PJM proposed allowing generators deemed to be critical for determining interconnection reliability operating limits to recover their required upgrade costs. PJM has proposed developing a cost recovery mechanism for generators forced to upgrade their facilities to comply with certain NERC Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) standards regarding interconnection reliability operating limits...

The energy industry’s largest international gathering, CERAWeek by IHS Markit, was conducted virtually last week with "unprecedented" participation by more than 20,000 delegates from 95 countries, according to event organizers. Some 500 speakers in over 200 sessions discussed decarbonization, affordability and energy security, while also offering their visions of post-pandemic...

MISO wrapped its yearslong Renewable Integration Impact Assessment (RIIA) last week, with staff pledging more targeted studies on the shift to a majority renewable resource mix. During a special teleconference March 3 to recap study findings, staff said members’ actual renewable adoption has already outstripped expectations. MISO Manager of Policy...

Members Committee Executive Promotions Nigeria Bloczynski, PJM | PJM PJM announced the promotion of several executives during last week’s Members Committee meeting. Nigeria Bloczynski, PJM’s chief risk officer, was named as a vice president to go along with her officer title. Her responsibilities include corporate insurance programs, credit risk, enterprise...

Stakeholders voted Wednesday to delay endorsement of PJM’s proposal to develop rules for how storage should be considered in the Regional Transmission Expansion Plan (RTEP) process, electing to wait until further work is done on the issue. A vote on the storage as a transmission asset (SATA) proposal was set...

While the advanced macrogrid required for the U.S. clean energy future is years and billions of dollars away, a new report from the WATT Coalition argues that currently available grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) could help optimize the grid and unlock gigawatts of renewables in interconnection queues. The study, conducted by the...

Exelon announced a major restructuring Wednesday, saying it will separate into two publicly traded companies, one for its regulated transmission and distribution business and the other for its merchant power generation. Expectations were widespread that Exelon would announce a major restructuring coincident with its fourth quarter 2020 earnings release. It...

Eversource Energy and Vermont Electric Power Co. (VELCO) each presented replacement and refurbishment projects to the ISO-NE Planning Advisory Committee on Wednesday, with Eversource detailing its preferred solution to replace the only self-contained fluid-filled cable on its Connecticut transmission system. Eversource’s Paul Melzen said the utility plans to remove 400 feet of the existing cable system...

SPP’s state regulators recently agreed on revisions to a package of recommendations that would improve operations along the RTO’s seam with MISO. Texas Public Utility Commission Chair DeAnn Walker facilitated the Regional State Committee’s modifications to the document, which prioritizes resolving rate pancaking and adds a category for smaller interregional...

Critical Tx Infrastructure Proposals Endorsed Stakeholders last week endorsed PJM’s packages of proposals for mitigating and avoiding designating projects as critical infrastructure under NERC reliability standards after more than a year of work on the issues. The Planning Committee endorsed the avoidance package, including associated manual language, with 77% support...