Oklahoma Approves OG&E Smart Grid Plan
Deeming smart grid technology a prudent investment, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission preapproved up to $366.4 million in program costs for OG&E to build a smart grid system.

Michigan Nixes Wisconsin Renewable Energy Costs
PSC reduces Wisconsin Electric Power’s Michigan revenue requirement by more than $4 million to account for excess RPS purchases.

Connecticut Light & Power Gets $100M in Rate Relief
Despite sluggish economy, commission authorizes $100 rate increase for Connecticut Light & Power Co. over the next two years.

California Offers New Smart Grid Guidelines
Reiterating its support for the most modernized electric network possible, the California Public Utilities Commission has released an updated plan for transforming the state’s grid into a safer, more reliable, and more efficient interoperable system.

Central Hudson G&E Gets $40M Rate Increase
Three-year plan for Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. (CHG&E) accounts for torpid economy, delays a portion of the increase to the second and third years, in hopes of economic recovery.

BG&E Smart Meter Plan 'Untenable'
Maryland PSC rejects mandatory dynamic rates and meter surcharge; urges utility to invest more of its own money in program.

Mass. DPU to Allow Green Power Imports
State RPS provisions might violate Commerce Clause.

Tennessee Joins Growing Chorus of Decoupling Naysayers
Gas LDC’s proposal deemed insufficient incentive for conservation.

Smart Grid City Gets Green Light for Dynamic Pricing (6/18)
Xcel subsidiary Public Service Co. of Colorado (PSCC) won approval from the Colorado Public Service Commission for three rate options for residential customers taking part in the company’s Smart Grid City demonstration project in Boulder, Colo. Customers will choose from TOU, CPP and peak-time rebate (PTR) options.

Mesaba IGCC Loses State Court Appeal (6/18)
Excelsior Energy’s Mesaba integrated coal-gasification power project in northeastern Minnesota faces doubtful future as state appeals court affirms PUC decision. Without a mandated PPA from Xcel Energy, Mesaba has no offtakers for its prospective output.

Michigan OKs Gas Decoupling Pilot (6/18)
PSC accepts revenue decoupling for Consumers Energy’s gas operations, but denies the utility’s request for special rate adders for uncollectibles and retirement benefits.

Arkansas Urges Entergy Breakup (6/8)
Regulators asked Entergy to consider spinning off Entergy Arkansas Inc. to prevent cross-subsidy across operating utilities, and clear the way for joining an organized wholesale power market. Figures show Arkansas customers have spent $4.5 billion over 20 years to subsidize rates for Entergy ratepayers in other states.

Nuclear Project Gets Green Light (6/8)
South Carolina nuclear joint venture can move forward, after state high court rejects challenge by Friends of the Earth. Environmental group failed to show arbitrary or capricious behavior by South Carolina PSC. Justices rule project sponsors adequately considered alternatives.

Green Mountain Power Faces Performance Benchmarks (6/8)
Alternative regulation plan puts utility on stronger financial footing, but state regulators tweak ROE formula to account for inflation and impose performance adjustments.

Iowa Ousts Retail Aggregators (5/25)
Responding to MISO demand-bidding plan, Utilities Board says aggregators might violate utility franchise rights.

DC Circuit Validates FERC Comparability Test (5/18)
FP&L prevails in fight over public-power transmission connector; Court affirms FERC’s decision that FMPA line isn’t required for FP&L’s customers.

Arizona Gas Utility Conflated Market Woes (5/12)
Corporation Commission rejects UNS Gas argument for 11% ROE based on anemic test-period figures; Grants 9.5% ROE and one-third of requested increase.

Colorado to Pilot ‘Hybrid’ REC Sales Program (5/5/10)
REC sales profits to be split by Public Service Co. of Colorado, customers and carbon-credit account. Colorado PUC puts $10 million cap on CO2 offset allotment.

SoCal Gas to Install 6 Million Smart Meters (5/5/10)
CPUC approves $1 billion investment to stimulate conservation. AMI rollout advances despite cost questions.

Illinois Slams Gas Supplier with $90k Fine (5/5/10)
ICC says Energy Savings Corp. ‘purposefully misled’ customers. ‘Ineffective management’ and pricing distortion leads to flood of complaints.

Offshore Wind Project Too Expensive (4/21/10)
Rhode Island PUC Rejects National Grid Contract

PacifiCorp Considers Decoupling in Idaho (4/21/10)
Declining Load Results in Revenue Deviations from Cost Adjustment Mechanism

NY PSC Lifts Con Ed's ESCO 'Warm Transfer' Requirements (4/21/10)
Referral Program Sparked Unintended Consequences

Inclining-Block Rates Arrive in Colorado (4/12/10)
PSCo rate design to encourage conservation

PSE Puts Acquired Plant in Rate Base (4/12/10)
Commission denies nearly two-thirds of requested increase

N.H. PUC Expands Renewable Options (4/12/10)
PSNH to offer RECs to default customers

NSTAR Tests 'No-Lose' Dynamic Rates (4/9/10)
Stimulus grant supports smart-thermostat rollout in Massachusetts.

NY Approves ConEd's $1B Rate Request (4/9/10)
New York PSC says earnings sharing mechanism will benefit ratepayers

Empire District to Triple DSM Spending (4/9/10)
Missouri PSC says lower demand will mitigate wholesale gas prices

Maine Adopts 'Best-Rate' Option (3/26/10)
Prevents inadvertent penalties for conserving

California Creates REC Market (3/26/10)
Trial run limits green credits to 25% of RPS obligations

PSC: 'FPL Overstated its Need' (3/26/10)
Florida denies billion-dollar rate hike and generation pre-approvals

California Resurrects Electric Choice (03/19/10)
CPUC: ‘Flawed’ markets have been fixed

Carolina IRP Assumes Anemic Future (03/19/10)
15-year plan figures on 1.5% growth

D.C. Commission Sees Improving Prospects (03/19/10)
Refuses Pepco plea for higher ROE

Fla. PSC Rejects Progress Rate Request (3/12/10)
Uses Depreciation Surplus to Zero Out Increase

Maryland Considers Re-Regulating (3/12/10)
Assembly Eyes Education, Referral Mandates

Connecticut DPUC Allows Layoffs (3/12/10)
Rejects Lower Service Standards

CPUC Adopts PG&E's Critical Peak Pricing Plan (3/5/10)
'Opt-Out' Structure to Encourage Participation

Iowa Authorizes IP&L Rate Hike (3/5/10)
Economy complicates storm recovery case

Entergy Nuclear Spinoff Hits Albany Snag (3/5/10)
NY PSC Staff Recommends Against Approval

Utah Cuts Electric Rate Request (2/26/10)
Rocky Mountain Power Gets Less Than Half

Michigan PSC Demands Detroit Ed Refund (2/26/10)
Allows $217 Million Rate Hike

Appeals Court Affirms FERC Incentive Rate (2/26/10)
ISO-New England Gets Another 100 Basis Points