Review of Transmission Incentive Policies May Prompt Narrower Scope and Fewer Benefits
Posted on May 24, 2011 in Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Review of Transmission Incentive Policies May Prompt Narrower Scope and Fewer Benefits
As explained by Sutherland attorneys in this legal alert, FERC has issued a Notice of Inquiry that asked for industry input on transmission investment pricing policies. The Notice of Inquiry asks whether the rate incentives provided under FERC’s transmission investment pricing policies effectively encourage the development of transmission infrastructure. Comments will be due 60...
Vermont Electric Cooperative to Vote on Kingdom Community Transmission Upgrade
Posted on May 24, 2011 in Project Development | Comments Off on Vermont Electric Cooperative to Vote on Kingdom Community Transmission Upgrade
The Vermont Electric Cooperative has announced that it plans to hold a vote in July on a transmission line upgrade required for the Kingdom Community Wind project in Lowell, Vermont. The vote will only occur if the Public Service Board has issued a certificate of public good for the $150 million project by that time. The transmission line upgrades will cost an estimated $10.8 million....
Coop Audit Uncovers Challenges in Accounting Practices
Posted on May 24, 2011 in Corporate Governance, Financing | Comments Off on Coop Audit Uncovers Challenges in Accounting Practices
A 2010 financial audit performed on Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative has uncovered several red-flagged accounting practices. Noting that protocol concerns such as these are challenges not unique to their coop, leadership from Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative has taken steps to strengthen its accounting department to address these issues. The Rio Grande Sun has the full...
Member-Approved Bylaws Pass Judicial Scrutiny
Posted on May 23, 2011 in Litigation, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Member-Approved Bylaws Pass Judicial Scrutiny
A New Mexico Supreme Court-appointed judge has upheld three member-approved bylaws aimed at increasing transparency at the Socorro Electric Cooperative. Under the new bylaws, which the judge found properly and legally enacted, the coop is subject to open meeting laws. Socorro Electric’s arguments against the bylaws focused on the significant burden they would place on the coop and its...
Arizona Disputes the Role of Trash as a Renewable Energy Source
Posted on May 23, 2011 in Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Arizona Disputes the Role of Trash as a Renewable Energy Source
Mohave Electric Cooperative recently requested that state utility regulators treat solid waste as a renewable energy source to allow the coop to count a planned waste-to-energy facility as part of the coop’s renewable source portfolio. Environmentalists oppose the proposed renewable treatment for trash in favor of cleaner fuel sources like wind and solar. Arizona is one of several...
Resistance Continues Over Planned Hampton Roads Coal-Fired Plant
Posted on May 23, 2011 in Environmental, Project Development | Comments Off on Resistance Continues Over Planned Hampton Roads Coal-Fired Plant
As part of an ongoing dispute with Old Dominion Electric Cooperative, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation issued a report projecting an annual increase in health care costs of more than $200 million if Old Dominion moves forward with a planned coal-fired generation plant near Newport News, Virginia. Old Dominion argues that the 1,500 MW plant would help meet increasing power demands in the...
Oklahoma Coop Introducing Time-of-Use Rates
Posted on May 20, 2011 in Energy Savings Programs, Rates | Comments Off on Oklahoma Coop Introducing Time-of-Use Rates
This June, Oklahoma Electric Cooperative will begin phasing in time-of-use rates for residential and small commercial customers. In an effort to manage long-term costs, Oklahoma Electric will introduce peak and off-peak rates over the next five years to allow customers to adjust their usage to the new pricing scheme. Read more.
Coop Cybersecurity Guidelines Released by NRECA
Posted on May 20, 2011 in Grid & Infrastructure, Reliability | Comments Off on Coop Cybersecurity Guidelines Released by NRECA
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) has released a cybersecurity guide for utilities and others to use to protect power grid infrastructure from cyber attacks. The guide was developed with the help of the Department of Energy and the National Institute of Standards and Technology and contains tools such as self-assessments and checklists that intend to create a...
Missouri Coop Launches Broadband Internet Initiative
Posted on May 20, 2011 in Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Technology | Comments Off on Missouri Coop Launches Broadband Internet Initiative
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and RUS Administrator Jonathan Adelstein celebrated Ralls County Electric Cooperative’s completion of the first portion of its broadband initiative. The coop’s ultimate goal is to make broadband available to 4,500 customers, including schools and healthcare providers. The Quincy Herald-Whig has the full story.
Roundtable Discussion Addresses Coops’ Uncertainty
Posted on May 20, 2011 in Reliability, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Roundtable Discussion Addresses Coops’ Uncertainty
Executives from five coops participated in an EnergyBiz Leadership Roundtable to discuss the challenges they face in providing reliable and affordable power to customers in an era of increasing regulation. Representatives from distribution, generation and transmission coops located throughout the country were in attendance. Participants cited uncertainty as a major concern for the...
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