News Stories

Stakeholder comments are being accepted by the Energy Planning Board through December 16, 2024 regarding a Draft Scope of the NYS Energy Plan and other matters that stakeholders believe the Energy Planning Board should consider and examine during this proceeding.

The Business Council of New York State is urging Gov. Hochul to conduct a “deep analysis” of the state’s future energy needs and supplies, including options for nuclear power plants, as the initial mandates of the 2019 Climate Act are close at hand and serious concerns have been raised about the ability to meet those goals.  In its letter this week, the coalition said the ongoing analysis must be “dispassionate” and give “consideration of future power derived from all sources from nuclear power to renewables, natural gas to alternative fuels — including biofuel and renewable liquid fuels — to identify an achievable, reliable path forward. 

In December the NYPA held  public hearings on  its Renewables Draft Strategic Plan to gather community feedback. Comments on the draft Strategic Plan were accepted through December 9, 2024.   The Final Strategic Plan, which incorporates comments, will be presented to the NYPA Board of Trustees for approval at its December board meeting. The final Strategic Plan will be published on the NYPA’s website and submitted to the Governor and the Legislature by January 31, 2025.

In Docket No. 15-E-0302 (Large-Scale Renewable Program and a Clean Energy Standard Proceeding) 

Con Ed, O&R, and Central Hudson filed a joint reply to NYSERDA’s July 31, 2024, Petition Regarding Proposed Year 2025 Clean Energy Standard (CES) Funding and Reconciliation of Year 2023 Administrative Costs. These reply comments primarily propose that the PSC direct a $100 million transfer of the CES surplus to Energy Affordability Program customers for summer 2025 bill relief.  

The Public Utility Law Project (PULP) also filed comments on NYSERDA’s petition, proposing that the CES Renewable Energy Standard (“RES”) surplus funds be directed toward initiatives that directly support energy affordability for utility customers, with an emphasis on bill credits or equivalent affordability programs. 

DPS Staff filed a proposal setting forth interpretations of key terms in the CLCPA, including clarifying what is encompassed within the term “statewide electrical demand system” and articulating broad criteria for compliance with a “zero emissions” standard.  The DPS proposal also recommends that the PSC direct Staff to develop a review process consistent with the provisions of the CLCPA that tracks progress toward the power sector energy transition targets. 

In Docket No. 15-E-0751 (VDER) the PSC issued an order on November 19 approving National Grid’s tariffs, with modifications, for standby service and optional rate service.  National Grid is directed to clarify its method for determining 60-minute integrated demand for mass market customers. Second, National Grid is directed to file further tariff revisions to effectuate hourly supply billing for mass market customers taking service under Service Classification (SC) 7 – Standby Service and Optional Rate Service (SC 7).

In addition, on November 22nd the Joint Utilities filed their response to DPS Staff’s questions for comment on calculating locational relief system value and demand reduction value to inform pricing.  The Clean Energy Parties (CEP), a coalition of clean energy trade associations and member companies active in New York, also filed comments on these issues. 

On November 27th, National Grid filed its Optional Mass Market Demand Rate Automation Report.

In Docket No. 18-M-0084 (Comprehensive Energy Efficiency Initiative)

On November 1 NYSERDA and the electric and gas utilities jointly filed their 2024 Statewide Low- to Moderate-Income (“LMI”) Portfolio Implementation Plan including consolidated Verified Gross Savings Specifications for initiatives in the Statewide LMI Portfolio regarding energy efficiency and building electrification.

NYSERDA and the electric and gas utilities held a stakeholder webinar on December 5,2024 to discuss the Statewide LMI Portfolio, including an update on progress to date, and planning for the 2025 program year including transitions.

In Docket No. 14-M-0094 (PSC Motion to Consider a Clean Energy Fund) the PSC granted an extension to NYSERDA and the electric and gas utilities until February 28, 2025, to comply with the PSC’s June 20, 2024, energy storage order, which requires NYSERDA and the utilities to enter into contracts to utilize a Bill-As-You-Go (BAYG) mechanism and create collection processes related to the establishment of the Residential and Retail Energy Storage Program.

In Docket No. 21-E-0629 (Distributed Solar) the New York Solar Energy Industries Association (NYSEIA) and the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA) each filed comments on the NYSERDA Report: “Ny-Sun Program: Impacts Of The Inflation Reduction Act And The Potential For Incremental Distributed Solar Capacity Beyond The 10 GW Goal”.  In addition, on November 1, 2024 NYSERDA filed Statewide Solar for All (S-SFA) compensation levels schedules to be included within utility S-SFA tariff statements, applicable to distributed solar and energy storage projects participating in the first year of the S-SFA program, running from December 1, 2024 to November 30, 2025.

In Docket No. 18-E-0138 (EV Supply Equipment and Infrastructure) NYC filed comments supporting NYPA’s petition to extend the time to use $15 million in funding to develop up to ten EV fast charging sites in each Regional Economic Development Council region.  DPS is postponing the December 17th technical conference regarding interoperability and universal accessibility of EV charger hardware and software as it pertains to Make-Ready Program eligibility until early next year.  DPS Staff will hold the next meeting of the EV Infrastructure Interconnection Working Group (EVIIWG) on December 13th, 2024.

In Docket No. 18-E-0130 (Energy Storage Deployment Program) on November 18, 2024 the City of New York, multiple energy storage companies and industry trade groups filed comments on NYSERDA’s Residential and Retail Energy Storage Market Acceleration Incentives 2024-2030 Implementation Plan.  In addition, on November 19 the PSC issued an order approving modifications to dynamic load management program procurements.  

NYSERDA issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gauge market interest in activities to develop advanced nuclear energy technologies and identify entities that are currently pursuing or interested in a potential role in advanced nuclear energy development. Comments are due by December 16, 2024. Later this year, NYSERDA also anticipates releasing a Final Blueprint for Consideration of Advanced Nuclear Technologies which was informed through public comments collected on the Draft Blueprint  released at the Future Energy Economy Summit last September.

The new competitive Clean Heat for All: Packaged Terminal Heat Pump program, administered by NYSERDA, will provide $10 million in funding to  heating and cooling equipment manufacturers and building owners for product development and field demonstrations of cold-climate heat pumps in multifamily, senior living and hospitality buildings.

On November 18, 2024, Governor Hochul announced $22 million is now available for projects that strengthen and modernize NY’s electric grid. Funded by a U.S. DOE Grid Resilience Formula Grant, the State’s new competitive grid modernization program supports projects that help to ensure the reliability of infrastructure and expand access to clean energy for New Yorkers, supporting the transition to a zero-emission electricity system. Additionally, the Governor also announced that in October, NYS was awarded an additional $11.5 million under the federal formula grant program to supplement this initial phase of funding.