New England governors urge ISO-NE to focus on affordablility
Vermont Business Magazine Connecticut Governor Dannell Malloy, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo, and Vermont Governor Phil Scott today issued the following statement related to ISO New England and affordable electricity. ISO-NE is charged with maintaining electric supply and reliability in New England. New England, as a region, has the highest electric rates in the nation (though not the highest electric bills, largely because of efficiency). Maine Governor Governor Paul LePage did not sign the statement.
Maine (16.27 cents per kilowatt house) has the lowest electric rates in New England. Vermont (18.35 cents/kwh) is second lowest, with Massachusetts (21.69 cents/kwh) highest. Vermont, while having the ninth highest residential rates, has the ninth lowest bills ($87.1/month). Maine has the 10th highest rates, but the fourth lowest bills ($76.8/month). New Hampshire has the sixth highest rates and the 30th lowest bills ($103.1/month). Some states, like Washington, have low rates and low bills and others, like Hawaii, have high rates and high bills, while others, like Texas, have the opposite of Vermont, with low rates and high bills. The US averages are 13.15 cents/kwh and $108.6/month (See table below).
“Affordable and reliable energy is a fundamental precursor for a vibrant and competitive New England economy. New England states have to be competitive to attract and retain businesses and residents. Efforts must be made to keep electric rates as affordable as possible. Increasingly, cleaner sources of energy have also become important to our energy system, regional economy, and shared environment. It is vital that our pursuit of a reliable and lower-carbon grid leverage available technologies and competitive markets to foster affordable electric rates for all consumers, particularly the most vulnerable among us.
“Energy policies implemented at the state level strive to balance affordability, reliability, and sustainability. While these policies can have some impact on prices paid for by retail consumers, there are costs largely outside of state control – including wholesale electricity markets and transmission costs – which can represent half the cost of consumer electricity bills. These cost drivers are regulated in Washington, D.C. by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and are highly correlated with the planning assumptions and operational actions taken by ISO New England (ISO-NE), the entity that manages the region’s electric grid and underlying wholesale energy markets.
“As a general matter, ISO-NE’s mission is to ensure regional electric power system reliability and implement efficient wholesale markets. While ISO-NE’s mission statement requires that ISO-NE ‘strive to perform all its functions and services in a cost-effective manner,’ the states urge ISO-NE to ensure that affordability and rate impacts be expressly considered and analyzed with respect to proposed market rules and initiatives. Maintaining a safe and reliable energy system – both regionally and locally – is paramount; however, the markets and operational characteristics that underpin a reliable energy system should be tempered with the recognition that New England families and businesses ultimately pay the costs for that system. Any new market actions to support system reliability must have a full accounting of the benefits and costs to regional consumers.
“ISO-NE has identified winter fuel security as the most significant issue facing the region. This issue affects both regional reliability and affordability. The New England states and ISO New England have recognized the challenge of increasing reliance on natural gas-fired generation during cold periods when the region’s natural gas is used primarily for heating. These concerns have been heightened as non-natural gas-fired generation resources, such as nuclear, coal, and oil, have retired in recent years. During recent winters, ISO-NE has been relying on more expensive, carbon-intensive oil-fired units to ensure sufficient generation to meet hour-by-hour demands on our energy system.
“The states are committed to use the tools within their jurisdiction to advance solutions to the winter fuel security issue.
