Regulatory Decisions

Electric Choice Supply Fees

The Michigan Public Service Commission moved to establish a statewide reliability capacity charge that customers of alternative electric suppliers (AESs) would have to pay if those suppliers do not have enough power to serve their customers’ anticipated needs.

Storm Response in New York

Based on its preliminary findings in an investigation looking into the storm preparation and response practices of two energy utilities following widespread service disruptions after a windstorm last March, the commission ordered the two to show cause why they should not be fined for violating the terms of their own emergency response plans.

Rate Increase Paves Way for Accelerated Closure of Coal Plants

In a proceeding it described as among the most “complex litigations” to come before it in the last 20 years, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission has adopted a settlement under which an electric and natural gas utility was awarded a small measure of rate relief for its electric operations, but the additional revenues are earmarked for moving up the timeline for decommissioning and remediating four coal-fired generating facilities located in Montana.

Street Lighting in New York

In a docket revolving around RG&E and NYSEG, the commission deemed reasonable their joint proposal to offer municipal customers the option of having the companies install utilityowned light-emitting diode (LED) street lighting systems.