It’s a great day for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and supporters of demand response. Today, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION v. ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY ASSOCIATION ET AL., upholding the FERC’s authority to regulate wholesale demand response as well as FERCs method of compensating demand response
Regulatory Concerns
White House Releases Quadrennial Energy Review
Vice President Joe Biden recently spoke in Philadelphia to announce the release of the Quadrennial Energy Review (QER). According to a White House fact sheet, “the QER is envisioned as a focused, actionable document designed to provide policymakers, industry, investors, and other stakeholders with unbiased data and analysis on energy challenges, needs, requirements, and…
Ever Wondered … What’s Uplift?
Before the chill of last winter’s polar vortex, many in the industry may not have even heard the term uplift payments. If you are still wondering exactly how it works, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) has a docket and workshop for you (Docket No. AD14-14-000). At this docket you will find an educational staff…
Blurred Lines: States, FERC and Regulatory Uncertainty
On June 30, 2014, the Supreme Court declined to hear Kansas City Power & Light Co.’s appeal of a lower court’s affirmation of the Missouri Public Service Commission order denying the utility the right to recover FERC-approved transmission costs, estimated at $100 million. The costs are for delivering power 500 miles from a natural gas…
Massachusetts DPU Says Time of Use Pricing Will Be the Default for All Customers
In a recent order, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (“Department” or “DPU”) stated that time varying rates are an essential component of grid modernization. As a result, the design of basic service must change to incorporate time of use (“TOU”) rates for all customers, including residential customers. The Department noted that in 2013, the…
EPA Issues Clean Power Plan
This month the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) released its Clean Power Plan proposal. The Plan cuts carbon pollution from existing power plants, which according to the EPA is the single largest source of carbon pollution in the United States. The Agency says the proposal will protect public health, move the United States toward a cleaner…
New York PSC Petitions U.S. Court of Appeals Over FERC’s New Capacity Zone
The New York State Public Service Commission (“PSC” or “Commission”) recently petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to force the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) to respond to the PSC’s pending requests for rehearing of FERC’s decisions to create a new capacity zone (“NCZ”) in the lower Hudson Valley. The PSC…
FERC Orders Reliability Standards for Physical Security of the Grid
Because the grid is so critical to all aspects of our society and economy, protecting its reliability and resilience is a core responsibility of everyone who works in the electric industry.
– Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) Acting Chairman Cheryl LaFleur
This month, FERC directed the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (“NERC”) to develop Reliability…
FERC’s Order 787 Promotes Reliability and Information Sharing
Last week the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) issued a final rule allowing interstate natural gas pipelines and electric transmission operators to share non-public operational information to promote the reliability and integrity of their systems. After extensive technical conferences with stakeholders from both the electric and gas industries, Order No. 787 adopts the revisions to…
FERC Will Hold Technical Conference on Capacity Markets
Ever wanted to gain a better understanding of capacity markets? The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or “Commission”) will provide the perfect opportunity. On September 25, 2013, the Commission’s staff will hold a technical conference to consider how current centralized capacity market rules and structures in the regions served by ISO New England Inc. (ISO-NE), New…