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 COOPERATIVE AND CONNECTICUT TRANSMISSION MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC ENERGY COOPERATIVE December 8, 2022 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 (“CTMEEC” dba Transco) was held via Zoom and telephonically on Thursday, December 8, 2022 at 9:00 a.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: Bozrah Light & Power: Scott Barber Groton Utilities: Keith Hedrick Groton Municipal Representative: Mark Oefinger Jewett City Department of Public Utilities: Louis Demicco Jewett City Municipal Representative: George Kennedy Norwich Public Utilities: Chris Riley (non-Board Member Committee Member) South Norwalk Electric and Water: Alan Huth, David Westmoreland Third Taxing District, East Norwalk: Michele Sweeney The following Non-Voting Members participated telephonically or via Zoom: Bozrah Light & Power: William Ballinger The following CMEEC Staff participated telephonically or via Zoom: Dave Meisinger, CMEEC CEO Robin Kipnis, Esquire, CMEEC General Counsel Margaret Job, CMEEC Paralegal and Compliance Specialist Other participated telephonically or via Zoom: Timothy Shea, Brown Rudnick , Director of Government Relations David Silverstone, Esquire, Municipal Electric Consumer Advocate Ms. Job recorded. Committee Chair Louis Demicco called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. He explained that the 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 participants 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. Committee Chair Demicco confirmed a quorum was present. C Approve Minutes of the May 12, 2022 Regular Meeting of the Joint Legislative and Governmental Affairs Committee A motion was made by Committee Member Scott Barber, seconded by Committee Member Mark Oefinger to Approve the Minutes of the May 12, 2022 Regular Meeting of the Joint Legislative and Governmental Affairs Committee. Motion passed unanimously. D Introduction to 2022-2023 Session of the Connecticut General Assembly – Timothy Shea, Director of Government Relations, Brown Rudnick, LLP Timothy Shea, Brown Rudnick, provided an overview of the upcoming 2023 Legislative Session. He stated that the Legislative Session will convene on January 4, 2023 and it is anticipated that participation will return to full in-person session with virtual testimony via Zoom also being implemented for the Public Hearing process. Mr. Shea added that session rules are being developed now which will provide office guidelines for sessions, committee meetings and public hearings. Mr. Shea informed the Committee that the Energy and Technology Committee has a deadline of March 23, 2023 by which it must vote bills out. He added that individual legislators have until the third week of January to raise Proposed Bills and Committees have until the second week of March. Mr. Shea further added that Public Hearings will  be held sometime mid-February through mid-March. He added that he will inform the Committee and CMEEC staff when they will start. Mr. Shea informed the Committee that the Regular Legislative Session will conclude on June 7, 2023. Mr. Shea addressed the make up of the 2023 General Assembly highlighting the high number of first time members. He informed the Committee that Jonathan Steinberg (D- Westport) was elected Chair of the Energy and Technology Committee. Mr. Shea also informed the Committee that Maria Horn (D-Torrington) was elected Chair of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee. He added that Committee assignments have not yet been made. Mr. Shea highlighted major issues the legislature will focus on in 2023 which include the State Budget, Transportation Funding, Healthcare Costs and Spending, Energy Costs and Economic Development / Economic Growth. He provided brief updates on each. Finally, Mr. Shea walked the Committee through issues the Energy and Technology Committee will focus on in 2023 highlighting key issues being Electric Rates, Grid Reliability, DEEP’s Comprehensive Energy Strategy and Broadband Expansion. He noted that DEEP is currently holding Technical Sessions and will be finalizing a draft of the Comprehensive Energy Strategy within the coming months which will focus on Climate and Decarbonization/GHG emissions reduction, Equity, Affordability and Resilience. After discussion, it was determined that Mr. Shea would arrange for a meeting with Mr. Steinberg and that members of this Committee as well as General Managers of the MEUs would be invited to participate in such a meeting. Mr. Meisinger also noted that CMEEC staff would participate in such a meeting. The Committee also agreed that similar meetings with the newly elected Representatives identified earlier in this presentation could be facilitated through Mr. Shea. E Potential Proposed Legislation: Revision to CL&M Provision Ms. Kipnis provided a background on C.G.S. § 7-233y Municipal energy conversation and load management fund. She explained that pursuant to statute, CMEEC is required to collect amounts specified in the statute as accrued by the MEUs and deposit them into the Conservation and Load Management Fund (C&LM Fund). The Committee discussed the scope of that language and the allowable uses of the funds as well as the potential necessity of amending the statutory language. It was determined that the language was sufficiently broad and that a legislative amendment is not needed at this time. F Other Business  APPA Legislative Rally: Monday February 27, 2023 through Wednesday, March 1, 2023: Discuss Participation in Delegate Meetings (likely via Zoom)  Ms. Kipnis explained that CMEEC staff will ask members of this Committee to participate in next year’s Legislative Rally as it has in the past. She added that this Committee will receive information, including talking points, when it is developed to aid in the meetings with the members of Congress and or their staff. She added that meetings will most likely be conducted via Zoom.  CT DEEP’s Comprehensive Energy Strategy – Update Ms. Kipnis reiterated Mr. Shea’s statement that the DEEP is in the midst of its technical meetings on topics that the CES will address. She explained that per statute, the DEEP is required to finalize a CES every four years. Ms. Kipnis added that there will be a sixty (60) day comment period after the draft is finalized to which CMEEC should provide comments. G Adjourn A motion was made by Committee Member Scott Barber, seconded by Committee Member George Kennedy to adjourn. Motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 9:55 a.m.