On October 23, 2009, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or the “Commission) approved an interim Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc. (“Midwest ISO”) Open Access Transmission, Energy and Operating Reserve Markets Tariff (“Tariff”) amendment to revise the method for allocating the cost of network upgrades for generation interconnection projects that meet the Midwest ISO’s regional expansion criteria and benefits standards (“RECB”).  The Tariff will now require that generators pay all interconnection costs to lines smaller than 345 kV and 90 percent of network upgrades for lines that are 345 kV or greater. 

On October 20, 2009, the General Counsel for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or the “Commission”) submitted comments to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) stating that FERC has exclusive jurisdiction over the transmission and sale of electricity in interstate commerce or with regulation of wholesale energy markets. 

On October 22, 2009, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (“PUCT” or “Texas Commission”) asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or the “Commission”) to dismiss an enforcement petition from six wind power developers, stating that the developers mischaracterized the PUCT’s decision not to allow the developers to sell output from their qualifying facilities (“QF”) at avoided cost rates. 

On October 15, 2009, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or “the Commission”) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to revise the criteria and procedures for existing or proposed small power production or cogeneration facilities seeking Qualifying Facility (“QF”) status.  The Commission has also proposed to clarify that eligible solar, wind, waste or geothermal facilities that are QFs will be exempt from certain provisions of the Federal Power Act (“FPA”) and Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005 (“PUHCA 2005”), regardless of size.