Fortnightly Magazine - July 1 1997

EEI Cities Problems With Retail Competition

Two studies examine marketers and direct-access pilots. Customers seen as "confused," dissatisfied," "frustrated."

The Edison Electric Institute has released two studies that examine increased competition in electric markets. One looks at the rapid growth of the power marketing industry, while the other examines the problems encountered by the first six retail access pilot programs in the U.S.

Power Marketers.

New York Asks FERC for ISO, PX, Council

New York state's electric utilities in a joint filing at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission have called for creation of an independent system operator, a power exchange and a reliability council, termed the "New York State Reliability Council."

The proposal stems from a collaborative process and is intended to complete the transition to full compliance with FERC Order 888. It includes numerous provisions:

• New York ISO. Would control state's bulk power transmission facilities;

• Transmission Pricing.

California Oks Direct Access all at Once

The California Public Utilities Commission has ruled that it will not phase in direct access at different times for different customer groups, but will allow all customers, regardless of classification or amount of electricity used, to choose their energy supplier in less than two years.

"There will be no phase-in or pilot-program period for the opening of California's electricity market. In just eight months we go from a regulated monopoly to open competition in one big bang," said John Seidl, president and CEO of CellNet Data Systems Inc.

The PUC said that starting Jan.

FERC Proposes Non-Bypassable GRI Funding Method

In a notice of proposed rulemaking, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has posed a new method of funding the Gas Research Institute, while extending the present funding method for one year (see, FERC Docket Nos. RM97-3-000 and RP97-149-000).

The current funding mechanism allows GRI-member pipelines to discount a FERC-approved GRI surcharge, then remit to GRI only those funds recovered. The FERC noted that this mechanism threatens GRI's research, development and demonstration efforts.

Bush Bill To Open Power Markets in Texas Dies

Texas Gov. George Bush's (R) unexpected electric restructuring legislation that would have opened markets to competition in the state on Sept. 1, 2001 has died. The proposal would have slashed residential rates by 10 percent in the next three years, frozen industrial rates until 2001, and cut small-business rates by 4 percent.

The Bush plan, released on May 5, would have guaranteed that utilities would recover all stranded investment in generation plants at market rates of return.

Parties Push DOE for Answers

In response to an April 30 federal court order, parties suing the Department of Energy over nuclear waste storage have asked the court to require DOE to submit a detailed description within 30 days of its plan to begin removing radioactive waste from nuclear power plants.

Parties to the suit (em numbering 103 (em on May 7 also asked the court for permission to escrow more than $600 million in annual payments into the fund.

Two N.Y. Utilities Submit Proposals

Orange & Rockland Utilities Inc. and Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corp. have submitted their restructuring plans to the New York Public Service Commission as part of the commission's efforts to develop a new framework for the electric industry in the state's "Competitive Opportunities" proceeding.

Orange & Rockland's four-year proposal would reduce overall rates by $37 million (Case 97034/ 96E0900). Industrial customers would pay an average electric price of 6 cents per kilowatt-hour.

ALEC Calls for Date-Certain

The American Legislative Exchange Council has adopted a resolution setting December 2000 as the federal date-certain for expediting the transition to competition in the electric power industry.

The date set in the model resolution, which state legislators can adopt, is the same deadline named in the federal bill drafted by Rep. Dan Schaefer (R-Colo.). ALEC, the largest bipartisan membership association of state legislators with 3,000 members, believes that a common timeline between federal and state governments is necessary for a seamless transition to competition.

Oklahoma Plans to Introduce Competition by 2002

Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating has signed into law the "Electric Restructuring Act of 1997," S.B. 500, which allows customers choice of electric suppliers by July 1, 2002.

The legislation was written by state Sen. Kevin Easley (D), who originally had called for competition by 2000. The new law calls for the Oklahoma

Corporation Commission to resolve issues surrounding stranded costs.

According to Keating, "[Deregulation] should help strengthen our economic development position when we're in competition with other states for jobs."

In Brief...

Sound bites from state and federal regulators.

Gas Curtailment. New York PSC approves updated curtailment and interruption tariffs for many of the state's natural gas local distribution companies. It had asked the LDCs to develop new rules to reflect growing competition and ensure gas deliveries for core customers during a supply crunch. Case 93-G-0932, March 24, 1997 (N.Y.P.S.C.).

T & D Classification. New York PSC opens proceeding to distinguish between electric transmission and distribution facilities.

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