New government stats on falling carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from electrical power generation point to a good-news story on energy and climate, one that should grab the attention of policymakers nationally and in the states. Take a look at this chart from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA): The blue-green line plots CO2 emissions from… Keep reading →
On March 2, 2015, SolarCity Corporation (“SolarCity”) filed suit in the federal District Court for the District of Arizona against the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District (“SRP”) alleging that SRP had violated federal and state antitrust laws and tortuously interfered with SolarCity’s business expectations by imposing a new pricing structure on customers intending to install rooftop solar systems.
Many issues facing FERC in 2014 have carried over to 2015. Topping the list is the uncertain future of demand response in wholesale electricity markets. Demand response’s future hinges on decisions at FERC, in the federal courts, and now in Congress. Last May, the D.C. Circuit voted 2 to 1 that FERC lacks jurisdiction over demand response in wholesale energy markets. This unexpectedly broad ruling rocked the electric industry, which had thought the court would merely rule on the reasonableness of FERC’s demand response compensation scheme. FERC asked all the D.C. Circuit judges to rehear the “EPSA decision,” but they declined to do so. On January 15, the U.S. Solicitor General will file a petition for a writ of certiorari with the Supreme Court, asking it to review EPSA. Others, including demand response providers and state public utility commissions, will also seek Supreme Court review. It is, of course, uncertain whether the Supreme Court will grant the petitions, and if it does, whether it will reverse EPSA.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or the Commission) recently opted not to take action to set aside the results of a power auction that was allegedly manipulated. In the face of significant public complaints, the Commission ordered revisions to tariff provisions governing future auctions. While it opted not to take action here, the opinions of the commissioners effectively gave notice to capacity owners that rate increases alone may be a sufficient basis for investigating auction results, even if the auction is conducted pursuant to tariff.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has ordered the New York Independent System Operator, Inc. to reopen and resettle billings for electricity it supplied during the November/December 2012 billing periods, and to refund to DWT client GDF Suez Energy Resources, NA over-charges erroneously billed to Suez as a result of Hurricane Sandy. GDF Suez Energy Resources, NA v. New York Independent System Operator, Inc. and Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., 149 FERC ¶ 61,257 (2014). Suez was represented in this proceeding by Jim Mitchell, a partner in the Washington, DC office of DWT.
The population of China stands at 1.338 billion people. The Chinese economy after the open policy of 1978 has experienced tremendous growth. The average GDP growth rate of China during the last decade was about 10.03%. The increase in growth of Urban China accounts for a greater portion of the overall growth, which has led… Keep reading →
Here’s a cool infographic from the Thirsty Energy website to illustrate where we are and where we’re headed. Energy and water, two of our most important global resources, are inextricably linked. And yet when it comes to planning, the regulatory agencies in charge of managing these precious resources are often separate and uncoordinated in their decision-making. With the… Keep reading →
In the last week of December, the New York Public Service Commission issued an Order that signals big changes coming soon to New York’s electric utility landscape. The Commission made it clear that it wants clean energy resources, including on-site, distributed power generation (such as solar PV), energy efficiency and energy load management strategies, to play a… Keep reading →
Massachusetts has finalized RGGI regulation amendments to implement a new emissions cap of 91 million tons per year, starting in 2014. On December 9, 2013, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued final amendments to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) regulations of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Pursuant to the RGGI Updated Model Rule… Keep reading →
The US power sector is just beginning to understand the extent of the challenge it faces in replacing a retiring workforce, and to take steps to address it. But even if utilities manage to fill vacant positions, it remains to be seen how smoothly they can integrate a new generation of workers, and how long… Keep reading →
