Civil Suit Against Texas Coop Underway
Posted on Jan 12, 2012
A hearing is underway in a civil suit against Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative in which homeowners allege the coop’s negligence triggered a 2009 fire that damaged homes and businesses in Central Texas. Plaintiffs claim the fire was caused by the coop’s inadequate wire connections and power lines and the location of combustible material nearby, but the coop asserts a fallen tree is to blame. Click here for more.
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Coops Oppose FERC Order on Environmental Redispatch
Posted on Jan 12, 2012
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) filed in opposition of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC’s) recent order instructing the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to revise its environmental redispatch policy. FERC found the policy discriminated against wind generators to the benefit of hydropower production. NRECA claimed the order exceeded FERC’s jurisdictional authority. Read more.
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Potential Joint Venture Could Save Michigan Plant
Posted on Jan 12, 2012
Wolverine Power Cooperative and We Energies are evaluating whether a joint venture may be reached to avoid shutting down the Presque Isle coal-fired power plant in 2017 due to the added costs of the Environmental Protection Agency’s new environmental rules. The joint venture would finance the environmental controls needed to keep the plant open, which are estimated to cost hundreds of millions of dollars. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has the full story.
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BP Wind Energy and Sempra U.S. Gas & Power to Develop Two Wind Farms and Sell Power to Several Coops
Posted on Jan 12, 2012
BP Wind Energy and Sempra U.S. Gas & Power are jointly developing a 141 MW wind farm in Pennsylvania and a 419 MW wind farm in Kansas with a combined $1 billion investment. Old Dominion Electric Cooperative and Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative Inc. are both buying the output from the Pennsylvania wind farm under power purchase agreements. Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. and Southwestern Electric Power Co. are buying the output from the Kansas wind farm. Both wind farms are expected to achieve commercial operation by the end of 2012. Additional details can be found...
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NRECA and Coops Challenge FERC’s Self-Supply Order
Posted on Jan 9, 2012
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 needed to meet their capacity obligations in the PJM Interconnection regional transmission organization. An earlier order required changes in the annual auction process through which coops are required to...
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Swap Regulations Delayed Once More
Posted on Jan 9, 2012
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 now scheduled to take effect July 16, 2012. Read more about the delayed regulations here.
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Great River Energy Buys Large Stake in Ethanol Biorefinery
Posted on Jan 9, 2012
Great River Energy, a nonprofit coop that provides wholesale electric service to distribution coops in Minnesota and Wisconsin, purchased a 51 percent stake in an Underwood, North Dakota ethanol biorefinery. Prior to the $18.5 million cash deal, Great River Energy had owned a 49 percent stake in the Blue Flint Ethanol LLC biorefinery. Business Week has the full story here.
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Sutherland Attorneys Outline 10 Power Grid Cyber Security Strategies
Posted on Jan 9, 2012
The regulatory landscape for protecting the electric power grid against cyber threats is fraught with uncertainty. But there are strategies that compliance officers and regulatory affairs personnel can implement today to combat cyber threats that may compromise physical electrical infrastructure. These strategies can help electric utilities, owners and operators of generation and transmission facilities, and industrials with on-site generation develop a Culture of Security, thereby positioning themselves for compliance with any future regulatory requirements while securing their electric...
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Vermont Electric Cooperative Pursues Power Deal with Seabrook Nuclear Plant
Posted on Jan 4, 2012
Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) has expressed interest in entering a 20-year power purchase agreement with a NextEra Energy nuclear power plant in Seabrook, New Hampshire. The Vermont Public Service Board and the VEC board of directors must approve the purchase before the parties can go forward with the agreement. The contract would be for 16 to 17 percent of VEC’s annual energy needs. Click here for more.
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2011 CFC-Arranged Syndications Top $3 Billion
Posted on Jan 4, 2012
The National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC) arranged $3.1 billion of syndicated revolving credit facilities for members in calendar year 2011. This number increased over prior years due to an increase in liquidity and a desire for participating financial institutions to open relationships with new borrowers. CFC has arranged 57 percent of all syndicated transactions, accounting for nearly $7 billion of facility amounts and making it the most active lead or co-lead arranger and administrative agent for electric cooperatives since 2005. Read more here.
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Complaint Against Coop Filed With State Regulatory Commission
Posted on Dec 22, 2011
Carroll Electric Cooperative Corporation continues to face backlash for its bylaws, transparency and board member balloting procedures. The latest development in a series of lawsuits against Carroll Electric involves a complaint filed with the Arkansas Public Service Commission against a recent bylaw change. The amendment would include an arbitration clause that forbids coop members from participating in a class action suit against Carroll Electric. Click here for more.
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Proposed Franchise Agreement Looks Promising in Colorado
Posted on Dec 22, 2011
The City of Durango, Colorado, and La Plata Electric Association appear positioned to approve a new franchise agreement that would go into effect in May 2012. The proposed agreement provides less restrictive language on how to credit consumers for generating power back to the grid than previously suggested. The agreement also protects coop customers located outside of Durango from rate increases, which subsidize renewable energy projects developed within the city. The Durango Herald has the full story.
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Power Companies Fight Rate Increase From Coal Premium
Posted on Dec 22, 2011
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 for more.
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Wisconsin Coop Gears Up For New Mercury Rules
Posted on Dec 22, 2011
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 associated with the EPA rules as well as other costs will be recovered from Dairyland’s member coops, who will face a five percent wholesale rate increase. Read more here.
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