SREA said Duke Carolinas' and TVA's holiday blackouts were likely avoidable had they built robust transmission links and had better access to organized markets.

Duke Energy has restored power to 45,000 customers in Moore County, N.C., where  two substations were damaged by unknown attackers with rifles last weekend.

FERC's Republican commissioners dissented in an otherwise typical PURPA order, criticizing the majority for making “unnecessary” declarations on the case.