CT Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative CMEEC

MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE OF THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OF CONNECTICUT MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC ENERGY COOPERTIVE AND CONNECTICUT TRANSMISSION MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC ENERGY COOPERATIVE February 8, 2021 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 Electric Energy Cooperative (“CTMEEC” and “Transco”) was held via Zoom and telephonically on Monday, February 8, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. The meeting was legally noticed in compliance with Connecticut General Statutes and all proceedings and all actions hereafter recorded occurred during the publicly open portions of the meeting. The following Committee Members participated telephonically or via Zoom: Groton Utilities: Keith Hedrick Groton Municipal Representative: Mark Oefinger Jewett City Department of Public Utilities: Louis Demicco Norwich Municipal Representative: David Eggleston South Norwalk Electric & Water: David Westmoreland East Norwalk, Third Taxing District: Michele Sweeney The following non-Voting Members participated telephonically or via Zoom: Bozrah Light & Power: Scott Barber Norwich Public Utilities: Christopher LaRose 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 Others participating telephonically or via Zoom: Brian Forshaw, Energy Market Advisors Timothy Shea, Government Relations, , Brown Rudnick David Silverstone, Esquire, Municipal Electric Consumer Advocate Ms. Job recorded. Chair Louis Demicco called the meeting to order at 1:01 p.m. He explained that today’s meeting is being held via Zoom and telephonically. He asked that all participants’ devices 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 Item 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. Chair Demicco confirmed a quorum was present. C Approve the Minutes of the January 14, 2021 Regular Meeting of the Joint Legislative and Governmental Affairs Committee Chair Demicco entertained a motion to Amend the Minutes of the January 14, 2021 Regular Meeting of the Joint Legislative and Governmental Affairs Committee to reflect an edit to this Committee’s Charter in those Minutes which removes the words “environmentally conscious” and inserts the words “low cost”, so that Minutes correctly reflect the edit to the Charter as: “low cost, environmentally conscious.” A motion was made by Committee Member David Eggleston, seconded by Committee Member Keith Hedrick to Amend the Minutes as reflected above. Motion passed unanimously. Chair Demicco entertained a motion to Approve the Minutes of the January 14, 2021 Regular Meeting of the Joint Legislative and Governmental Affairs Committee, as Amended. A motion was made by Committee Member Eggleston, seconded by Committee Member Hedrick to approve the Minutes of the January 14, 2021 Regular Meeting of the Joint Legislative and Governmental Affairs Committee, as amended.  Motion passed unanimously. D Connecticut General Assembly Update Tim Shea of Brown Rudnick provided an overview of the latest bill tracking sheet to come out of the state legislature this session. He highlighted a combination of bills that CMEEC will be following including bills related to community choice aggregation as well as bills stemming from Storm Isaias. Discussion followed related to Mr. Meisinger’s inquiry regarding the possible introduction of bills implementing the DEEP’s IRP on future bills. E Show of Interest for 2021 APPA Virtual Legislative Rally, March 1 and 2, 2021 and Review of Talking Points Mr. Whittier explained that at its meeting on January 14, 2021, this Committee briefly discussed the 2021 APPA Legislative Rally. He reminded the Committee that the Rally is being held virtually this year on March 1 and 2, 2021. Ms. Kipnis explained that CMEEC staff is working on scheduling meetings with the congressional representatives. She added that participation at meetings is at Board member discretion, but with encouragement to do so (especially because increased Board member advocacy was listed among our goals from last year’s strategic planning initiative). She explained that participants can choose which representative meeting to attend without committing to attending all meetings on both days. Ms. Kipnis agreed to circulate a calendar of meetings to the Board once it has been finalized. Mr. Brian Forshaw, principal of Energy Market Advisors and former employee of CMEEC, walked the Committee through the draft Talking Points provided to this Committee in advance of today’s meeting. He emphasized that the Talking Points do not act as a script to be used during meetings with congressional representatives and/or their staff, but rather as a point of reference to CMEEC to help engage and educate our representatives. He added that meetings with the congressional representatives provides a good opportunity to highlight CMEEC and MEU accomplishments. He highlighted specific topics CMEEC and the MEUs support which include climate goals and decarbonization efforts, as well as continuing to encourage wholesale market reform. Upon Committee Member Oefinger’s inquiry, Mr. Whittier explained that who will act as a lead in our discussions on March 1 and 2 will be determined by who will be participating in the meetings, and then we will meet to discuss particulars related to logistics of the meetings. In response to Committee Member Oefinger’s inquiry whether CMEEC provides any informational material to the congressional representatives or their staff, Mr. Whittier explained that CMEEC develops a draft of topics that will be discussed and provides those to the congressional representatives and their staff. Sometimes in the past, we have also created “leave behind” materials that we provided as additional resources. F DEEP 2020 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP): Review of Proposed Comments Mr. Meisinger provided background on CMEEC’s approach to the Governor’s executive orders on decarbonization and how that approach is expressed in the public stakeholder process. He explained that CMEEC’s response to the DEEP’s 2020 draft Integrated Resource Plan (Draft IRP) is one way for CMEEC to make its position known. He walked the Committee through CMEEC’s comments to the DEEP’s 2020 Draft IRP which were provided to this Committee in advance of today’s meeting. He explained that the Draft IRP sets forth six objectives to which CMEEC has drafted comments. He further explained today’s meeting is to garner this Committee’s reaction to the draft response and define any additional information needed for the final response. He reminded the Committee that the final response is due Monday, February 15, 2021. Upon Chair Demicco’s inquiry, Mr. Meisinger explained that the next steps are to file CMEEC’s final response by 4pm on February 15, 2021. He added that a final draft will be circulated to this Committee and to the full Board later this week for further comment. Extensive discussion followed in connection with the comments section of CMEEC’s response to the Draft IRP. After discussion, the Committee agreed that the order and content of the comments section will be edited as discussed in the meeting. In response to Committee Chair Demicco’s need to leave the meeting, a motion was made by Committee Member Oefinger, seconded by Committee Member David Westmoreland to appoint Committee Member Keith Hedrick Chair Pro Tem to continue the meeting. Motion passed unanimously. G Additional Information on NEPPA Board of Directors’ Position Ms. Kipnis explained that there is an open Board seat on the NEPPA Board of Directors that will be available in June 2021. This seat is currently held by former CMEEC employee Justin Connell. She added there is one year left on the term. In June, NEPPA will vote to fill the seat vacated by Mr. Connell for that one-year term. Board terms usually run for three years. NEPPA Board meetings are held quarterly. Ms. Kipnis explained that, in addition to the Executive Committee, there are six (6) additional Board committees: 1) Advocacy & Reporting Committee; 2) Conference Oversight & Planning Committee (this Committee has three (3) subcommittees: (i) Annual Conference Subcommittee; (ii) E&O Subcommittee; and (iii) Lineworkers Rodeo Subcommittee); 3) Education Development Committee (this Committee has two (2) subcommittees: (i) Customer Service Subcommittee; and (ii) Engineering Subcommittee); 4) Finance Committee; 5) Member Value Committee; and 6) Mutual Aid Committee. The NEPPA Board member is not compensated for participation at meetings  however necessary expenses incurred in attending Board meetings are reimbursed, except expenses in connection with attendance at the NEPPA Annual Meeting. Committee Chair Pro Tem Hedrick requested that a list of the NEPPA Committees be provided to the full Board for consideration. In response to Committee Member Oefinger’s inquiry, Ms. Kipnis explained that NEPPA Board membership is generally comprised of general managers of member utilities however that is not a requirement for membership. She encouraged members to voice their interest in being nominated for the NEPPA Board seat. Discussion followed. H Adjourn There being no further business to come before this Committee, Committee Chair Pro Tem Hedrick entertained a motion to adjourn. A motion was made by Committee Member Westmoreland, seconded by Committee Member Oefinger to adjourn. Motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 2:43 p.m.