New England States Committee on Electricity (NESCOE)

Throughout 2023, Nescoe represented the collective views of the New England States, and regularly played an important role in substantive New England regional stakeholder forums. This included Nescoe's regular participation in New England power pool's participants, reliability, transmission, and markets Committee meetings. Nescoe also offered proposals in connection with planning and market rule changes to advance consumer interests and States' shared energy objectives. Additionally, Nescoe participated in iso New England's planning advisory Committee and power supply planning Committee. Nescoe also monitored various working groups. In 2023, Nescoe participated in iso New England forums and federal jurisdictional matters concerning resource adequacy and system planning- related issues with significant implications for New England consumers. In 2023, Nescoe was active in various transmission-related matters. For example, Nescoe filed detailed comments following the federal energy regulatory commission's (ferc) technical conference in connection with its transmission planning and cost management and joint federal-state task force on electric transmission. Additionally, in 2023, Nescoe began discussions with transmission owners and other stakeholders regarding improving the transparency, review, and scrutiny of asset condition projects. These projects represent the largest cost category of transmission projects consumers ultimately pay, and have little to no meaningful regulatory oversight. In 2023, Nescoe was active in ferc's New England gas-electric forum, with Nescoe managers participating in the forum. Nescoe filed comments with ferc that advocated for ferc to lead a process to study and assess the operational interplay between the interstate gas and electric systems and investigate how changes to the electric system are likely to change gas system needs as New England transitions away from its reliance on fossil fuels. Like past years, in 2023, Nescoe dedicated time to ensuring that New England consumer interests were represented in connection with a unique cost-of-service contract for two retiring generating units located just outside of boston. The d.c. Circuit court of appeals acted favorably on every issue on which Nescoe had petitioned the court for review, with millions of dollars in cost implications. Nescoe also participated in a commission-ordered hearing in late 2023, and settlement discussions with all interested parties in early 2023 which resulted in a nescoe-supported ferc approved settlement agreement. Nescoe continued to review and challenge, where necessary, claimed costs in 2023 for that period of the contract term.