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Eversource, UI generally support PURA's performance-based proposal but flag equity, grid-edge and implementation issues
Summary
The two Connecticut utilities told PURA they broadly back moving to a more performance-weighted incentive structure but recommended limiting enrollment incentives to residential and priority commercial customers, supported a three-month grace period for projects, and flagged grid-edge adder, telemetry, and project-maturity documentation concerns.
Connecticut's two electric distribution companies, Eversource and United Illuminating, told the PURA technical meeting they support transitioning the ESS program to stronger performance incentives and a smaller enrollment payment while flagging design and operational concerns, including how to preserve equity objectives and how to reduce project attrition.
Why it matters: The utilities implement and bill the program and raised operational and equity questions that would affect how funds are allocated and how projects proceed through interconnection and DERMS integration.
UI and Eversource said they concur with PURA's proposed levelized performance payments and the authority's intent to simplify the customer offering, but urged targeted adjustments. "We agree with and support the authority's performance incentive and structure as compared to the existing programmatic design," Logan Terakani, customer programs and products manager for UI, said. UI asked PURA to consider removing or reallocating the grid-edge adder within UI territory, citing a decline in the number of identified grid-edge circuits after recent updates to the affected-circuits list.
Both utilities backed limiting enrollment incentives to residential customers and to priority commercial/non-residential projects and recommended a three-month grace period to allow developers with near-term projects to choose between the existing and proposed structures. Eversource said it supports streamlining the program manual to reduce multiple, duplicative terms-and-conditions documents across OEMs and DERMS providers.
On project maturity and attrition, the EDCs urged additional documentation at application (executed interconnection agreements, proof of site control or financing approval) to reduce attrition among large commercial projects. They noted a gap between approved megawatts (~148.88 MW as of June 30, 2025) and completed projects (around 5.63 MW operational) and urged more aggressive project-management and documentation to keep large projects moving.
The utilities also described the differing telemetry arrangements with DERMS providers (Uplight API vs EnergyHub monthly CSV) and said they are open to improving data sharing timelines but cautioned against excessive costs. Eversource said it would need to evaluate billing and administrative impacts if the Green Bank were to refund previously paid incentives through a rate adjustment mechanism.
Ending note: Eversource and UI told PURA they support the authority's objectives but asked for clarifying guidance on the grid-edge adder, documentation requirements for CNI projects, telemetry improvements and transition timing to limit market disruption and reduce project attrition.
