Michigan Coop Asks FERC to Change Cost Order
Posted on Sep 29, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Michigan Coop Asks FERC to Change Cost Order
Michigan’s Cloverland Electric Cooperative (Cloverland) has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to reverse an order requiring Cloverland to pay potentially millions in costs for a plant from which Cloverland argues it derives no direct benefit. When investor-owned utility We Energies decided to close its coal-fired Presque Isle Power Plant, the Midcontinent...
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Says Texas Coop Must Pay Taxes on Steam Generator Equipment
Posted on Sep 26, 2014 in Environmental, Regulation & Policy, Tax | Comments Off on Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Says Texas Coop Must Pay Taxes on Steam Generator Equipment
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has ruled that South Texas Electric Cooperative, Inc. and several other power providers must pay property taxes on their steam generator equipment. The power providers argued that they were entitled to a state law exemption from ad valorem taxes which applies if the property is used to control pollution in compliance with state...
Texas Coop Files Suit Over Interpretation of Purchase Agreement
Posted on Sep 26, 2014 in Litigation, Rates | Comments Off on Texas Coop Files Suit Over Interpretation of Purchase Agreement
Brazos Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. filed suit against San Miguel Electric Cooperative, Inc. in Texas federal court on Thursday seeking interpretation of a power purchase agreement between the parties. Under the agreement, Brazos purchases electricity from San Miguel’s 400-megawatt lignite-fired generating plant and associated mining facilities in Christine, Texas. The dispute...
New MultiSpeak Cybersecurity Standard Ready for Testing
Posted on Sep 25, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Reliability, Technology | Comments Off on New MultiSpeak Cybersecurity Standard Ready for Testing
MultiSpeak, an industry software interoperability standard developed in part by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, has expanded to include a new cybersecurity component that is now available for testing. The cybersecurity standard is intended to help coops protect against data breaches by ensuring safer billing and other data-related processes. Click here to read...
Coops among Recipients of USDA Rural Development Loans and Grants
Posted on Sep 25, 2014 in Financing, Project Development, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Coops among Recipients of USDA Rural Development Loans and Grants
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced $59 million in funding to support businesses and promote economic growth in rural communities. Coops are among the recipients through the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program, which provides zero-interest loans to rural utilities that in turn lend to local businesses. Click here for more information.
Department of Energy Seeking Public Comment
Posted on Sep 23, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Department of Energy Seeking Public Comment
The Department of Energy has requested public comment on their newly released draft Energy Sector Cybersecurity Framework Implementation Guidance and their draft Voluntary Code of Conduct for smart grid data privacy. Federal Register requests for comment are here: Framework Guidance here: Code of Conduct here:
Cost to Decommission Kansas Nuclear Power Plant Could Hit $1 Billion
Posted on Sep 23, 2014 in Environmental, Rates | Comments Off on Cost to Decommission Kansas Nuclear Power Plant Could Hit $1 Billion
The Wolf Creek nuclear power plant, partially owned by Kansas Electric Power Cooperative, could cost as much as $1 billion to decommission, according to reports that must be provided to the Kansas Corporation Commission periodically. Costs will depend largely on the progress made by the federal government toward a solution for the long-term disposal of spent nuclear fuel and the...
City of Socorro Considers Coop Acquisition
Posted on Sep 19, 2014 in Corporate Governance, Mergers/Acquisitions | Comments Off on City of Socorro Considers Coop Acquisition
The city of Socorro, New Mexico, is analyzing the estimated costs involved in acquiring Socorro Electric Cooperative (Socorro) within the city limits. At least two-thirds of Socorro members must approve the sale should the deal move forward. Click here to read the full story.
CFTC Approves Exclusion for Utility Special Entities
Posted on Sep 19, 2014 in Financing, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on CFTC Approves Exclusion for Utility Special Entities
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) approved a final rule this week to exclude certain swaps used in utility operations from one threshold used to identify swap dealers. The rule change will give counterparties additional flexibility to transact with utility special entities while avoiding the regulatory burdens associated with the “swap dealer” designation. Power and gas...
Court Denies Review of FERC Demand Response Rule
Posted on Sep 19, 2014 in Energy Savings Programs, Litigation, Rates, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Court Denies Review of FERC Demand Response Rule
The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit will not review en banc a three-judge panel ruling that rejected the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s rulemaking on demand response compensation. The panel had found that Order No. 745 violates the Federal Power Act by impinging upon state jurisdiction over retail rates. Please click here for more...
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