On January 30, 2012, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or the “Commission”) conditionally approved a series of changes to the California Independent System Operator Corporation’s (“CAISO”) generator interconnection procedures (“GIP Phase 2”).

On January 30, 2012, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (“FERC or Commission”) staff issued a white paper for comment regarding how the Commission should advise the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) on requests for extensions to comply with the Mercury and Air Toxic Standards (“MATS”) rule. 

On February 3, 2012, FERC interpreted a key reliability standard to clarify what types of relay and communication equipment should be subject to internal testing and audit procedures. FERC directed NERC to do further work regarding the inclusion of the certain reclosing relays and DC control circuitry in maintenance, testing, and internal audit programs.

On January 25, 2012, the California Independent System Operator Corporation (“California ISO”) filed a petition with FERC to waive section 43.2.6(3) of their tariff to permit the CAISO to issue a Capacity Procurement Mechanism (“CPM”) designation related to a Calpine Corporation (“Calpine”)  facility.  California ISO seeks to prevent the May 2012 retirement of Calpine’s Sutter Energy Center (“Sutter”), an air-cooled, combined cycle, 525 MW facility.

On January 30, 2012, FERC staff issued a notice of alleged violations against Constellation Energy Commodities Group, Inc. (“CCG”).  FERC staff alleges that CCG violated the Commission’s rules against market manipulation and the Commission’s market behavior rules governing communication.

On January 30, 2012, the WER reported that North Dakota Public Service Commission Chairman, Tony Clark, is also currently serving as of the Chairman for the North Dakota Republican Party.  However, Chairman Clark resigned as Chairman for the state Republican Party in November 2010 prior to being elected to lead…