To: NEPOOL, New England Gas-Electric Focus Group
From: NESCOE
Date: May 15, 2014
Subject: Follow-up to Input Opportunity of Governors’ Infrastructure Initiative
On April 30, 2014, the six New England states, through NESCOE, invited comments from interested stakeholders in NEPOOL and the Gas-Electric Focus Group on an incremental gas pipeline development concept under consideration by the states, the Incremental Gas for Electric Reliability (IGER). 1 That request also sought input relative to:
- a proposal from several electric distribution companies;
- any alternative structures to accomplish the Governors’ objectives; and
- market adjustments that, going forward, will eliminate the need for the states to act to ensure that the region has adequate energy infrastructure to serve consumers reliably and at a cost that does not leave the region at the economic competitive disadvantage that exists today.
Four entities have provided responses to date. 2 Consistent with the states’ targeted June timeframe for advancing a proposal in the NEPOOL process, additional interested parties should provide comments no later than May 30, 2014. As previously stated, comments should be sent to RegionalInfrastructure@nescoe.com. NESCOE will post all comments received at www.nescoe.com as well as on the Gas-Electric Focus Group information exchange consistent with prior practice.
Based on feedback and consideration to date, and subject to review of further comments and/or alternative mechanisms, NESCOE intends in early June to request expressions of interest and detailed information from entities interested in serving as the Contracting Entity under the IGER framework. The states intend this more detailed request to further inform the states’ preferred approach and, ultimately, a filing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
1 See http://www.nescoe.com/uploads/LettertoNEPOOL_GasElectric_30April2014.pdf and a related graphic at http://www.nescoe.com/uploads/GasforElectricReliabilityGraphic_April2014.pdf.
2 These responses are posted at www.nescoe.com.