FERC Issues Request for Comments Regarding the 2023 New England Winter Gas-Electric Forum

Please comment on whether Everett is needed for the reliable operation of the electric and/or natural gas systems in New England during the upcoming winters and beyond.  As part of these comments, please address the following:

1. Is there sufficient information available to make this assessment?  If not, what additional information would be most useful to determine whether there is a need to retain Everett (e.g., information about the uses of, beneficiaries of, and costs to maintain the Everett facility)?
2. Is LNG from other sources (e.g., Repsol and/or Excelerate) a full substitute for the LNG from Everett?  If not, under what circumstances is it not a full substitute and are there conditions under which electric system and/or gas system operators would be unable to meet electric and/or gas demand or maintain reliable service if Everett retires? 
3. To the extent there is a need for Everett’s continued operation, does that need change over a longer time horizon?  If so, what circumstances drive its need?  
4. What are potential next steps on these issues in both the short-term (winters 2023/2024 and 2024/2025) and beyond (beginning winter 2025/2026)?

Please comment on the assumptions and conclusions of the EPRI study and what next steps should be taken given the study’s results.[1]  As part of these comments, please address the following: 

1. Do these findings provide the information needed to make decisions about winter energy risks in New England?  If not, what additional information is needed?
2. Are additional or continuous studies needed to assess New England electric and gas winter issues?  If so, what analyses are needed and how often should this be conducted?

Please comment on what infrastructure is necessary to support reliable electric and gas system operations in New England.  As part of these comments, please address the following: 

1. Are those infrastructure projects currently being pursued?  If not, why not?
2. What obstacles need to be addressed to allow new infrastructure to be placed timely into operation, and how are those obstacles currently being addressed?
3. What steps, if any, should the Commission, ISO-NE, the New England states, and/or others take to address obstacles under their jurisdiction?

Please comment on what market reforms are necessary to support reliable electric and gas system operations in New England.  As part of these comments, please address the following: 

1. What proposals currently under consideration in the stakeholder process and in the ISO-NE work plan would be most helpful to address New England’s winter electric and gas system challenges? 
   1. Please specify which proposals under consideration are a priority for your organization and explain how, if possible, necessary market changes can be expedited.[1]
   2. At a high level, are there any major concerns with the current proposals under discussion that should be addressed? 
2. Are there additional reforms that are not currently under consideration in the stakeholder process that are necessary for energy resources to enhance fuel procurement strategies?  If so, what other reforms should be considered?  How should these market changes should be prioritized?

In the Closing Roundtable, Commissioners and panelists discussed what was learned through the presentations and panels and considered next steps.

1. Please discuss what next steps, if any, you recommend coming out of the forum.