Eversource, UI fined over renewable energy efforts

State utility regulators have fined the state’s two largest electric distribution companies $10,000 each for not making significant progress in developing pricing and billing mechanisms necessary for the implementation of shared renewable energy programs.

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority levied the fines in a ruling issued late Friday. PURA’s commissioners in late February had threatened the utilities with fines. Jeff Gaudiosi, PURA’s executive secretary, said in a letter to representatives for the two utilities that information regulators had received from the two companies on July 1 was “insufficient and short of the Authority’s standards.”

The companies “had been warned that if such circumstances occurred again they would be fined,” Gaudiosi said as part of his letter.

One of the areas in which PURA officials found Eversource’s and UI’s filings insufficent was in detailing how the utilities would work with community action agencies to recruit participants for shared solar as well as the type of relationships and coordination they would have with solar developers, according to Gaudiosi’s letter.

Eversource spokesman Mitch Gross said company officials “strongly support Connecticut’s commitment to renewable energy and we look forward to continue working with PURA and other stakeholders on the implementation of this important program.”

“We are presently evaluating whether a hearing will be requested,” Gross said, referring to whether Eversource officials would seek a meeting with PURA members to discuss the ruling.

UI spokesman Ed Crowder said company officials “remain fully committed to this program and its clean energy goals, and we will continue to work with PURA to resolve technical issues.”

“We expect to be ready to procure power under the program this year,” Crowder said.

State officials have been discussing shared renewable energy programs, especially those involving solar energy, since 2014. Shared solar energy programs, for example, involve setting up photovoltaic panels in a remote location and distributing the electricity that is generated to members who sign up for the service.

The program at the center of PURA’s frustration with the utilities involves setting up shared renewable energy projects across the state that would produce up to 25 megawatts of electricity for a period of six years.

Mike Trahan, executive director of the trade group Solar Connecticut, said PURA’s findings, combined with the fines, show state regulators are serious about making broad-based shared solar a reality sooner rather than later.

“It’s a message there is a new team at PURA and they have new expectations,” Trehan said, referring to the agency’s chairwoman, Marissa Paslick Gillett, who began her new job in April 2019. The lower-level staff at PURA, he said, has seen some changes since Gov. Ned Lamont took office at the start of last year.

“It’s not as if this is uncharted territory,” Trahan said of shared solar. “There are already 15 states that have some form of this in place.”

Contributed photo A joint solar field in Middletown, shared by Wilton and Weston.