By Robert Mullin Wholesale power costs in CAISO fell sharply last year as lower natural gas prices, increased solar generation and reduced loads more than offset the impact of a steep decline in hydroelectric output, according to a report from the ISO’s Department of Market Monitoring. Solar output last year...

By Robert Mullin FERC last week revoked authorization for Berkshire Hathaway Energy subsidiaries to sell wholesale power at market-based rates in four neighboring balancing authority areas in the West. The commission ruled that Berkshire failed to prove that its affiliates — which include PacifiCorp, NV Energy and 19 other generating...

By Robert Mullin CAISO is nearing completion of a proposal describing how the ISO would allocate the costs of building and operating transmission assets in an expanded balancing authority that could encompass areas of the West outside California. The ISO considers development of a new transmission access charge (TAC) plan...

By Robert Mullin FERC on Wednesday approved CAISO’s plan to temporarily alter its market rules and operations in response to natural gas pipeline restrictions stemming from the closure of the Aliso Canyon storage facility (ER16-1649). The grid operator last month sought expedited approval for the Tariff changes, designed to ensure...

By Robert Mullin New generation and a rebound in hydroelectric capacity mean healthy operating reserve margins for California this summer but impending restrictions on the Southern California gas pipeline system could result in load sheds, CAISO warned in its 2016 Summer Loads and Resources Assessment last week. Figure shows CAISO...

By Robert Mullin FERC last week denied a request by NV Energy and PacifiCorp to rehear a previous decision that prohibits the two companies’ generating units from offering energy into the Western Energy Imbalance Market (EIM) at prices above default energy bids because of market power concerns. Both companies are subsidiaries...

By Robert Mullin SANTA MONICA, Calif. — California’s second-largest publicly owned utility is “not buying anything other than solar right now,” said Arlen Orchard, CEO of Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD). Left to right: Orchard, Fillinger. © RTO Insider Orchard’s comment reflected prevailing opinion at the Infocast California Energy Summit...

By Robert Mullin The recently expanded western Energy Imbalance Market (EIM) provided California a new outlet for its surplus renewable output last quarter, according to CAISO’s quarterly economic benefits report. The EIM produced $18.9 million in overall financial benefits for its participants during the first quarter of 2016, up from...

By Robert Mullin CAISO’s Board of Governors last week approved an ISO plan to temporarily alter market operations in response to natural gas pipeline restrictions stemming from the closure of the Aliso Canyon storage facility. CAISO is proposing to reserve capacity on the Path 26 transmission line in advance of...

By Robert Mullin CAISO stakeholders last week expressed misgivings and confusion about a new issue paper exploring how the ISO can resolve certain generator and transmission contingencies currently handled by out-of-market operations. Questions about the generator contingency and remedial action scheme modeling enhancements paper largely stemmed from uncertainty about the potential...