The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will convene a conference in the near future examining issues that have cropped up related to regional transmission organizations (RTOs), Curt Hebert, the Commission’s chairman, said yesterday. Although specifics on the conference remain somewhat sketchy, it appears that the issue of seams in the broader context of RTO formation will be a key topic of discussion at the gathering.

Hebert noted that he has sent three possible dates for the proposed conference to Commissioners William Massey and Linda Breathitt. “It would be my hope that we do it sooner rather than later, June rather than July, so we can move up and out and try to provide opportunity to the American public,” Hebert said.

Massey, commending Hebert for scheduling the conference, said that such a move is “very forward thinking on this Commission’s part.” He noted that in organizing such a conference, FERC is essentially responding to a petition filed by the Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA) and a number of other market participants. “It is a good thing to do, and I commend you for scheduling it and look forward to working with you on it,” Massey said.

Breathitt also voiced her support for the conference. The Commissioner pointed out that she has previously stated that seams are becoming as important as scope and configuration for RTOs. In the GridSouth RTO case, FERC said that the pleading made by EPSA and several other groups asking the Commission to look at seams issues and interregional cooperation had merit, Breathitt noted.

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