Law & Lawyers

The District of Columbia Public Service Commission (PSC) has amended regulations governing the scope of its authority over facilities constructed outside of the municipality. Late last year, the District of Columbia Public Service Commission (PSC) issued comprehensive regulations governing the preconstruction review of utility power plants, transmission lines, cogeneration facilities, and independent power production facilities.

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has reaffirmed earlier rulings that the state's least-cost planning laws must require consideration of the adverse external environmental costs of providing utility service. However, it rejected proposed new rules that would require monetization of the externalities based on projected costs of complying with future environmental regulations.

The Ohio Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has proposed regulations to allow electric utilities to use fuel-cost clauses to recover gains or losses from trading Clean Air Act emission allowances. The PUC emphasized that utilities should use the allowance market to maximize trading while making the use of coal produced in the state part of a least-cost power-supply strategy. Re Amendment of Chapter 4901:1-11 of the Ohio Administrative Code, Case No. 94-1792-EL-ORD, Nov. 23, 1994 (Ohio P.U.C.).

In a separate case, the PUC ruled that Dayton Power & Light Co.

The Ohio Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has reaffirmed its desire to open local exchange telephone markets to competition, urging "all deliberate speed." The PUC voiced its telephone competition policy in approving a new, six-year, price-cap regulation plan for Ameritech Ohio, a local exchange carrier (LEC). The plan, which reduces the LEC's revenue by $92.3 million, cuts intrastate toll charges by $7.9 million, residential rates by $55 million, and access charges for long-distance carriers by $8 million.