Edison

The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) and several utilities are backing a FERC proposal to utilize the so-called “public interest” standard as the default standard of review for energy contract modifications, but the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) opposes FERC’s proposed rule, saying it “contravenes existing statutory law” [RM05-35].

The Edison Electric Institute (EEI), which represents investor-owned utilities, opposes any effort by Congress to limit utility access to natural gas for electric generation, dictate what fuel should be used to produce electricity or federally mandate the efficient dispatch of generation plants, EEI President Tom Kuhn told a Senate panel Tuesday.

In an effort to attract new electricity generation to the southern part of the state, Southern California Edison (SCE) is considering issuing a competitive request for offers (RFO). If released, the RFO would solicit bids for power contracts lasting up to 10 years for new generation facilities that could be online between June 1, 2006, and August 1, 2008.

FERC last week issued an order allowing Commonwealth Edison Co. (ComEd) to integrate with PJM Interconnection on May 1, but said that it was “extremely troubled” by recent disclosures that the utility’s parent company was scrambling to procure additional capacity for the bi-directional pathway with PJM. FERC has referred the matter to its division of enforcement for a preliminary investigation.

Consolidated Edison Co. of New York’s (ConEd) push to recoup about $250 million in replacement power costs the utility incurred after shutting down its Indian Point nuclear power plant a couple of years ago vaulted a key legal hurdle last Monday after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a lower court’s ruling finding that the company had a right to recover such costs.

The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) is asking FERC to approve a market design in New York electricity markets based on an unforced capacity (UCAP) methodology, which it says will offer an incentive for generators to improve the efficiency of their generating assets. More broadly, the ISO expects the UCAP proposal to bring it one step closer to the development of a common installed capability (ICAP) market design among the various Northeastern ISOs.

Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline LLC signed an agreement with Newington Energy, an affiliate of Consolidated Edison, to provide natural gas transportation service to a 525 MW power plant currently under construction in Newington, NH. Newington Energy broke ground on the natural gas-fired facility in September. Maritimes plans to construct and operate gas transmission facilities, including interconnecting piping and metering, from the existing lateral pipeline on Newington Energy’s property to the plant. When the plant is completed in 2002, it will generate enough power to supply electricity to more than 700,000 homes in New England.

Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline LLC signed an agreement with Newington Energy, an affiliate of Consolidated Edison, to provide natural gas transportation service to a 525 MW power plant currently under construction in Newington, NH. Newington Energy broke ground on the natural gas-fired facility in September. Maritimes plans to construct and operate gas transmission facilities, including interconnecting piping and metering, from the existing lateral pipeline on Newington Energy’s property to the plant. When the plant is completed in 2002, it will generate enough power to supply electricity to more than 700,000 homes in New England.

Commonwealth Edison Co. has requested waivers and authorizations from FERC to allow a number of its industrial and commercial customers with on-site generation to sell excess power to the utility during summer peak demand periods without first obtaining Commission approval.