ferc
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Legal & Regulatory
Former FERC Commissioner Says ‘Market Design Problem’ Was a Leading Cause of February 2021 Texas Power Crisis
In February 2021, a severe cold weather event, known as Winter Storm Uri, caused numerous power outages, derates, or failures to start at electric generating plants scattered across Texas and the south-central U.S. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which manages the power supply for about 90% of the load in Texas, ordered a […]
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Commentary
How FERC Can Have a Positive Impact on Grid Reliability
As the regulator for much of our nation’s wholesale electric and natural gas markets, actions by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) directly impact the U.S. economy. The agency’s response to
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Gas
ISO-NE Move Puts New Gas-Fired Plant in Doubt
The future of a natural gas-fired power plant planned in northeastern Connecticut is in jeopardy after regional grid operator ISO-New England (ISO-NE) asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for permission to end a capacity contract with the project. Florida-based NTE Energy’s plan to build the 650-MW Killingly Energy Center has been delayed due to […]
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Markets
FERC Tackles Modernization of U.S. Power Markets
The seven major organized electricity markets scattered across the U.S. account for roughly two-thirds of all power generated in the country. Most of these markets are made up of Independent System Operators (ISOs) and Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) that were created more than twenty years ago. The primary mission of the markets is to neutrally […]
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Press Releases
FERC Approves Giving a Vote for the Coal-Supply Chain Within MISO’s Advisory Committee
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved a proposal from the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) to give voting rights to the recently created Affiliate Sector within MISO’s Advisory Committee. By providing a vote to the Affiliate Sector, currently made up by entities representing coal producers, electricity generators, railroads, barge operators and […]
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Legal & Regulatory
Is America Ready to Take a ‘Baby Step’ Toward Carbon Pricing?
Most people recognize that carbon dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas (GHG), and while not everyone agrees, a majority of climate scientists believe increasing concentrations of GHGs in the atmosphere are causing climate change on Earth. Carbon pricing is a market-based strategy for reducing CO2 emissions. The goal of carbon pricing schemes is to place […]
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Distributed Generation
A Brave New World of Reliability: ELCC, EIMs, and DERs
Market forces and government policy are driving clean energy deployment across the U.S. at a level that could impact reliability if not carefully implemented. State regulators, independent system operators
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Press Releases
FERC approves major Tri-State wholesale rate settlement with members
WESTMINSTER, CO (August 3, 2021) – On August 2, 2021, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved a settlement in the first major rate case filed by Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association since the power supplier became subject to FERC jurisdiction in September 2019. The landmark uncontested settlement resolves key issues from regulatory filings that Tri-State […]
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Solar
Leveling the Market Playing Field for Hybrid Power Plants
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is an independent agency that, among other things, regulates the interstate transmission of electricity. Its ultimate mission is to “Assist consumers in obtaining economically efficient, safe, reliable, and secure energy services at a reasonable cost through appropriate regulatory and market means, and collaborative efforts.” In the past, FERC has […]
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Climate change
Rolling Blackouts Triggered as Historic Heatwave Grips Pacific Northwest
Utilities across the Pacific Northwest are bracing for exceptional stress on the grid as record-breaking temperatures continue to fester across the region, and at least one utility—Avista Corp.—this week began rolling outages as a measure to alleviate strain on the electric system. Despite pleas to customers to reduce their power consumption, Avista, which supplies power […]