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Enron Mail |
In the public meeting today, the Commissioners discussed the order, EL 01-47,
for relief to the California and western state markets. The order announces certain action to be taken to increase supply and reduce demand. As stated, the actions are: 1) require California ISO and transmission owners to file grid enhancements that can be achieved in short-term; 2) extends and broadens temporary waivers of operating and efficiency standards and fuel use requirements for QFs; 3) waives prior notice requirements and grants market-based rate authority for wholesale power sales; 4) authorizes retail/wholesale customers to reduce consumption to resell their load reduction at wholesale at market-based rates; 5) announces staff conference this Spring to discuss hydro-licensees, resource agencies the possibility of increased generation consistent with environmental protection. Addtionally, the order seeks comments by March 30, 1) rate incentives for electric transmission and gas facilities that provide additional capacity in the short term; 2) use of interconnect authority (Section 210.d of FPA) to help alleviate impediments to additional supply; 3) waiving natural gas blanket certificate regulations to increase the dollar limits for facilities under automatic authorization and prior notice authorization; 4) offering blanket certificates for construction for acquisition of portable compressor stations to enhance pipeline capacity to California; 5) allowing for greater flexibility that license hydroelectric projects to increase generation while protecting environmental resources. FERC Commissioners intend to meet with Western state commissioners and other regulators to discuss price volatility and other FERC related issues that have recently been identified by the western governors. This will be a one-day conference.
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