In a natural gas rate case, the Michigan Public Service Commission permitted Michigan Consolidated Gas (MichCon) to increase its base rates by $19.9 million, or 2 percent. The new rates were in accord with a partial settlement that trimmed the company’s original rate increase request of $76.7 million by almost three-fourths. The company stipulated to a 10.5-percent ROE.
In a pair of rate proceedings resolved by settlement, the Kentucky Public Service Commission approved rate increases for Kentucky Utilities (KU) and Louisville Gas & Electric (LG&E). The KU agreement allows the utility to raise its rates by $51 million, compared to its application for an $82.4 million increase. The LG&E settlement provides $33.7 million in additional electric revenues and $15 million in additional natural gas revenues.
Finding that the cutting-edge technology proposed to be used by a wind power developer in constructing an offshore wind energy facility could improve both the state’s economy and its demographics, the Maine Public Utilities Commission authorized the developer, Statoil North America, to proceed with its plans for the pilot project. The commission reported that the most intriguing aspect of the developer’s plan was its reliance on a novel “spar buoy” design that would make the Hywind Maine project the country’s first offshore floating wind farm.
The annual Smart Grid Customer Education Symposium brings together utilities, stakeholders, regulators, and solutions providers who have a vested interest in rolling out successful smart grid communications and customer education programs. This year's event takes the industry to new phases of customer education, moving from meter awareness to communications strategies around pricing programs and in-home energy management technologies. For more information, please go to www.smartgridcustomereducation.com.
Recent extreme severe weather events such as Superstorm Sandy, along with the torrent of winter storms, provide a stark reminder that distribution systems still require significant upgrading to achieve the actual levels of resilience and reliability that are required. Further work is also needed to realize the potential of and increase returns from assets already deployed.
Alstom upgraded its 3-MW onshore ECO 100 turbine to maximize available wind resources. Currently designed for medium (Class II-A) wind sites, the turbine now can handle medium and high winds (IEC Class II-A, and IS Class). The ECO 122 turbine, currently suitable for Class III sites, is being upgraded to handle medium and low winds (IEC Class III-A, and II B Class). The upgrade increases the net capacity factor to up to 48 percent for both turbines.
Commonwealth Utilities Corp. (CUC) in Saipan ordered two-way electric meters with Nighthawk communications technology. The meters are expected to enable a pre-paid metering system to improve collections and cash flow. CUC also expects the meters’ voltage monitoring to provide better information about system status in remote locations.