Utility Industry Groups Sue Over FERC Demand Rule
Posted on Jul 16, 2012 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Litigation, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on Utility Industry Groups Sue Over FERC Demand Rule
Utility industry groups are claiming that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) exceeded its regulatory power when it introduced the compensation policy for power demand resources. The final rule allows demand response providers to receive the same compensation as conventional power plants, regardless of the type of power generated. The Electric Power Supply Association...
Coops Conduct Meeting to Prepare for Potential Merger
Posted on Jul 16, 2012 in Corporate Governance, Energy Savings Programs, Mergers/Acquisitions, Reliability | Comments Off on Coops Conduct Meeting to Prepare for Potential Merger
Western Illinois Electrical Cooperative (WIEC) and Adams Electric Cooperative are considering a merger that could lower power supply costs and shorten the duration of outages for members of both coops. At a June 28 meeting with WIEC coop members, managers from both coops discussed the benefits of a possible consolidation. The merger would ultimately be decided by a two-thirds vote of...
FERC Transmission Rule Source of Controversy
Posted on Jul 12, 2012 in Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Litigation, Mergers/Acquisitions, Regulation & Policy, Reliability, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on FERC Transmission Rule Source of Controversy
An investor-owned utility association, Edison Electric Institute, has requested that a federal court review the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) controversial rule meant to spur new transmission investment. The rule requires utilities to create regional plans and a framework for cost allocation. The rule also introduces competitive bidding and new compliance...
Colorado Coop Rebuilds After Fire Losses
Posted on Jul 12, 2012 in Grid & Infrastructure, Reliability | Comments Off on Colorado Coop Rebuilds After Fire Losses
Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association, based in Fort Collins, Colorado, is now facing the daunting task of rebuilding a portion of its distribution system that the High Park fire destroyed. Worse yet, the coop recently completed a costly reliability update on this distribution system. The coop estimates it could take four to six weeks and more than $3.5 million to repair the...
Coops Continue Post-Storm Restoration Efforts
Posted on Jul 5, 2012 in Reliability | Comments Off on Coops Continue Post-Storm Restoration Efforts
Electric coops in the regions hit hard by storms have been working nonstop to restore power, all during one of the worst heat waves in history. An estimated 4 million people were left without power from Indiana to New Jersey. Some coops have taken advantage of social media or press releases to communicate with their members about expected outage times. For state-by-state details,...
Kentucky Coop Files Request to Join PJM
Posted on May 9, 2012 in Corporate Governance, Grid & Infrastructure, Reliability | Comments Off on Kentucky Coop Files Request to Join PJM
East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) is seeking approval from the Kentucky Public Service Commission to join PJM Interconnection (PJM), a regional transmission organization that coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity in 13 states and the District of Columbia. Citing operational and regulatory constraints, EKPC says PJM membership would allow for more efficient and...
Montana Senators Seek Upgrades to State’s Power Grid
Posted on Apr 30, 2012 in Grid & Infrastructure, Land Use, Legislative & Politics, Reliability | Comments Off on Montana Senators Seek Upgrades to State’s Power Grid
Two Montana senators, Max Baucus and Jon Tester, are asking U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu to create a timeline for implementing upgrades to the state’s power grid in order to aid cooperatives. The plan, if implemented, would affect the Bonneville Power Administration and the Western Area Power Administration, which serve electric coops that provide electricity to more than...
North Dakota Approves Minnkota Line Route
Posted on Apr 26, 2012 in Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development, Reliability | Comments Off on North Dakota Approves Minnkota Line Route
The North Dakota Public Service Commission approved a final route for the state’s largest transmission line project in decades. Minnkota Power Cooperative will construct the 250-mile line from Center, North Dakota, to Grand Forks. The project is estimated to cost approximately $312 million. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2013. Click here for the full...
Electric Coops Get High Marks from Utility Customers in Annual Poll
Posted on Apr 23, 2012 in Corporate Governance, Rates, Reliability | Comments Off on Electric Coops Get High Marks from Utility Customers in Annual Poll
Electric cooperatives continue to receive high marks from utility customers, according to the latest reading of the American Customer Satisfaction Index. Electric cooperatives collectively earned a score of 81 while investor-owned and municipal utilities each received a score of 76. Natural gas distributor Atmos Energy and gas-and-electric supplier Sempra Energy were the two...
Colorado Transmission Line Re-Energized
Posted on Apr 19, 2012 in Grid & Infrastructure, Reliability | Comments Off on Colorado Transmission Line Re-Energized
Mountain View Electric Association’s Big Sandy-Lincoln-Midway transmission line is back online after upgrades were made to improve resilience against storm damage. The improvements were completed in time to serve the irrigation loads expected along the eastern and southern Colorado power path. Read more here.
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