NRECA Forming Cyber Security Task Force
Posted on Sep 9, 2013 in Innovation/Efficiency, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy, Reliability, Technology | Comments Off on NRECA Forming Cyber Security Task Force
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) is forming a task force to ensure that coops’ needs are met when cyber security regulations and legislation take shape and require coops to take responsibility for safeguarding their operations. The NRECA Cyber Security Task Force will focus on the implementation of cyber security standards by the North American Electric...
USDA Announces $11 Million in Loan Guarantees for Smart Grid Improvements
Posted on Sep 9, 2013 in Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy, Technology | Comments Off on USDA Announces $11 Million in Loan Guarantees for Smart Grid Improvements
At a recent regional meeting of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack highlighted the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) funding of projects across eight states, including $11 million in loan guarantees for smart grid improvements. See the USDA press release for a complete list of projects.
Coops Urge EPA to Accept Wyoming’s Haze Pollution Plan
Posted on Sep 3, 2013 in Climate Change, Environmental, Rates, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Coops Urge EPA to Accept Wyoming’s Haze Pollution Plan
If coops and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association get their way, Wyoming’s plan to control haze from the power sector will be fully approved as compliant with federal law. Comments submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) argue that Wyoming’s approach is reasonable, and electric coop consumer-members would pay more than necessary if the EPA goes forth with...
NERC CIP V4 Compliance Date Extended Six Months
Posted on Aug 29, 2013 in Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on NERC CIP V4 Compliance Date Extended Six Months
Electric coops subject to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s (NERC) Critical Infrastructure Protection Version 4 (CIP V4) standards now have an extra six months after the original April 1, 2014, deadline to comply, thanks to a deadline extension granted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. To read more about this extension, including whether it affects...
Kentucky Coops Gear Up for Cybersecurity Review
Posted on Aug 22, 2013 in Grid & Infrastructure, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on Kentucky Coops Gear Up for Cybersecurity Review
The Kentucky Public Service Commission received a grant from the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners to conduct a cybersecurity study of several electric distribution coops. The effort will result in a report that identifies cybersecurity risks, best practices and recommended next steps to protect infrastructure at a reasonable cost to ratepayers. Click here for...
Delaware Solar Farm Facility Up and Running
Posted on Aug 22, 2013 in Project Development, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Delaware Solar Farm Facility Up and Running
Delaware Electric Cooperative (DEC) recently commenced operations at its 4-MW solar facility located near Georgetown, Delaware. The $14 million project will help DEC meet the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) set at 25 percent by 2025. The solar farm was built using no state subsidies and without raising customer rates. Click here for the full story.
CFTC Approves Clearing Exemption for Certain Coops
Posted on Aug 22, 2013 in Financing, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on CFTC Approves Clearing Exemption for Certain Coops
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) issued a final rule to exempt swaps entered into by certain coops from the clearing requirement. The exemption is subject to several conditions, including that it applies only to swaps entered into (i) in connection with origination loans to coop members, or (ii) to hedge commercial risk related to these loans or swaps with members. The...
Coop Industry Groups Seek Notice to Protect Critical Communication Systems
Posted on Aug 20, 2013 in Regulation & Policy, Reliability, Technology | Comments Off on Coop Industry Groups Seek Notice to Protect Critical Communication Systems
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Utilities Telecom Council, the American Public Power Association and the Edison Electric Institute have asked the Federal Communications Commission to require a 30-day advance notice period when a high-tech company deploys products or services that could disrupt a utility’s critical communication systems. Progeny, a high-tech...
Kentucky Coops Strike Deal to Keep Smelter in Western Kentucky
Posted on Aug 16, 2013 in Economic Downturn, Legislative & Politics, Rates, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Kentucky Coops Strike Deal to Keep Smelter in Western Kentucky
The Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) recently approved a power supply arrangement between Big Rivers Electric Corporation (Big Rivers), Kenergy Corp. (Kenergy) and Century Aluminum Company that allows the aluminum smelter to purchase power on the wholesale market through Big Rivers and Kenergy while reimbursing the coops for certain costs arising from the arrangement. For more...
RUS to Conduct New Report on Transmission Project
Posted on Aug 15, 2013 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on RUS to Conduct New Report on Transmission Project
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) has announced that it will conduct a supplemental environmental impact report for Basin Electric Power Cooperative’s proposed North Dakota transmission line. This decision came from a need to consider new aspects of the plan. Read more here.
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