Maryland PSC Raises Reliability Standards in Wake of Storm
Posted on Feb 28, 2013 in Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on Maryland PSC Raises Reliability Standards in Wake of Storm
The Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) will require utilities to file plans by May 31 outlining improved response efforts after severe storms. The order stems from last year’s “derecho” storm during which almost one million customers lost power. The PSC will not impose penalties on any utility based on its reaction to the 2012 storm. For the full story, click...
New Regulation Under Cybersecurity Executive Order
Posted on Feb 15, 2013 in Grid & Infrastructure, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy, Reliability, Technology | Comments Off on New Regulation Under Cybersecurity Executive Order
President Obama has issued an Executive Order to address the growing cyber threat to the Nation’s “critical infrastructure.” The energy industry should pay attention, both for regulatory compliance purposes and also as a matter of sound business practice, in the face of the increasing security threat posed by cyber attacks. Read the full Sutherland Legal Alert.
Kansas Coop Brings Attention to Private Transmission Considerations
Posted on Jan 24, 2013 in Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Land Use, Legislative & Politics, Permitting, Project Development, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on Kansas Coop Brings Attention to Private Transmission Considerations
Wheatland Electric Cooperative of Kansas is alerting others to potential concerns regarding the construction of private transmission lines to meet increased oil and gas exploration in the Mississippi Lime Play, which is an underground formation across southern and western Kansas and northern Oklahoma. If energy companies begin building their own electric transmission infrastructure,...
EPA Passes New Rule Related to Generator Use
Posted on Jan 23, 2013 in Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on EPA Passes New Rule Related to Generator Use
On January 15, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new rule that will allow electric cooperatives to use small emergency generators for various purposes in order to ensure a stable flow of electricity at the local and regional level. Kirk Johnson, senior vice president of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), stated that the combined...
Colorado Coop Looks to Expand Transmission Line Capacity
Posted on Jan 22, 2013 in Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development, Reliability | Comments Off on Colorado Coop Looks to Expand Transmission Line Capacity
San Luis Valley Rural Electric Cooperative plans to expand the capacity of a 32-mile transmission line from 69 kV to 115 kV. The project will improve reliability in the San Luis Valley by reducing the risk of outages. The Pueblo Chieftain has the full story.
Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association to Consider Alternative Transmission Project
Posted on Jan 17, 2013 in Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development, Reliability | Comments Off on Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association to Consider Alternative Transmission Project
Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association plans to consider an alternative route for its planned transmission project to provide new infrastructure for its electric system. Tri-State’s decision is in response to Xcel Energy’s indication that it will likely withdraw from the previously proposed joint transmission project. The project will help provide reliable power to San...
Coop Seeks Expedited Ruling to Prevent Tribal Takeover
Posted on Jan 14, 2013 in Corporate Governance, Litigation, Rates, Reliability | Comments Off on Coop Seeks Expedited Ruling to Prevent Tribal Takeover
After filing an amended complaint on December 14, the Northern Rio Arriba Electric Cooperative is asking a federal judge for an expedited ruling to prevent a New Mexico tribal authority from potentially taking ownership of its electric distribution system on a Northern New Mexico Indian reservation as early as next month. The coop is also seeking an order that would compel the...
Alaskan Gas Shortages Call for Conservation
Posted on Jan 3, 2013 in Energy Savings Programs, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on Alaskan Gas Shortages Call for Conservation
Due to anticipated natural gas shortages in the Cook Inlet area of Alaska, local coops, utilities and regional governments are banding together to raise public awareness about the problem and to promote demand-side conservation efforts. Chugach Electric Association, Homer Electric Association and Matanuska Electric Association are three coops involved in the Energy Watch effort. ...
New Reliability Compliance Opportunities in 2013
Posted on Jan 2, 2013 in Grid & Infrastructure, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on New Reliability Compliance Opportunities in 2013
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) closed out 2012 with several orders affecting reliability compliance. FERC adopted a revised definition of the “bulk electric system,” authorized FERC access to e-Tags used to schedule power transmission, and affirmed the authority of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) to assess monetary penalties against federally...
Southern Power to Supplement Cobb EMC
Posted on Dec 19, 2012 in Financing, Reliability | Comments Off on Southern Power to Supplement Cobb EMC
Starting in 2016, Georgia-based Cobb Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) will receive electricity from Southern Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company. The 325 megawatts of electricity to be provided annually will supplement Cobb EMC’s current generation resources for a seven-year period. Read more here.
Subscribe
