On June 3, 2011, FERC issued an order (the “Order”) accepting and suspending PJM Interconnection L.L.C.’s (“PJM”) proposed revisions to its Open Access Transmission Tariff (“OATT”) and Reliability Assurance Agreement Among Load Serving Entities in the PJM Region (“Reliability Assurance Agreement”). In its Order, the Commission accepted and suspended PJM’s proposed changes for a five month period, to be effective November 7, 2011, subject to refund, and to the outcome of a technical conference and a further order of the Commission.
FERC News
MISO Begins Offering Dispatchable Intermittent Resources to Wind Generators
By Troutman Pepper Locke on
Posted in Uncategorized
On June 1, 2011 the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc.’s (“Midwest ISO” or “MISO”) announced that dispatchable intermittent resources (“DIRs”) are fully available in the real-time energy market. This change means wind resources are now able to participate in the real-time market like other generators.
FERC Experiences Power Outage
By Troutman Pepper Locke on
Posted in Uncategorized
On Tuesday, May 31, 2011, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or the “Commission”) headquarters in Washington DC experienced an outage after a reported failure of two underground transmission cables. FERC’s systems, including online services, were shut down, and personnel were placed on administrative leave.
FERC Relies on Federal “Catchall” Statute of Limitations to Dismiss Case
By Troutman Pepper Locke on
Posted in Uncategorized
On May 24, 2011, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or the “Commission”) dismissed a complaint stemming from the California energy crisis by relying on several grounds, including a federal “catchall” statute of limitation – perhaps the first time FERC has relied on this law to dismiss a complaint.
FERC Releases Summer 2011 Energy Market and Reliability Assessment
By Troutman Pepper Locke on
Posted in Uncategorized
On May 19, 2011, FERC staff presented the Summer 2011 Energy Market and Reliability Assessment (the “Assessment”). Overall, staff revealed that demand forecasts are largely the same as compared with Summer 2010, and generation and reserve margins for the season are projected to be sufficient.
FERC Releases NOI on Transmission Investment
By Troutman Pepper Locke on
Posted in Uncategorized
On May 19, 2011, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or the “Commission”) released the Notice of Inquiry (“NOI”), Promoting Transmission Investment Through Pricing Reform.
Senator Murkowski Submits Questions to FERC on Reliability Implications of EPA Actions
By Troutman Pepper Locke on
Posted in Uncategorized
On May 17, 2011, Senator Lisa Murkowski, (R-AK), sent a letter to FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff in which she expressed concern over the impact of proposed and final rules by the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) on the reliability of electricity.
FERC Allows MISO to Recover Penalty and Clarifies When Party Names Should be Released for Reliability Violations
By Troutman Pepper Locke on
Posted in Uncategorized
On May 6, 2011, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or the “Commission”) issued an order allowing the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc. (“MISO”) to recover $7,000 in penalties from customers, and in the same order, clarified section 205 filing requirements when an unidentified registered entity (“URE”) is involved.
Commissioner Phillip Moeller & Gerry Cauley Give Keynote Address at EUCI Conference
By Troutman Pepper Locke on
Posted in Uncategorized
On May 11, 2011 Commissioner Phillip Moeller of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or the “Commission”) and Gerry Cauley, President and CEO of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (“NERC”), offered their thoughts on ensuring the reliability of the bulk power system in a keynote address at a conference presented by the Electric Utility Consultants, Inc. (“EUCI”) and hosted by Troutman Sanders LLP.
FERC and NERC will Work Together on Southwest Outage Inquiries
By Troutman Pepper Locke on
Posted in Uncategorized
On May 9, 2011, Chairman Jon Wellinghoff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or the “Commission”) and Gerry Cauley, President and Chief Executive Officer of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (“NERC”) announced that they will work together to look into the causes of electrical outages and disruptions of natural gas delivery in the Southwest during February 2011.