NRECA and Coops Challenge FERC’s Self-Supply Order
Posted on Jan 9, 2012 in Litigation, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on NRECA and Coops Challenge FERC’s Self-Supply Order
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, along with several coops, munis, industrial customers and the American Public Power Association, has requested a rehearing of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s controversial November 17th order on the issue of self-supply. The order questions whether load-serving entities such as electric coops can self-supply the power...
Swap Regulations Delayed Once More
Posted on Jan 9, 2012 in Permitting, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Swap Regulations Delayed Once More
Once again, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has delayed the effective date of regulations that will tighten controls over energy futures markets. Electric coops use derivatives as a way to provide predictability in the price of power. The swap regulations, originally slated to take effect July 16, 2011, had already been pushed back to December 31, 2011. The provisions are...
Power Companies Fight Rate Increase From Coal Premium
Posted on Dec 22, 2011 in Litigation, Rates, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Power Companies Fight Rate Increase From Coal Premium
Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. is one of several power companies and related organizations contesting BNSF Railway Company’s cost allocation methodology, which increases rates of coal transporters in order to pay an investor premium. Opponents claim the $8.1 billion premium should not be included in the valuation of BNSF’s assets and, thus, should not factor into rates. Click here...
Wisconsin Coop Gears Up For New Mercury Rules
Posted on Dec 22, 2011 in Environmental, Rates, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Wisconsin Coop Gears Up For New Mercury Rules
Dairyland Power Cooperative is working to meet new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations that would limit emissions of toxic air pollutants at power plants. The coop’s $400 million plan will install pollution controls at two coal-fired plants. In general, coops face a three-year compliance deadline, with some flexibility for states to grant an additional year. The costs...
North Dakota Scrubber Technology Prevails
Posted on Dec 22, 2011 in Litigation, Regulation & Policy, Technology | Comments Off on North Dakota Scrubber Technology Prevails
North Dakota’s preferred emission reduction technology, which is used to scrub power plant boilers, withstood an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) challenge that a technology that can be adopted across the country should be used. The U.S. District Court found that North Dakota’s choice in selective noncatalytic reduction technology, as opposed to the EPA’s preferred selective...
Pacific Northwest Coops Ordered to Rebalance Use of Hydropower and Wind Energy
Posted on Dec 12, 2011 in Grid & Infrastructure, Litigation, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Pacific Northwest Coops Ordered to Rebalance Use of Hydropower and Wind Energy
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ruled that the Bonneville Power Administration discriminated against wind interests by cutting back on wind production at times of high hydroelectric generation. FERC gave the BPA 90 days to come up with a new program. BPA announced an “environmental redispatch” policy last May in an effort to balance supply and demand and comply with salmon...
Upper-Midwest Coops Critical of EPA Haze Plan
Posted on Dec 8, 2011 in Environmental, Rates, Regulation & Policy, Technology | Comments Off on Upper-Midwest Coops Critical of EPA Haze Plan
Minnkota Power Coop and North Star Electric Coop are among those opposed to proposed new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) haze pollution standards because any benefits would be far outweighed by the cost to consumers in the form of a rate increase. Proponents of the EPA standards claim they will improve public health, preserve national parks and create thousands of new jobs....
Coop Employers Must Keep Drivers’ Hands Off Cell Phones
Posted on Dec 5, 2011 in Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Coop Employers Must Keep Drivers’ Hands Off Cell Phones
Under a new federal rule, the drivers of vehicles owned by electric cooperatives and other utilities may not use hand held cell phones while they drive. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration turned down a request by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association to exempt electric coops from its mobile phone rule by classifying them and other utilities as “emergency...
North Dakota Coal Regulation Controversy Continues
Posted on Nov 21, 2011 in Environmental, Rates, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on North Dakota Coal Regulation Controversy Continues
Two North Dakota coops and environmental groups have presented widely divergent estimates of the cost to retrofit two coal-powered plants under new proposed federal pollution rules. According to the analysis commissioned by the Sierra Club and the National Parks Conservation Association, Minnkota Power Cooperative consumers would face a 10.3 percent rate increase, and Basin Electric...
Coops Must Obtain Additional Permits to Spray Pesticides and Herbicides Under New EPA Regulations
Posted on Nov 18, 2011 in Environmental, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Coops Must Obtain Additional Permits to Spray Pesticides and Herbicides Under New EPA Regulations
With legislative efforts to reevaluate the regulations making little progress in Congress, the new EPA regulations went into effect on November 1. These regulations require permits in addition to those already required under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. According to an NRECA spokesperson, coops will continue to seek a legislative solution. Electric...
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