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Federal Power Act

News Analysis

Pennsylvania loses faith in FERC, looks for help from the Justice department.


Pennsylvania loses faith in FERC, looks for help from the Justice department.

"A well functioning market on an average day works better than we regulators can do on our best day." Perhaps this quote, attributed to Pat Wood, chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), best captures the prevailing view among transmission officials in the Northeast. But the feeling out West is decidedly different. So is the mood among state utility regulators.

Byline: 
Philip S. Cross
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A Vision for Trasmission: How the RTOs Stand

And where the trouble spots lie in FERC's grid plan.


And where the trouble spots lie in FERC's grid plan.

The mood appeared calm on June 26 in Washington, D.C., at the regular bi-weekly meeting of the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Key officials from various regional transmission organizations (RTOs) had gathered before chairman Pat Wood and the other commissioners to brief them on progress over the past year in reforming wholesale electric markets, and on what the FERC might expect in the summer at hand.

Byline: 
See Affidavit of William H. Dunn, Jr., on behalf of the Montana Consumer Counsel, FERC Docket No. RT01-35, filed 5/29/02
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The Commission: The Market's Eye-in-the-Sky?

FERC's plan to expand into energy market-monitoring faces many challenges.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is positioning itself to be the preeminent energy market cop. The commission will have many challenges before it becomes successful in policing market abusers.
Byline: 

David O. Jermain

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The King is Dead! Long Live the King!

Enron's fall finds FERC toying with cost-based rates. But let's temper the nostalgia.

Enron may not be dead, but its death rattle is certainly being heard loud and clear. If Enron ever was king, will the new king be a scion that also is an aggressive advocate of deregulation? Or, will it be an aged consort, who yearns to return to the "just and reasonable" standard for rate regulation?
Byline: 

William A. Mogel

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The Rules of the Grid: Transmission Policy and Motives Gehind It

Making sense of RTO Week, the mediation talks, and FERC's promised new rulemaking.


 

Making sense of RTO Week, the mediation talks, and FERC's promised new rulemaking.

Dynegy's senior vice president Peter Esposito didn't think much about the celebrated mediation talks on forming a single, unified transmission grid for the Northeast U.S.

Byline: 
Bruce W. Radford
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Off Peak

Off Peak

November 15, 2001

Markets Behaving Badly

 

To understand 'gaming,' be a gamer.

FERC Staff Member: What sort of behavior is wrong?

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