Call (Un)Answered (the Second Ring): FCC Issues Sweeping Package of Declaratory Rulings on TCPA Petitions
Posted on Jul 22, 2015
In some of its most comprehensive guidance published in years, resolving more than 20 petitions requesting clarification of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on July 10 published a 138-page Declaratory Ruling and Order. Given the opportunity to add much needed clarity and reason to the TCPA, which has spawned thousands of class action lawsuits over just the past few years, the FCC dialed a wrong number. Click here to read more.
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Minnesota Electric Cooperative to Install Solar on Municipal Building
Posted on Jul 22, 2015
In a deal being billed as the first of its kind, Wright-Hennepin Electric Cooperative Association (Wright-Hennepin) has reached an agreement with the city of Rockford whereby Wright-Hennepin will install solar panels on two separate sites owned by the city. Wright-Hennepin will not be responsible for any lease payments, and the city will receive a 7 percent discount on its electricity for 25 years. To read more about this pilot program, please click here.
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Kentucky PSC Approves Big Rivers Sales into Nebraska
Posted on Jul 22, 2015
The Kentucky Public Service Commission (KPSC) has approved a plan allowing Big Rivers Electric Corp. (Big Rivers) to sell wholesale power to customers in the State of Nebraska. The settlement provides that, under certain conditions, the profits from these sales would be contributed to funds being used to ease the impact of recent rate increases. Big Rivers will begin sales in January 2018. To read more about this story, please click here.
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USDA Announces Funding for Rural Electric Infrastructure Projects
Posted on Jul 21, 2015
The Secretary of Agriculture announced today that $349 million in funding would be provided for 15 rural electric infrastructure projects. The projects will build or improve almost 2,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines for rural electric cooperatives and utilities in 13 states. Click here for more information.
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Coops Fare Well in J.D. Power Utility Study
Posted on Jul 20, 2015
Several coops were highly ranked in the J.D. Power 2015 Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study. Only 20 coops were reviewed for the study, which was limited to utilities with at least 100,000 residential customers, but many of those included scored well. Click here for a link to J.D. Power’s report and here for more information on the performance of coops.
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Great River Energy Offers Electric Vehicle Users 100% Wind Charge at No Extra Expense
Posted on Jul 20, 2015
In June Minnesota-based generation and transmission cooperative Great River Energy (GRE) and its members rolled out their new “Revolt” program, which allows electric vehicle (EV) users to charge their vehicles using 100 percent wind energy at no extra expense. Consumers pay standard rates to charge their cars, and GRE retires renewable energy credits to cover every kilowatt-hour of energy used for EV charging. Click here to read more.
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Basin Electric Finalizes RUS Buyout
Posted on Jul 17, 2015
In July, Basin Electric bought out of the RUS loan program following a $1.5 billion private placement. Goldman Sachs advised on the buyout and acted as placement agent. Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe served as counsel to Basin and Sutherland served as counsel to Goldman Sachs. Read more about the buyout here.
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Department of Energy Urged to Expand Renewable Energy Grant Programs
Posted on Jul 17, 2015
Representatives from Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands have urged the Department of Energy to expand grant programs to help reduce the relatively high capital costs of renewable energy installation projects facing operators of islanded, non-grid-connected communities and to make the projects economically feasible. Read more about the Alaska Village Electric Cooperative’s challenges here.
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CFC Requests Waiver Under FCC’s Financing Rules
Posted on Jul 17, 2015
The National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC) asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to grant it an exception to allow the CFC to issue letters of credit to its members that are selected for projects under the FCC Rural Broadband Experiment program. The letters of credit would allow CFC members to access loans at lower rates than they could get from commercial banks. Read more about the CFC’s request here (subscription required).
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FCC Issues Its Widely Anticipated TCPA Order. Has the Call Been Answered?
Posted on Jul 13, 2015
On July 10, 2015, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued its 138-page Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) Order resolving more than 20 petitions for clarification. According to the FCC, the Order “will benefit consumers and good-faith callers alike by clarifying whether conduct violates the TCPA and by detailing simple guidance intended to assist callers in avoiding violations and consequent litigation.” FCC Chairman Wheeler and Commissioner Clyburn issued separate statements. Commissioners Rosenworcel and O’Rielly approved in part, dissented in part and issued separate...
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Georgia Transmission Named a “2015 Best Place to Work”
Posted on Jul 10, 2015
Georgia Trend magazine has named Georgia Transmission Corporation as one of the ten best places to work in Georgia for 2015. This is the second time in just three years that Georgia Transmission has made the list. Click here to read more.
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Texas Requests Fifth Circuit Review of US EPA Action
Posted on Jul 10, 2015
On Wednesday, Texas asked the Fifth Circuit to review an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision requiring it to tighten air pollution regulations governing large industrial pollution sources, including power plants. The EPA’s decision was based on the finding that portions of Texas’s previously approved state implementation plan do not meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton released a statement saying that the Obama administration had made an “abrupt and unwarranted about-face,” and that the EPA’s actions “make it impossible for even the most...
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TCPA Litigation and Electric Utilities
Posted on Jul 8, 2015
Like many businesses, electric cooperatives view automated telephone calls and text messages as an effective means of communicating with members. Cooperatives may consider using automated calls and text messages for any number of reasons, such as notifying members of low balances on prepaid accounts, annual meeting reminders or unplanned service outages. So, it is not surprising to see more and more cooperatives utilize, or consider utilizing, technology like autodialers and automated text messaging. This is especially true where the members may want, or expect, information in near real...
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House Passes Bill to Delay EPA Greenhouse Gas Rule
Posted on Jul 8, 2015
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on June 24, for which the NRECA has voiced support, that would delay implementation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Power Plan until after courts have determined its legality. To read more about the bill click here.
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