Regulators' Forum: A Fight Over Market Design

Deck: 
FERC's attempt to standardize markets have some state regulators up in arms.
Fortnightly Magazine - November 15 2002
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FERC's attempt to standardize markets have some state regulators up in arms.

The fight over standard market design (SMD) looms large as regulators face the coming year. Passions are heightened on the subject-and everyone has an opinion.

In these pages, takes SMD and other questions right to the top policymakers in six states-Alabama, California, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, and Texas-for a snapshot of what the thinking is on hot topics. And of course we included the man of the hour, FERC's chairman Pat Wood.

Presidents Jim Sullivan of Alabama and Loretta Lynch of California take off the gloves regarding SMD and leave us with some memorable words. Pat Wood, in his gentlemanly way, simply says "We are listening."

Meanwhile, the states that have moved forward with retail restructuring and RTO (regional transmission organization) development in some form, embrace SMD. As far as the chairmen of New York, Maureen Helmer, and Massachusetts, Paul Vasington, are concerned, FERC merely is catching up to what they already had the foresight to do.

Some issues touch all regions, as the regulators discuss fears over affiliate cross-subsidizations, the need for better customer service, and difficulties replacing aging infrastructures.

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