CT Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative CMEEC

MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE LEGISLATIVE AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE OF THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OF CONNECTICUT MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC ENERGY COOPERATIVE AND CONNECTICUT TRANSMISSION MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC ENERGY COOPERATIVE November 10, 2020 A Special Meeting of the Joint Legislative and Governmental Affairs Committee of the Boards of Directors of Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative (“CMEEC”) and Connecticut Transmission Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative was held via Zoom and telephonically on Tuesday, November 10, 2020. The meeting was legally noticed in compliance with Connecticut General Statutes and all proceedings and all actions hereunder recorded occurred during the publicly open portions of the meeting. The following Committee Members participated telephonically or via Zoom: Groton Utilities: Keith Hedrick Jewett City Department of Public Utilities: Louis Demicco South Norwalk Electric & Water: David Westmoreland The following Non-Committee Members participated telephonically or via Zoom: Groton Utilities: Ronald Gaudet Groton Municipal Representative: Mark Oefinger South Norwalk Electric & Water: Alan Huth The following CMEEC Staff participated telephonically or via Zoom: Dave Meisinger, CMEEC CEO Robin Kipnis, Esquire, CMEEC General Counsel Scott Whittier, CMEEC Director of Enabling Services Margaret Job, CMEEC Executive Assistant / Paralegal Other Participants: Timothy Shea, CMEEC Registered Lobbyist, Brown Rudnick David Silverstone, Esquire, Municipal Electric Consumer Advocate Ms. Job recorded. Committee Chair Louis Demicco called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. He explained that today’s meeting is being held via Zoom and telephonically. He explained that all participants’ devices should remain on mute unless speaking to eliminate confusion and background noise. He requested that those speaking state their name before speaking for clarity of the record. Specific Action Items A Public Comment Period No public comment was made. B Roll Call Ms. Job conducted roll call with each participant responding individually as their names were called. Committee Chair Demicco confirmed a quorum was present. C Approve Minutes of the March 12, 2020 Regular Meeting of the Joint Legislative and Governmental Affairs Committee A motion was made by Committee Member Keith Hedrick, seconded by Committee Member David Westmoreland to Approve the Minutes of the March 12, 2020 Regular Meeting of the Joint Legislative and Governmental Affairs Committee. Motion passed unanimously. D Committee Self-Evaluation Checklist Mr. Whittier explained that this Committee was provided the Committee Self-Evaluation Checklist with a date for completion of Friday, November 13, 2020. He stated that he has received two completed Checklists and encouraged the remaining members of the Committee to return their completed Checklist to him by the due date. E 2021 State Legislative Session Update: Timothy Shea, Brown Rudnick Mr. Shea provided the Committee with an overview of the results of the recent election and its effect on the Connecticut Senate and House. He noted that both the Senate and House realized an increased Democratic majority resulting from the election. He continued to provide insight as to newly elected officials as well as incumbents including information on which Legislative Committees and in what capacity each will be participating. Mr. Shea discussed possible topics to be addressed by the Energy & Technology Committee and their possible impacts on municipal electric utilities. He highlighted recent oversight responsibilities provided to PURA in connection with the Take Back the  Grid Act. He added that PURA will be reviewing Community Choice Aggregation stating that its report is due in July and that this will be a topic that will be monitored. Mr. Shea added that the 2021 Legislative Session begins in January and that it will likely be conducted virtually due to the predicted spike in Covid-19 cases in the State. In response to an inquiry by Ms. Kipnis, Mr. Shea confirmed that working groups focusing on climate change have been formed adding that CMEEC can get involved in the discussion stating that this topic should be discussed at the next legislative session. F Discussion of CMEEC Possible 2021 Legislative Agenda Topics Ms. Kipnis led discussion on the creation of viable agenda topics for this Committee to address in 2021. The discussion began with Ms. Kipnis suggesting that CMEEC take advantage of some of the positive press that the Municipal Electric Utilities had received in their response to the recent storm outages resulting from Storm Isais. Mr. Meisinger opined that decarbonization and renewables are at the forefront of discussion at the legislative level. Mr. Shea suggested that CMEEC determine its appetite to add its voice in the creation of renewables bills and whether it would have an option to draft language advocating for CMEEC’s involvement without creating a mandate. Further discussion followed in connection with the Community Choice Aggregation initiative. Ms. Kipnis suggested that this Committee address the removal of the Freedom of Information Act’s (FOIA) five day posting requirement of CMEEC Agendas and Minutes. Discussion followed in connection with how to make such a change. Ms. Kipnis noted that rather than write a bill, CMEEC could add language to an existing bill being presented now or in the future. Mr. Meisinger questioned the Legislature’s stance on the legalization of cannabis, stating this type of manufacturing can require high energy use which could impact municipal electric utilities if any facilities were to locate within their service territory. Mr. Shea explained that the Governor is a proponent of this legislation and it will be on the 2021 docket. G Regulatory Update Ms. Kipnis provided a high-level review of recent regulatory activity. She explained that CMEEC joined with New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) and Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC) in opposing a filing made by ISO- New England (ISO-NE) for its Energy Security Improvements (“ESI”) proposal. Ms. Kipnis explained that FERC has denied the filing saying that it would impose substantial costs without providing meaningful improvements to the region’s grid resilience. She added that MMWEC and NHEC joined CMEEC in opposing it with Brian Forshaw of Energy Market Advisors providing testimony. She added that in its denial of the ISO-NE  filing, FERC quoted Mr. Forshaw’s testimony. She further added that ISO-NE is looking at transitioning to future grid to better align the ISO-NE markets with state renewable energy goals. ISO-NE is doing a series of studies to understand how it can incorporate renewables into their planning. She added that CMEEC will monitor this closely. Discussion followed in connection of the perceived cost impact of renewable energy. Ms. Kipnis added that PURA continues to investigate United Illuminating and Eversource in their response to Storm Isais. She explained that information and data are being gathered by issuing interrogatories to each and motions are being filed. She further explained that PURA held three public hearings on the impact of the delayed response and that Norwich Public Utilities was asked to provide testimony on their successes related to its preparedness and response to the storm. There being no further business to come before this Committee, Committee Chair Demicco entertained a motion to adjourn. A motion was made by Committee Chair Demicco, seconded by Committee Member Hedrick to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 1:55 p.m.