June 27, 2011
PJM Seeks to Ease Quorum Requirements
PJM has filed revisions to its operating agreement to lower the quorum requirement for any meeting of the PJM Members Committee.
FERC
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June 27, 2011
Noble Americas Energy Solutions Seeks Changes in PacifiCorp OATT to Remove Barriers to Retail Access
Noble Americas Energy Solutions, LLC has protested at FERC revisions to the Open Access Transmission Tariff [OATT] of PacifiCorp, seeking changes to practices which Noble Americas says hinders retail access in Oregon (ER11-3643).
June 23, 2011
MISO Distinguishes Upcoming Resource Adequacy Proposal from PJM in Response to APPA
Responding to the American Public Power Association's characterization of proposed changes to the Midwest ISO Module E resource adequacy construct, MISO emphasized several key differences in the MISO proposal versus the PJM Reliability Pricing Model.
June 22, 2011
OSBA Seeks Investigation of Exelon-Constellation Merger, Impact on Retail Markets
The Pennsylvania Office of Small Business Advocate has filed a complaint at the Pennsylvania PUC seeking, among other things, an investigation into the impact of the proposed Exelon-Constellation Energy merger on the state's retail electricity and natural gas markets (P-2011-2247936).
June 21, 2011
FERC Denies Sempra Generation Sale of Capacity to SDG&E
FERC has denied a request from Sempra Generation to make capacity sales to its affiliate San Diego Gas & Electric Company pursuant to a competitive solicitation, as FERC found that the solicitation does not satisfy the Commission's concerns regarding the potential for affiliate abuse (ER11-3464).
June 17, 2011
FERC Approves PJM-MISO JOA Settlement with Limit on Future Claims
FERC has approved without modification a settlement under which all claims that arose, or could have arisen, under the PJM-Midwest ISO Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) are released, and which imposes a one-year time limit for future claims arising under the JOA.
June 17, 2011
APPA Updates Plan to Reform RTO Markets
Frustration of policymakers in Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut and other states with capacity prices, "stems from a basic flaw in RTO-run centralized markets -- they do not sufficiently support new generation investment but instead overcompensate existing generators," the American Public Power…
June 8, 2011
New Brunswick Power Generation Says Emera, Algonquin Transactions Will Increase Market Power in Northern Maine
New Brunswick Power Generation Corporation has protested at FERC several transactions involving Emera, Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp., and First Wind Holdings, alleging that the transactions would, "adversely affect competition by creating affiliated entities possessing horizontal and vertical…
June 6, 2011
FERC Suspends PJM Tariff Changes Regarding Demand Response Measurement
FERC has suspended PJM's tariff filing to revise the rules for measuring reductions from demand response resources which have cleared the capacity market, and ordered a technical conference on issues raised by protestors (ER11-3322).
June 6, 2011
Capacity Suppliers File Complaint to Raise Capacity Prices in New York
No doubt emboldened by several recent FERC decisions, several New York capacity suppliers have filed a complaint at FERC alleging that the New York ISO's implementation of its buyer-side market power mitigation provisions is in violation of its tariff.
June 2, 2011
NEM Seeks Clarification that FERC Affiliate Capacity Release Rules Wont Impact Retail Access Releases
The National Energy Marketers Association has asked FERC to clarify its proposal prohibiting multiple affiliates from bidding in open seasons for pipeline capacity, and prohibiting the release of capacity to affiliates, in terms of how the proposal would affect state retail choice programs and…
May 31, 2011
MISO Ignores Cost of Unbundling Capacity in Describing Resource Adequacy Construct
The Midwest ISO ignored the fact that its Module E Resource Adequacy construct, regardless of whether an auction is used to procure capacity, has imposed new costs on load that would otherwise not be required, and that such costs would be imposed on customers at Entergy Texas should it join MISO.
May 26, 2011
Constellation/Exelon Say No Adverse Impact on SOS, Maryland Retail Market from Merger
"[I]f a proposed merger does not adversely affect wholesale market competition, it is unlikely to adversely affect retail market competition," Dr. Joe Pace of Navigant Economics said in testimony supporting the merger application of Exelon and Constellation Energy before the Maryland PSC (Case 9271)…
May 25, 2011
FERC Dismisses Calif. Complaints on Bilateral Energy Crisis Contracts, Price Cap
FERC dismissed a complaint filed in 2009 by the California attorney general which had alleged that various market participants had made short-term bilateral sales at unjust and unreasonable prices to the California Energy Resources Scheduling Division (CERS) of the California Department of Water…
May 23, 2011
Constellation/Exelon Claim No Adverse Retail Market Impacts from Merger, Offer Additional Mitigation
In addition to previously announced divestitures, Constellation Energy and Exelon have committed to sell 500 MW of baseload energy under contracts that will extend through the end of 2014 as part of seeking approval of their merger at FERC.
May 20, 2011
FERC Waives Penalties for Prior Late Meter Data Submissions in CAISO, Declines to Revise Penalty Rules
FERC granted the California ISO's request to waive the imposition of penalties, for the period starting from the November 1, 2009 trade date through the February 1, 2011 trade date, on scheduling coordinators that submitted amended meter data between 43 calendar days and 61 business days from the…
May 17, 2011
Briefly
Jim Crane, of Crane Capital/Champion Energy, Leads Group Purchasing Houston Astros
May 16, 2011
Suppliers in MISO Exploiting Tariff for Larger Make-Whole Payments
The Midwest ISO has filed expedited tariff changes at FERC to prevent the current exploitation of a flaw by certain market participants which allows suppliers to inflate make-whole payments by inducing reductions in output through their own changes in day-ahead and real-time offers.
May 13, 2011
Smitherman: PUCT Must Consider "Non-Quantifiable" Metrics in Entergy Decision
The PUCT needs to consider "non-quantifiable" metrics as it studies the future of Entergy Texas, PUCT Chairman Barry Smitherman said during yesterday's open meeting.
May 13, 2011
FERC Order Mandating Capacity Price Floors Leaves Ending Retail Choice as One of Few Options Available to States to Lower Retail Rates
The Fixed Resource Requirement (FRR) alternative to the PJM Reliability Pricing Model capacity auctions is "effectively unavailable" to any state with retail choice, the Maryland PSC said in a rehearing request at FERC, which begs the question, if Maryland and New Jersey are unable to overturn…
May 9, 2011
FERC Finds No Manipulation in High Offers by New England Capacity Importers
FERC affirmed an initial decision from an ALJ and found that Brookfield Energy Marketing, Constellation Energy, and Shell Energy North America did not engage in market manipulation when offering energy associated with their capacity, as obligated to do as capacity suppliers in the ISO New England…
May 6, 2011
Long-Term Contracts May Answer "Alarming" Lack of Baseload, Says New Report by Steve Mitnick
The United States, particularly New England and the mid-Atlantic, are facing an "alarming" shortage of baseload construction, and efforts by FERC to stymie state-led baseload development will likely lead to a "breaking point" for state policymakers, said Steve Mitnick, president of Build Energy…
April 27, 2011
Duke Energy Ohio Agrees to Not Seek FRR Capacity Compensation Rate at FERC; Retail Transmission Rates Adjusted
Duke Energy Ohio has agreed to not seek FERC approval of a wholesale capacity charge applicable to competitive retail suppliers receiving capacity under the utility's Fixed Resource Requirement, under a stipulation which will alter how retail transmission costs are charged to customers at the…
April 26, 2011
PUCO, PJM Protest AEP Complaint Over Capacity Costs
The Public Utilities Commission Of Ohio, PJM, and several other parties have filed protests at FERC against AEP Ohio's complaint seeking to raise the capacity costs paid by competitive retail suppliers (EL11-32).
April 25, 2011
Entergy Intends to Join MISO
Notwithstanding the limited physical interconnection between the two areas, Entergy Corporation announced this morning that, "it has concluded that joining the Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO) will provide meaningful long-term benefits for the customers of the Entergy operating companies."