New Mexico Coop Sued for Property Damages Resulting from Fire
Posted on Sep 19, 2012
Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative (JMEC) has been sued in New Mexico state court by three landowners as a result of the 2011 Las Conchas Fire. The fire, which burned over 150,000 acres of land and destroyed 63 homes, was sparked after a fallen tree knocked down a power line owned by JMEC. The complaint alleges that JMEC was negligent and violated state law by failing to protect its power lines against the dangers of falling trees. The Santa Fe New Mexican has the full story.
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Coop Affected by Court’s Grant of EPA Request to Stall MACT Lawsuits
Posted on Sep 18, 2012
A federal appeals court has granted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) request to hold pending lawsuits over its utility maximum achievable control technology (MACT) air toxics rule in abeyance until the EPA completes its reconsideration of the rule. The lawsuits being held in abeyance were filed by developers of new power plants, including Deseret Power Electric Cooperative. As a result of the court’s decision, these developers have become concerned that performing the requirements under the utility MACT rule could limit the ability to claim a waiver from the EPA for the...
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Sutherland Coop Webinar Series – Webinar II: Current Issues in Energy Trading Agreements
Posted on Sep 14, 2012
David McIndoe, Tom Warren and J.J. Kubicek discussed current topics in master agreements for physical and financial energy trading and highlighted best practices and pitfalls in negotiating ISDA, EEI and NAESB Agreements. The presentation included issues raised by new rules under the Dodd-Frank Act. To view the webinar, click here.
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NRECA Recommends Approval of Revised “Bulk Electric System” Definition
Posted on Sep 13, 2012
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) recently submitted a filing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) (Docket Nos. RM12-6, RM12-7) supporting the revised definition of the term “Bulk Electric System” as approved by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) in January. The NRECA noted that the revised definition would better focus regulatory resources and more clearly identify those entities subject to the NERC Reliability Standards. Read the full story here.
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MPSC Orders Opt-Out Right for Smart Meters
Posted on Sep 13, 2012
Due to cost concerns raised by customers, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) has ordered certain investor-owned electric utilities to provide an opt-out option for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), based on cost-of-service principles, for their customers if the utility elects to implement AMI. The entire order, including the list of applicable electric utilities, can be found here.
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Refurbished Montana Plant Goes Online
Posted on Sep 10, 2012
The city of Whitefish, Montana, once again has its own hydroelectric plant. Last year, city officials negotiated a deal with an electric cooperative that outlined power delivery terms for a 20-year period, in two separate phases. The 30-year-old plant, which was recently rebuilt, now has a refurbished generator, turbine and controls. Flathead Electric Cooperative paid the city $400,000 in advance for energy to be generated and delivered to the power grid during the first phase. A $200,000 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant provided through the Montana Department of...
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USDA Meets Goal for Smart Grid Funding
Posted on Sep 10, 2012
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has reached its $250 million goal to finance smart grid technologies. The Secretary also said that nine rural electric cooperatives and utilities in 10 states will receive loan guarantees to make improvements to generation and transmission facilities and implement smart grid technologies. Click here to read more about the ongoing smart grid funding.
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CFC Annual Report Shows High Performance Among Coops
Posted on Sep 10, 2012
Electric coops performed well against a backdrop of challenging economic times in 2011, according to the G&T Key Performance Indicators (KPI) report by the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC). Energy sales and peak growth slowed in 2011, while wholesale rates continued to increase. The report shows that, over the last five years, the median G&T reported a 15.9-percent increase in total cost of service per kilowatt hour sold. To read more about the trends among coops, click here.
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Western Coop to Cut Costs Based on Consultants’ Report
Posted on Sep 7, 2012
The board of financially distressed Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative has voted to enact several measures identified in an operational assessment prepared by Henry Cano of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and two other consultants with solid coop experience. While the details of the plan have not yet been made public, the plan purportedly involves some layoffs, a rate increase and cutting expenses on items such as travel. Some board members had concerns and did not vote in favor of the measures. The Rio Grande Sun has the full story.
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DOE Plans to Change PMAs Met with Opposition
Posted on Sep 5, 2012
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. NRECA argued that the directive could violate the PMAs’ statutory requirement to charge cost-based rates. Electric Co-op Today has more.
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New Mexico Coop Utilizes Unique Generation Facility
Posted on Sep 5, 2012
Lea County Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Lea County) constructed a 47-MW, gas-fired generation facility that can tap into a nearby 27-MW wind farm, the first tie-in of its kind in the country. The setup will help Lea County meet New Mexico’s upcoming Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) while preserving reliable service. Click here for the full story.
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Coops Assist in Hurricane Isaac Restoration Efforts
Posted on Aug 31, 2012
Coops from across the Southeast have sent repair crews to areas affected by Hurricane Isaac. A wide variety of coops, both those directly affected by the storm and otherwise, are lending a hand to help restore power to more than 1 million people, including 200,000 coop members, who lost power as a result of the storm. Electric Co-op Today has the full story.
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Permitting Issue for Coal Plant Headed to Kansas Supreme Court
Posted on Aug 31, 2012
A plan by Sunflower Electric Power Corporation to build a 895-MW, coal-fired plant near Holcomb, Kansas, faces continuing opposition from the Sierra Club over environmental permitting issues. The coop and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc., which plans to buy a significant amount of energy from the plant, are hopeful that the permitting issues can be resolved. The Wichita Eagle is following this story.
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Coop to Fund Energy Optimization Plan Through Retirement of Capital Credits
Posted on Aug 31, 2012
In a recent order issued by the Michigan Public Service Commission, Cherryland Electric Cooperative received approval for its energy optimization plan. According to its July 30, 2012, application, the coop plans to retire some of each participating member’s capital credits to fund the energy optimization efforts. See the order for more on the coop’s program and funding mechanisms.
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