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Regulatory Decisions

New York Adopts FASB Update

The New York Public Service Commission has directed all utilities that fall under its regulatory jurisdiction and that have defined benefit pension plans and/or postretirement benefits packages to switch to an updated accounting standard for purposes of meeting financial reporting requirements, including in rate cases. The commission asserted that while the change could make retail rates more volatile in the short run, ratepayers will not pay more over the long run.

Illinois Court Upholds Opt-Out Fee

The Illinois Appellate Court has sustained a March 2017 ruling by the Illinois Commerce Commission in which it had dismissed a complaint challenging the lawfulness of an electric utility’s tariff provision that authorized the utility, Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd), to impose a charge on consumers who refuse to have a new smart meter installed at their premises.

Chernobyl Solar Project

According to various news outlets, a new solar farm is slated to commence operations later this month at Chernobyl.

California ISO to be its own Reliability Coordinator

California ISO will offer services to other balancing authorities and transmission operators in the western U.S.

Michigan Seeks Utility Pilot Plans, Issues Guidance

In recognition of the growing interest in plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) in the state, the Michigan Public Service Commission has released an order in which it discusses a variety of matters associated with the emergence of PEVs in Michigan and the need for related infrastructure and technology. In its decision, the commission tasked the state’s electric utilities with developing pilot programs in comportment with certain principles the commission had identified after review of a broad range of stakeholder comments.

Renewable Energy

EIA: Half of all new utility-scale additions of generating capacity in 2017 came from renewable resources.

Solar Forecasting Technologies

The U.S. DOE announced $12 million in new funding for eight projects.

MISO Transmission Investments

The board of directors of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) issued a statement showing its approval of more than 350 transmission projects — representing an investment of $2.6 billion — as part of the 2017 MISO Transmission Expansion Plan (MTE) aimed at improving energy access and reliability.

The regional transmission organization said that the extensive upgrades were deemed necessary to

Solar Projects in Florida

Florida Power & Light brought four new solar installations online on New Year’s Day.

FERC Says No to Perry's Recommended Adders for Coal and Nuclear Generation

Seeing a need to examine the issue of grid resilience more “holistically,” the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has rejected a proposal from Rick Perry, secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), under which owners and operators of nuclear and coal-fired generating facilities would be eligible for a rate adder to account for their role in offering an extra level of protection and dependability to the nation’s electric grid.

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