The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has conditionally approved market-based power-sales rates for Plum Street Energy Marketing, Inc., an affiliate of Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. (NMP) (Docket No. ER96-2525-000). It also set for hearing the issue of whether transmission constraints result in market dominance by NMP or its affiliate.
Plum Street's application to market and broker electric power states that it would not market power to NMP unless so authorized by the FERC. The companies submitted a market study indicating that, because of NMP's open-access pro forma compliance tariff, its market share of installed and uncommitted capacity will not exceed levels previously found acceptable by the FERC.
The FERC found further inquiry into transmission constraints necessary, based on an interim report by the New York Power Pool that identifies several "load pockets" within NMP's territory (em that is, geographic areas subject to transmission constraints that must depend on generation sources within that area for reliable service.