Connecticut’s new energy legislation signed into law. On June 4, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont signed into law House Bill 5340, in what has become an almost annual tradition of comprehensive energy legislation in the Nutmeg State. This new law makes significant changes to renewable energy policy in Connecticut, including: (1) extending current renewable programs (e.g., NRES, RRES, SCEF) until 2028; (2) requires PURA to establish NRES, RRES, and SCEF successor programs by December 2027; (3) sets a total aggregate procurement target by the utilities under the successor programs and the existing Energy Storage Solutions (ESS) program of 180 MW per year and $85 million per year; (4) requires electric utilities to offer tariffs under the successor programs for up to 20-year terms until December 2035; and (5) requires PURA to adopt an allocation methodology under this target that promotes reaching 580 MW of energy storage deployed in the state through ESS by December 2031. A complete summary is available in the most recent PDF report and through the online portal for CT subscribers.
Maryland issues new guidance on monthly supplier pricing filings. In Public Conference No. PC67, the Maryland PSC issued an order on June 2 on monthly price data filings. Of note, MDPSC directed: (1) “that the retail suppliers continue confidential filing of the total energy usage to customers (in kwh or therms)”; (2) “utilities to publicly file information on total accounts served by both SCB and dual billing customers”; (3) “information in Tables 2 and 3 that identifies suppliers by preferred billing type, be filed publicly”; and (4) “that other monthly price data under PUA §7-510(g) and PUA §7-604.2(e) (such as supply costs and comparison of retail supply costs to default service), except for supplier-specific total usage, as described in Item 1, be reported publicly.”
Shapiro Administration unveils GRID standards for data centers. As initially proposed by Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro in his 2026-27 budget address, the Keystone State has introduced new “Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) Standards that condition tax incentives and fast-track permitting for data centers on strict energy requirements, including sourcing incremental in-state generation and meeting escalating clean firm energy targets. Projects must fully fund all grid and service-related costs tied to their load, ensuring no cost shifts to other ratepayers.
Ohio adopts gas service rule revisions allowing utility cost recovery for unauthorized switches. On May 27, the PUCO issued an order regarding revisions to its minimum gas service standards. The newly-revised regulations allow utilities to recover costs from retail suppliers for unauthorized switches when fault is confirmed by Staff, while purportedly ensuring customers are held harmless and fully compensated. The order also extends bill due dates to 21 days and aligns supplier payment timelines with the new framework, rejecting calls for additional procedural constraints on cost recovery. PRQ Note: Given the often-zealous nature of PUCO Staff when it comes to enforcement, these new powers could mean significant new costs for suppliers if found guilty of slamming by Staff.
Connecticut changes tax treatment of some solar systems. House Bill HB5442 was signed into law by Connecticut Gov. Lamont on June 4. The new law expands the scope of solar PV systems subject to the uniform solar capacity tax to include those that are permitted to operate on or after July 1, 2025, but before July 1, 2026 (currently in law as July 1, 2027). The bill also limits the solar-related property tax exemption in existing state law to facilities permitted to operate on or after July 1, 2025. Finally, the law restricts a property tax exemption for Class I solar PV systems to those systems receiving permission to operate from an electric utility or municipal cop-op on or after July 1, 2025.
Maine launches Data Center Advisory Council. The Maine Department of Energy Resources and Department of Environmental Protection held a kickoff meeting on June 3 for the new Data Center Advisory Council. The Council was established council via executive order and will hold meetings throughout the year, culminating in a report to the governor and legislature by January 29, 2027, providing policy recommendations on large-scale data center development in the state. The council will “focus on protecting ratepayers, maintaining electric grid reliability, minimizing environmental impacts, and enabling responsible economic development.”
Delaware enacts HB 269, mandating adoption of IREC interconnection procedures. On May 21, House Bill 269 was signed by Delaware Gov. Meyer. This bill requires utilities to adopt the Interstate Renewable Energy Council’s Model Interconnection Procedures for net metering within 12 months of their latest publication. Any deviations from these procedures must receive affirmative approval from, and be monitored by, the Delaware PSC, strengthening standardization and regulatory oversight of interconnection practices.
In Brief: On May 28, Pennsylvania PUC published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin a notice to further amend 52 Pa. Code Chapter 56, which governs residential utility service. This initiates a 60-day public comment period, with reply comments due within 90 days…on June 1, Ohio utility FirstEnergy’s quarterly wholesale market update to PUCO underscores sweeping PJM market reforms, including an extended capacity price collar, a new reliability backstop procurement tied to surging data center demand, and ongoing interconnection and market design changes…on June 2, AEP Ohio issued notice that it will transfer its OVEC interests to AEP Generation Resources, effective June 1.
In Other News: Ross Marchand, director of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, which receives contributions from the utility trade group Edison Electric Institute, had an op-ed in The Maryland Reporter on June 16, inexplicably calling for a return to vertically integrated utilities in order to bring “real” competition back to the energy markets.
Commission Comings-and-Goings: On June 15, the Ontario Energy Board announced Pamela Schott has been appointed to the OEB’s Board of Directors…Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer announced on May 8 four new nominees to serve on the DEPSC pending confirmation from the state senate. The nominees, if confirmed, will join Commissioner Harold Gray, who was reappointed last May. The nominees include: former Maryland PSC Commissioner MIchael Richard; former executive director of the Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility, Anthony DePrima; former DEPSC staffer and public advocate Regina Iorii; and real estate and land use consultant Robert Wheatley.