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By Robert Mullin An agreement between FERC and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers could help spur the development of privately run hydroelectric resources at the Corps’ unpowered dams. The two agencies on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to synchronize their processes to shorten permitting times, provide more...

As expected, SPP’s first summer since the Integrated System joined its system last year has resulted in a new record for peak load, as well as the RTO’s first two peaks above 50,000 MW. The RTO recorded a peak load of 50,083 MW at 4:35 p.m. July 20, surpassing that...

By William Opalka For the second time in seven months, FERC declined on Thursday to intervene in a renewable energy developer’s claims against Connecticut regulators (EL16-69). The commission declined to begin an enforcement action under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act on behalf of Allco Finance and its unit Windham...

By Rory D. Sweeney AUSTIN, Texas — Wind energy is quickly becoming a dominant force in ERCOT’s resource mix, and the grid operator is making changes to address it. Speaking to a packed house at a Gulf Coast Power Association luncheon last week, Kenan Ögelman, ERCOT’s vice president of commercial...

By William Opalka Disregarding its staff’s recommendation, Maine’s Public Utilities Commission on Tuesday endorsed a plan in which electric ratepayers would help finance natural gas pipeline expansion (2014-00071). PUC staff said last month that ratepayer subsidies were unnecessary because market conditions have changed dramatically since 2013, when the proposal was...

By Rory D. Sweeney HOUSTON — Texas, which ranks 10th in installed solar capacity among the states, boasts two assets that could see it rise in the rankings. “We have a lot of sun and a lot of land,” Christine Wright, SolarCity’s deputy director of policy and electricity markets, told...

By Rich Heidorn Jr. Generators under 20 MW will be required to ride through abnormal frequency and voltage events under a revised pro forma small generator interconnection agreement approved by FERC last week (RM16-8). The commission already requires generators interconnecting under the large GIA to meet such requirements. “It would...

By Robert Mullin An effort to create an organized electricity market is taking shape in the inland West even as CAISO continues to build the case for expanding its operations into the wider region. The Mountain West Transmission Group — a partnership consisting of seven different transmission owning entities within...

Regulators OK APS Battery Storage Program The Corporation Commission approved Arizona Public Service’s demand-side management plan, which includes $4 million to incentivize the use of battery storage systems for residential customers. The plan’s aim is to reduce peak load on the utility’s distribution system and includes programs to encourage the use...

By Robert Mullin CAISO’s expansion into a multistate, regional electricity market could save California ratepayers as much as $1.5 billion annually while helping the state to meet or exceed its 2030 emission-reduction goals, according to a study commissioned by the ISO. California’s Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act — the...