DOE Plans to Change PMAs Met with Opposition
Posted on Sep 5, 2012 in Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on DOE Plans to Change PMAs Met with Opposition
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) is among the opponents to the Department of Energy’s March 16 directive to alter the roles of the four federal power marketing administrations (PMAs). The directive would require that, among other things, PMAs design new rate structures, incentivize renewable energy development and expand transmission for third parties. ...
Proposed CFTC Order to Exempt Coops from Regulations
Posted on Aug 30, 2012 in Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Proposed CFTC Order to Exempt Coops from Regulations
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has proposed an order that would exempt certain electricity transactions involving electric cooperatives from most Commodity Exchange Act regulations. The order would exempt transactions between and among coops and government-owned electric utilities, including state and municipal utilities and the federal power marketing...
NERC Audit Draws Concern
Posted on Aug 29, 2012 in Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on NERC Audit Draws Concern
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved a staff audit of the expenses of its certified electric reliability organization, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). The coop community has expressed concerns that this oversight by FERC will hamper NERC’s ability to do its job. Click here for more.
Coops among Recipients of Rural Economic Development Grants and Loans
Posted on Aug 23, 2012 in Economic Downturn, Financing, Project Development, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Coops among Recipients of Rural Economic Development Grants and Loans
The United States Department of Agriculture recently announced the list of recipients of grants and zero-interest loans issued through the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program (REDLG), and several electric coops were among the recipients. The REDLG program aims to promote economic development in rural areas. Click here for more.
NRECA Lobbies to Avoid Fee on Smart Meters
Posted on Aug 23, 2012 in Energy Savings Programs, Innovation/Efficiency, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on NRECA Lobbies to Avoid Fee on Smart Meters
In early August 2012, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) argued before the Federal Communications Commission that electric cooperatives should not be required to pay a federal fee on smart meters and smart grid technologies. The fee would go to the Universal Service Fund, which was established to provide universal telecommunications service. Click here for...
Federal Court Invalidates EPA Clean Air Act Rule
Posted on Aug 23, 2012 in Energy Savings Programs, Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Federal Court Invalidates EPA Clean Air Act Rule
In a 2-to-1 ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit struck down an EPA air quality rule related to emissions crossing state lines. The Court held that the EPA had impermissibly exceeded its authority under the rule by requiring upwind states to bear more than their share of reductions and failing to give states the opportunity handle emissions reductions...
CFTC Head Issues Statement in Support of Exemption for Coops
Posted on Aug 20, 2012 in Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on CFTC Head Issues Statement in Support of Exemption for Coops
The head of the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) issued a statement last Friday in support of the proposed relief from the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) swaps provisions for certain electricity and electricity-related energy transactions between rural electric cooperatives and federal, state, municipal, and tribal power...
Rate Increase for New Mexico Coop Customers on the Horizon
Posted on Aug 16, 2012 in Financing, Rates, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Rate Increase for New Mexico Coop Customers on the Horizon
The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) approved a controversial rights-of-way agreement which will result in a rate increase for customers of Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative. The PRC and members of the public had previously raised concerns that Native American tribes and other pueblos had not been properly notified of the negotiations leading up to the agreement. The...
PRC and New Mexico Coop Face Off over Internet Spin Off
Posted on Aug 13, 2012 in Corporate Governance, Rates, Regulation & Policy, Technology | Comments Off on PRC and New Mexico Coop Face Off over Internet Spin Off
Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (Kit Carson) is pushing back against the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) order to spin off the coop’s subsidiary Internet business. In September 2011, the PRC approved a rate increase for Kit Carson but ordered the coop to create a separate internet company within nine months based on potential liabilities associated with the its Internet...
Virginia Coop Suspends Efforts to Acquire Permits for Surry Coal Plant
Posted on Aug 10, 2012 in Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Permitting, Project Development, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Virginia Coop Suspends Efforts to Acquire Permits for Surry Coal Plant
Virginia-based Old Dominion Electric Cooperative is suspending its efforts to obtain the environmental permits needed to build what would have been the state’s largest coal-fueled power plant in Surry County. The coop’s decision to pull back from the proposed $6 billion Cypress Creek Power Station was based in large part on the Environmental Protection Agency’s new, more stringent...
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