Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB07017 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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3		-	LCO 1 of 6
	3	+	LCO No. 4937 1 of 3
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5		-	General Assembly ~~Substitute~~ Bill No. 7017
	5	+	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7017
6	6		January Session, 2025
	7	+	LCO No. 4937
	8	+
	9	+
	10	+	Referred to Committee on ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY
	11	+
	12	+
	13	+	Introduced by:
	14	+	(ET)
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10	18
11		-
12		-	~~AN ACT CONCERNING~~ GRID -ENHANCING TECHNOLOGIES.
	19	+	AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY TRANSMISSION
	20	+	AND GRID-ENHANCING TECHNOLOGIES.
13	21		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
14	22		Assembly convened:
15	23
16		-	Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) (a) As used in this section 1
17		-	and section 2 of this act: 2
18		-	(1) "Advanced conductor" means a conductor that, in comparison to 3
19		-	conductors operated by an electric distribution company on October 1, 4
20		-	2025, has a direct current electrical resistance not less than ten per cent 5
21		-	lower, and has a similar diameter, while simultaneously increasing the 6
22		-	capacity of such conductors by not less than seventy-five per cent. 7
23		-	"Advanced conductor" includes the rebuilding of conductor support 8
24		-	structures or other associated facilities; 9
25		-	(2) "Advanced power flow control" means any hardware or software 10
26		-	technologies used to push or pull electric power in a manner that 11
27		-	balances electric lines that are either exceeding capacity or are 12
28		-	underutilized within the distribution or transmission system; 13
29		-	(3) "Dynamic line rating" means any hardware or software 14
30		-	technologies used to update the calculated thermal limits of existing 15
31		-	distribution or transmission lines in the state based on real-time and 16
32		-	forecasted weather conditions; 17 Substitute Bill No. 7017
	24	+	Section 1. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a task force 1
	25	+	to study transmission infrastructure in the state and the potential use of 2
	26	+	grid-enhancing technologies, including, but not limited to, dynamic line 3
	27	+	rating, advanced power flow control and topology optimization. 4
	28	+	(b) The task force shall consist of the following members: 5
	29	+	(1) One appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, 6
	30	+	who shall have expertise concerning currently existing electric 7
	31	+	transmission infrastructure in the state; 8
	32	+	(2) One appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, who 9
	33	+	shall have expertise in renewable energy; 10
	34	+	(3) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of 11
	35	+	Representatives, who shall have expertise in grid -enhancing 12
	36	+	technologies; 13
	37	+	Raised Bill No. 7017
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34	39
35		-	LCO 2 of 6
36	40
37		-	(4) "Electric distribution company" has the same meaning as 18
38		-	provided in section 16-1 of the general statutes; 19
39		-	(5) "Grid-enhancing technology" means any hardware or software 20
40		-	technology that increases the capacity of, or enables enhanced or more 21
41		-	efficient performance from, the electric distribution or transmission 22
42		-	system in the state, including, but not limited to, dynamic line rating, 23
43		-	advanced power flow control, topology optimization and energy 24
44		-	storage when used as a distribution or transmission resource; 25
45		-	(6) "Incumbent transmission owner" means any person or entity that 26
46		-	owns, operates and maintains an electric transmission facility in the 27
47		-	state and that is not an electric distribution company; 28
48		-	(7) "Materially modify" means any construction activity relating to a 29
49		-	facility described in subdivision (1) or (4) of subsection (a) of section 16-30
50		-	50i of the general statutes with an estimated cost of not less than five 31
51		-	million dollars; 32
52		-	(8) "Nontransmission alternative" means an electric grid investment 33
53		-	or project that uses nontraditional transmission and distribution 34
54		-	solutions, including, but not limited to, distributed generation, energy 35
55		-	storage, energy efficiency demand response and grid software and 36
56		-	controls, to defer or replace the need for specific equipment upgrades, 37
57		-	such as transmission and distribution lines or transformers, by reducing 38
58		-	electric load at a substation or circuit level; and 39
59		-	(9) "Topology optimization" means any hardware or software 40
60		-	technology that identifies reconfigurations of the distribution or 41
61		-	transmission grid in the state to enable the routing of power flows 42
62		-	around congested or overloaded elements of the electric grid. 43
63		-	(b) (1) Any electric distribution company or incumbent transmission 44
64		-	owner that seeks to construct or materially modify any facility described 45
65		-	in subdivision (1) or (4) of subsection (a) of section 16-50i of the general 46
66		-	statutes, except where such proposed construction or modification is the 47
67		-	result of a transmission planning process administered by the regional 48 Substitute Bill No. 7017
	41	+	LCO No. 4937 2 of 3
	42	+
	43	+	(4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who shall 14
	44	+	have expertise in the regional transmission system; 15
	45	+	(5) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of 16
	46	+	Representatives, who shall have expertise concerning technologies that 17
	47	+	are currently used in the state's transmission system; 18
	48	+	(6) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who shall 19
	49	+	have expertise concerning the environmental impact of updating or 20
	50	+	replacing electric transmission infrastructure; 21
	51	+	(7) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, or 22
	52	+	the commissioner's designee; 23
	53	+	(8) The chairperson of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, or 24
	54	+	the chairperson's designee; 25
	55	+	(9) A representative from an electric distribution company that has a 26
	56	+	service area of eighteen or more cities and towns, who shall be 27
	57	+	appointed by the chairpersons of the joint standing committee of the 28
	58	+	General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to energy and 29
	59	+	technology; and 30
	60	+	(10) A representative from an electric distribution company that has 31
	61	+	a service area of not more than seventeen cities and towns, who shall be 32
	62	+	appointed by the ranking members of the joint standing committee of 33
	63	+	the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to energy 34
	64	+	and technology. 35
	65	+	(c) All initial appointments to the task force shall be made not later 36
	66	+	than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall 37
	67	+	be filled by the appointing authority. 38
	68	+	(d) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president 39
	69	+	pro tempore of the Senate shall select the chairpersons of the task force 40
	70	+	from among the members of the task force. Such chairpersons shall 41
	71	+	schedule the first meeting of the task force, which shall be held not later 42
	72	+	Raised Bill No. 7017
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70		-	LCO 3 of 6
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72		-	independent system operator, as defined in section 16-1 of the general 49
73		-	statutes, shall design at least (A) one project alternative to such 50
74		-	construction or modification that utilizes advanced conductors to 51
75		-	benefit electric ratepayers, mitigate environmental concerns and 52
76		-	promote electric grid efficiency, through cost savings to such ratepayers, 53
77		-	increased efficiency and the mitigation of long-term risk to human life, 54
78		-	infrastructure and property resulting from wildfires, and (B) one such 55
79		-	project alternative utilizing grid-enhancing technology or 56
80		-	nontransmission alternative technology, applicable in whole or in part, 57
81		-	to such construction or material modification. 58
82		-	(2) Such company or owner shall submit each project alternative 59
83		-	required under subdivision (1) of this subsection with any application 60
84		-	submitted by such company or owner to the Connecticut Siting Council 61
85		-	concerning such construction or material modification. If any such 62
86		-	project alternative is not preferred by such company or owner, such 63
87		-	company or owner shall provide a detailed, written explanation 64
88		-	comparing the cost-effectiveness and appropriateness of the project 65
89		-	alternative with such project preferred by such company or owner and 66
90		-	submit such explanation with such application. 67
91		-	(3) If any project alternative submitted pursuant to this subsection 68
92		-	proposes to utilize any grid-enhancing technology or nontransmission 69
93		-	alternative, and such project alternative is not less cost effective than the 70
94		-	project preferred by such company or owner, the Connecticut Siting 71
95		-	Council shall give preference to such project alternative in rendering a 72
96		-	decision concerning such application. 73
97		-	(c) Beginning January 15, 2026, and annually thereafter, each electric 74
98		-	distribution company and incumbent transmission owner shall file with 75
99		-	the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (1) a schedule of any planned 76
100		-	construction or material modification of any facility described in 77
101		-	subdivision (1) or (4) of subsection (a) of section 16-50i of the general 78
102		-	statutes for the next five years, including cost estimates and project 79
103		-	details, (2) a plain-language description of each such planned 80
104		-	construction or material modification not exceeding two written pages, 81 Substitute Bill No. 7017
	76	+	LCO No. 4937 3 of 3
105	77
106		-
107		-	LCO 4 of 6
108		-
109		-	and (3) data concerning any construction or material modification of any 82
110		-	facility described in subdivision (1) or (4) of subsection (a) of section 16-83
111		-	50i of the general statutes completed by such company or owner on or 84
112		-	after January 1, 2020, including estimated costs during planning and 85
113		-	final costs for such projects. 86
114		-	(d) (1) Not more than one hundred eighty days after any filing 87
115		-	required pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, the commissioner, in 88
116		-	consultation with the Consumer Counsel, shall determine whether any 89
117		-	facility listed for construction or material modification requires further 90
118		-	evaluation, considering factors including, but not limited to, (A) project 91
119		-	justification, scope and cost-effectiveness, (B) transmission planning, (C) 92
120		-	environmental impacts, (D) infrastructure necessity, and (E) the 93
121		-	feasibility of alternative solutions, including any nontransmission 94
122		-	alternative. 95
123		-	(2) If any evaluation under this subsection identifies a feasible 96
124		-	nontransmission alternative, the commissioner may initiate a 97
125		-	procurement process to seek proposals to implement any such 98
126		-	alternative. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall review and 99
127		-	approve any agreement concerning the implementation of any such 100
128		-	alternative if the authority determines such alternative (A) ensures 101
129		-	reliability, (B) is cost effective, and (C) is technically feasible. 102
130		-	(3) In conducting an evaluation pursuant to this subsection, the 103
131		-	commissioner and the Consumer Counsel may hire consultants to assist 104
132		-	with such evaluation. Costs incurred by the commissioner or the 105
133		-	Consumer Counsel for the service of any such consultant may be 106
134		-	recovered through the nonbypassable, federally mandated congestion 107
135		-	charge. 108
136		-	(4) Each electric distribution company or incumbent transmission 109
137		-	owner shall provide data and information requested by the 110
138		-	commissioner or the Consumer Counsel in connection with any 111
139		-	evaluation pursuant to this subsection. 112
140		-	(e) Beginning on January 1, 2027, and every five years thereafter, each 113 Substitute Bill No. 7017
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142		-
143		-	LCO 5 of 6
144		-
145		-	electric distribution company and incumbent transmission owner shall 114
146		-	file a report concerning their compliance with the provisions of this 115
147		-	section with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. The authority 116
148		-	shall transmit a copy of each such report to the regional independent 117
149		-	system operator, as defined in section 16-1 of the general statutes, and, 118
150		-	in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 119
151		-	the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 120
152		-	cognizance of matters relating to energy and technology. 121
153		-	Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) In any base rate or capital 122
154		-	improvement proceeding before the Public Utilities Regulatory 123
155		-	Authority, an electric distribution company shall submit a report to the 124
156		-	authority that analyzes the cost-effectiveness of, and projected 125
157		-	timetables for, deploying grid-enhancing technologies, advanced 126
158		-	conductors or energy storage relevant to such company's operations. 127
159		-	Such report may include, but need not be limited to, proposed 128
160		-	performance incentive mechanisms for the cost-effective deployment of 129
161		-	such technologies, conductors or storage. The authority may approve 130
162		-	the deployment of such technologies, conductors or storage, with or 131
163		-	without performance incentive mechanisms, if the authority deems such 132
164		-	technologies, conductors or storage are cost effective. 133
165		-	Sec. 3. Subsection (c) of section 16-18a of the general statutes is 134
166		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 135
167		-	1, 2025): 136
168		-	(c) The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, [in 137
169		-	consultation with] the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority and the 138
170		-	Office of Consumer Counsel [,] may retain consultants to assist [its] the 139
171		-	staff of the department, authority or office by providing expertise in 140
172		-	areas in which staff expertise does not currently exist or to supplement 141
173		-	staff expertise for any proceeding before or in any negotiation with the 142
174		-	Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the United States Department 143
175		-	of Energy, the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the 144
176		-	United States Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Trade 145
177		-	Commission, the Federal Communications Commission or the United 146 Substitute Bill No. 7017
178		-
179		-
180		-	LCO 6 of 6
181		-
182		-	States Department of Justice. [The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, 147
183		-	in consultation with the Office of Consumer Counsel, may retain 148
184		-	consultants to assist its staff by providing expertise in areas in which 149
185		-	staff expertise does not currently exist or to supplement staff expertise 150
186		-	for any proceeding before or in any negotiation with the Federal 151
187		-	Communications Commission.] All reasonable and proper expenses of 152
188		-	any such consultants shall be borne by the public service companies, 153
189		-	certified telecommunications providers, holders of a certificate of video 154
190		-	franchise authority, electric suppliers or gas registrants affected by the 155
191		-	decisions of such proceeding and shall be paid at such times and in such 156
192		-	manner as the authority directs, provided such expenses (1) shall be 157
193		-	apportioned in proportion to the revenues of each affected entity as 158
194		-	reported to the authority pursuant to section 16-49 for the most recent 159
195		-	fiscal year, and (2) shall not exceed two and one-half million dollars per 160
196		-	calendar year, including any appeals thereof, unless the authority finds 161
197		-	good cause for exceeding the limit. The authority shall recognize all such 162
198		-	expenses as proper business expenses of the affected entities for 163
199		-	ratemaking purposes pursuant to section 16-19e, if applicable. 164
	78	+	than sixty days after the effective date of this section. 43
	79	+	(e) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the 44
	80	+	General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to energy and 45
	81	+	technology shall serve as administrative staff of the task force. 46
	82	+	(f) Not later than February 1, 2026, the task force shall submit a report 47
	83	+	on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of 48
	84	+	the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to energy 49
	85	+	and technology, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the 50
	86	+	general statutes. The task force shall terminate on the date that it 51
	87	+	submits such report or February 1, 2026, whichever is later. 52
200	88		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
201	89		sections:
202	90
203		-	Section 1 October 1, 2025 New section
204		-	Sec. 2 October 1, 2025 New section
205		-	Sec. 3 October 1, 2025 16-18a(c)
	91	+	Section 1 from passage New section
206	92
207		-	Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
208		-	Section 1(a)(1) was rewritten for clarity.
	93	+	Statement of Purpose:
	94	+	To create a task force to study transmission and grid-enhancing
	95	+	technologies.
209	96
210		-	ET Joint Favorable Subst.
	97	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	98	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	99	+	underlined.]
211	100