The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has reviewed network transmission tariffs filed by Wisconsin Public Service Corp. (WPS) and Wisconsin Electric Power Co. (WEPCO) in compliance with a Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) order requiring a FERC tariff that provides network service comparable to the service the utilities reserve for themselves. The case arose out of applications filed at the PSC by four utilities in late 1990 and early 1991. The utilities sought approval to build new electric transmission facilities and rebuild existing facilities in central Wisconsin.
WPS says its tariff reflects its intention to provide comparable network transmission service. Because it uses the transmission system to integrate its own generation resources with its loads, it is willing to provide network transmission service to others to integrate their resources and loads. But WPS is not willing to extend network service to companies that have other uses in mind (em such as power marketers or entities not entitled to transmission service under section 212(g) and (h) of the Federal Power Act (Docket No. ER94-1639-0002). The Wisconsin PSC filed a protest, arguing that the WPS tariff does not meet the FERC's comparability requirements. The PSC also argued that the tariff does not comply with its own order, because it only applies to captive customers and discriminates against other system users.