Yesterday, former Pennsylvania Public Utility Commissioner (PaPUC), Robert F. Powelson, was officially sworn in as a Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner, ending a six month drought in which the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) did not have a quorum. The FERC is responsible for permitting decisions on energy projects such as natural gas pipelines. The lack
Transmission
New Report: Enhancing the Resilience of the Nation’s Electricity System
The Board on Energy and Environmental Systems (BEES) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine provides independent advice to the United States government and the private sector on science and technology policy issues related to energy and the environment. Given the importance of electricity to our nation’s health, safety, and economy, BEES has…
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…
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…
Mississippi PSC Denies Entergy/ITC’s Transmission Transfer Request
Entergy’s strategy related to its integration into MISO received another high hurdle this week. The Mississippi Public Service Commission (“MPSC”) denied the Joint Application to transfer ownership and control of Entergy Mississippi’s high voltage transmission system to a subsidiary of ITC Holding Corporation. In its joint application, Entergy and ITC provide several reasons for the…
MISO, Entergy, SPP and the Battle Over Transmission Lines — U.S. Court of Appeals Remands Back to FERC
In 2011, Entergy announced it would be joining the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (“MISO”). Entergy’s transmission lines are currently connected to both MISO and Southwest Power Pool’s (“SPP”) networks. In order to fully absorb Entergy’s electricity — which is based in Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas — MISO proposed transferring some of the electricity over…
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…