Northeast Utilities to Help Conn. on Renewable Policy Goals, Electric Vehicles Under Merger Settlement

Northeast Utilities, Nstar, the Connecticut Attorney General, and Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel have filed a settlement under which the OCC and AG will support the companies' merger before PURA.

Of note to the competitive market, the settlement provides that Northeast Utilities shall work with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (under which PURA is housed) to develop a targeted plan to advance Connecticut's interests in the areas of, among other things, "renewable projects [and] other related areas consistent with the Governor's energy policy goals."

Electric vehicles and energy efficiency are also included in this targeted plan.

Northeast Utilities shall provide a one-time, nonrecurring and non-recoverable payment of $15 million for implementation of the targeted plan, to be disbursed at the direction of DEEP for projects in the plan.

The settlement did not enumerate any specific policy goals to be implemented (e.g. long-term contracts, new renewable generation, rate stability, etc.).

Additionally, Connecticut Light & Power will collaborate with DEEP to develop microgrid infrastructure in the CL&P service territory, including the trips and transfers necessary to isolate portions of the grid and a pilot set of distributed generation sites.

"CL&P will work cooperatively and in good faith with DEEP to resolve any legal or financial issues that may arise in fostering the development of micro grids in support of state resiliency efforts ... CL&P also will collaborate with DEEP to invest in the development and deployment of an initial suite of public electric vehicle charging stations," the settlement provides.

The settling parties agree that CL&P and Yankee Gas shall bear none of the costs associated with commitments made by the merging companies or their Massachusetts operating companies with respect to the Cape Wind project or other Massachusetts initiatives in settlement agreements filed in Massachusetts related to the merger, and no such costs shall be recovered from CL&P or Yankee Gas customers.