resource adequacy for electric distribution customers? 

     Panelists include--

-- Susan Bruce, PJM Industrial Customer Coalition; PA Energy Customer Alliance

-- Patrick Cicero, Pennsylvania Consumer Advocate

-- David Fisfis, Duquesne Light Company

-- Tori Giesler, FirstEnergy Corp.

-- Brian Kauffman, Mainspring Energy, Inc.

-- Christine Martin, PPL Electric Utilities

-- Glen Thomas, GT Power Group

-- David Velazquez, PECO

-- Jeaneen Zappa, Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance 

As part of the informal educational process, Commissioners will pose questions to the panelists and will engage the panelists in discussions related to electric resource adequacy in Pennsylvania.

Following the conclusion of the technical conference, comments will be accepted from members of the public. Comments must be eFiled with the Secretary of the Commission and will be posted on the Commission’s website. 

More information about the comment period can be found at Docket No. M-2024-3051988.  Questions regarding this technical conference should be directed to PC-RATechConference@pa.gov. 

Click Here for the announcement.

Resource Links - Electric Grid:

-- Gov. Shapiro, Joins 4 Other Governors To Call On PJM To Reform Its Electric Generating Capacity Auction Rules To Prevent Billions Of Dollars In 'Unnecessary’ Costs To Their Residents, Businesses   [PaEN]

-- PJM CEO Expresses Concern About Electric Generating Capacity: Higher Prices Have Incentivized Some Generators, But Building Gas Generators Has Slowed, Permitting, Supply Chain Issues Hamper Renewables  [PaEN]

-- Utility Dive: North American Electric Reliability Corp: Natural Gas Electric Generation Is Threatened This Winter By Ongoing Concerns About Gas Production, Delivery In Extreme Weather Conditions  [PaEN]

-- PJM Interconnection Winter Outlook: Adequate Power Supplies Available Under Normal Conditions; PJM Delays Next Power Auction After Prices Spike  [PaEN]

-- PJM Electricity Auction Price 9 Times Higher Than Previous Auction-- $269.92/MW-Day For 2025/26 Delivery Compared To $28.92/MW-Day In 2024-25; Extreme Weather Risk Big Factor  [PaEN]

-- PennFuture: Dramatic PJM Electricity Price Increases Due To Forced Outages Of Gas Power Plants; Huge Backlog Of New Generation Projects; Demand Growth Driven By Data Centers, Cryptocurrency Mining  [PaEN]

-- Natural Resources Defense Council: The Cost Of Slow-Walking Clean Energy Can Be Seen In Latest PJM Electricity Prices  [PaEN]

-- Spotlight PA: No One Is Using $2.6 Billion Hydrogen, Natural Gas Tax Credit, Shapiro Wants To Rewrite The Law To Boost Electricity Production

-- Washington & Jefferson College Center For Energy Policy & Management: Distributed Energy Resources Can Provide Benefits For Electric Grid

-- Sen. Yaw To Introduce Bills To Establish PA Baseload Energy Development Fund Based On Texas Model; And Have One Permit For Power Plants  [PaEN]

-- PA House Republicans Announce Energy Package, Including An Energy Advocate Within DEP To Veto Any Action That Would Impact PA’s Energy Portfolio And An Independent Energy Office With The Same Power  [PaEN]

Related Articles:

-- DEP: Some Guidance Now Available To Apply For $396 Million In RISE PA Industrial Decarbonization Grants; Application Period Opens Early In 2025  [PaEN]   

-- PA Solar Center, Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services Release New Guidebook For PA Municipalities On Development Of Large-Scale Solar Facilities; Nov. 22 Webinar  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- TribLive Guest Essay: My School District Saved Over A Million Dollars In Energy Costs By Going Solar, With Solar For Schools Your District Could Be Next - By Carlisle Area School District 

-- Altoona Mirror: Central Cambria School District Considering Solar Energy To Save Up to $500,000 Over Next 25 Years

-- Centre Daily Times: Centre County Solar Energy Facility Takes Big Step Forward As State College Area School District Commits To Project 

-- Financial Times: Restart Of Three Mile Island Tests US Appetite For Nuclear Revival

-- Utility Dive: State Ratepayer Advocates Press FERC For PJM Capacity Market Changes, Citing ‘Crushing’ Prices [Not PA’s Consumer Advocate]

-- Utility Dive: Ohio Consumer Counsel Urges FERC To Shield Utility Customers From Expected Grid Costs Due To 1.5 GW Amazon Data Center 

-- Reuters: Data-Center Reliance On Fossil Fuels May Delay Clean Energy Transition

-- WPost: AI’s Hunger For Electric Power Is Threatening US Climate Goals

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Court Rules Virginia’s Removal From Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Was ‘Unlawful’

-- The Economist: New Republican Administration’s Natural Gas War Is About To Begin  [PDF of Article] 

-- Financial Times: Canada Imports US Electricity As Drought Curb Hydropower

[Posted: November 21, 2024]  PA Environment Digest