RTGs Make Progress

Fortnightly Magazine - September 1 1995
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The Southwest Regional Transmission Association (SWRTA) has filed amended bylaws with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), incorporating two FERC conditions: 1) comparable transmission service, and 2) a single regional transmission plan. To achieve comparability, each transmitting member subject to FERC jurisdiction under sections 205 and 206 of the Federal Power Act will file comparable transmission service tariffs with the FERC. Those not subject to FERC jurisdiction will file their tariffs with the president of SWRTA's board of directors.

The regional transmission planning process will be open to other interested parties, and a single plan will be prepared every two years. Members' transmission plans will be available to the entire western United States. According to SWRTA, the openness of the process and the availability of information will promote the selection and construction of economically efficient projects.

Meanwhile, the FERC has approved the governing agreement of the Northwest Regional Transmission Association (NWRTA), a regional transmission group (RTG) with 20 members who have agreed to provide each other with comparable transmission service (Docket No. ER95-19-000). NWRTA is the third RTG to seek approval. (The FERC approved the governing agreement of the Western Regional Transmission Association in May.) Although NWRTA stopped short of requiring its members to carry out the regional plan that will be developed, the FERC noted that members must provide transmission services. t

Lori A. Burkhart is an associate legal editor of PUBLIC UTILITIES FORTNIGHTLY.

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