America's Canadian Problem
U.S.-Canada electricity trade is shrinking, and some American companies may be left without their megawatts for the summer.
ISO
Commission Watch
National Grid balks, says FERC intended TransLINK as model for the East.
PJM ITC Tariff Splits With Midwest
Winds of Change in Texas
Rising gas prices spark a rush to wind farms, straining grid capacity and raising larger issues about market design.
Rising gas prices spark a rush to wind farms, straining grid capacity and raising larger issues about market design.
When the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) was drafting rules to encourage the use of renewable energy, it took pains to guard against the chance that power producers would fail to reach the state's target of 400 megawatts (MW) in installed new renewable generation capacity by Jan. 1, 2002. The commission needn't have worried.
Commission Watch
PUCs could face rate shock if feds push plans for an RTO signup bonus.
PUCs could face rate shock if feds push plans for an RTO signup bonus.
State PUCs will surely weigh in on the latest move by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to work its will on the nation's electric transmission grid. In this case, the item in question concerns a policy statement proposed by FERC that would reward electric utilities for investing in new transmission upgrades and-more importantly-for joining up with a regional transmission organization (RTO).
The Merchant Asset Fire Sale: Deal of the 21st Century?
Companies that were on a buying spree before 2001 are putting assets worth billions n the block
Companies that were on a buying spree before 2001 are putting assets worth billions n the block
A casual observer might expect that the industry's economic condition would produce a cornucopia of cheap assets for acquisitive companies . Eventually it might, but so far, it generally has not.
Benchmarks
Western Markets: An Investor's Minefield
Frontlines
Carrots haven't worked. FERC needs to get tough on backing its SMD vision.
FERC's Market Design: The End of a 'Noble Dream'
How state opposition cowed the feds and turned a powerful rule into just a set of talking points.
How state opposition cowed the feds and turned a powerful rule into just a set of talking points.
A funny thing happened on the way to a standard market design (SMD). What began as a full-fledged rulemaking-with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) giving instructions and imposing deadlines on the electric utility industry-now has degenerated into little more than a set of talking points.
Talk about cold feet.
Commission Watch
FERC looks ahead to the new year as it wraps up loose ends from 2002.
FERC: SMD/Grid Issues Lead 2003 Agenda
Perspective
FERC's Standard Market Design: Too Detailed To Evolve
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's standard market design (SMD) proposal states objectives that are important and supportable, both theoretically and empirically. Uniform rules and business practices reduce transaction costs and limit opportunities for institutional arbitrage, increase the extent of the market, and increase market liquidity and investment.