Organizations

Federal jurisdiction over the formation of regional transmission organizations (RTOs), transmission rates and electric reliability may appear a little cloudy to some, but not to FERC Commissioner Pat Wood. Wood, who will become chairman of the Commission next month, said during a wide ranging interview with NGI, it’s all spelled out quite clearly in Sections 211, 212 and 213 of the Federal Power Act.

In its first attempt to establish the “geographic scope” of regional transmission organizations (RTOs), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission made clear last week that it plans to restrict the number of RTOs operating nationwide to four, with one dedicated to each region: the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest and West.

In its first attempt to establish the “geographic scope” of regional transmission organizations (RTOs), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission made clear yesterday that it plans to restrict the number of RTOs operating nationwide to four, with one dedicated to each region: the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest and West.

The North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) and a broad-based coalition of electric industry and state organizations urged members of Congress and other key energy officials to support prompt passage of federal legislation to promote and ensure the continued reliability of high-voltage electric transmission systems in the United States and throughout North America.

Amid the crush of proposals to join or create regionaltransmission organizations (RTOs) filed Monday, the owner andoperator of an electric cooperative system in Alabama urged FERC tofocus its attention on the RTO filings for the Southeast, sayingthey lack genuine regional participation.

The Boards of Directors of the North Texas Oil and GasAssociation (NTOGA) and the West Central Texas Oil and GasAssociation (WeCTOGA) have approved a plan to merge the twoorganizations, which when completed, would become the largestmembership association of any state oil and gas group in thecountry. Both were organized in the early 1930s to representindependent oil and gas companies that primarily explore for andproduce crude oil and natural gas.

The Boards of Directors of the North Texas Oil and GasAssociation (NTOGA) and the West Central Texas Oil and GasAssociation (WeCTOGA) have approved a plan to merge the twoorganizations, which when completed, would become the largestmembership association of any state oil and gas group in thecountry. Both were organized in the early 1930s to representindependent oil and gas companies that primarily explore for andproduce crude oil and natural gas.

With the initial phase (regional meetings) of the formation ofregional transmission organizations (RTOs) wrapped up, FERCChairman James Hoecker last week gave the electric industry a”solid B” for its efforts. There haven’t been any “breakthroughs”yet, he reported, just “frank talk….. and widespread commitmentsto continue working toward a productive conclusion.”

With phase one (regional meetings) of the formation of regionaltransmission organizations (RTOs) wrapped up, FERC Chairman JamesHoecker gave the electric industry a “solid B” for its efforts sofar. There haven’t been any “breakthroughs” yet, he reported, just”frank talk….. and widespread commitments to continue workingtoward a productive conclusion.”