text_combined: alliance info alert ferc acts remove obstacles address western energy crisis omnibus order mobilizes ferc entire energy pricing infrastructure authority adopt financial incentives capacity increases transmission facilities streamlines regulation wholesale market energy facilities siting licensing promotes conservation wholesale side demand response bidding order address price caps meeting western state regulators officials set april 6 2001 boise idaho ferc moves bring economic reliable energy supplies stressed california western energy markets ferc proposes increase bulk power supply west removing barriers providing incentives within jurisdiction facility certification licensing regulation transmission wholesale power sales interstate commerce ferc quickly wants increase electric generation transmission capacity well streamline regulation wholesale power transactions well increase capacity supporting infrastructure natural gas oil pipelines order sets new precedent broadness also proposes actions reduce electricity demand west well promoting necessary wholesale market portion demand response bidding states wish implement retail side ferc asks comments additional actions may take future march 30 2001 effective immediately ferc said statement commission streamlining regulatory procedures wholesale electric power sales expediting certification natural gas pipeline projects california west including reallocation staff resources quickly address pending pipeline applications urging licensees review ferc licensed hydroelectric projects order assess potential increased generating capacity among actions ferc takes 1 require california iso transmission owners within 11 states western systems coordinating council wscc prepare list grid enhancements completed short term 2 waive prior notice requirements site self generators sell wholesale within wscc area 3 grant blanket market based rate authority sales wholesale market electric energy becomes available result demand response reductions retail wholesale loads 4 broadening extending december 31 2001 temporary waivers operating efficiency standards qualifying facilities qfs increase availability generating capacity ferc seeks comments march 30 series economic incentives aimed ensuring timely upgrades western transmission grid including increased rate return equity roe projects significantly increase transmission service either june 1 2001 november 1 2001 areas ferc requested comment include use interconnection authority federal power act raise dollar limits issuance blanket certificates authorizing gas pipeline construction hydro issues ferc requested comment ways increase operating flexibility ferc licensed projects protecting environmental resources effort encourage investment transmission infrastructure ferc asked comments march 30 series economic incentives aimed ensuring upgrades western interconnection including increased roe projects significantly increase transmission constrained paths service dates 2001 increased roe ferc said also given system upgrades new transmission paths service june 1 2002 november 1 2002 ferc seeks comment proposed 10 year depreciation period projects increase transmission capacity short term 15 year depreciation period upgrades involving new rights way service november 1 2002 dissent order commissioner massey argued order focuses quick fixes measures close gap supply demand california order also fails address price relief noted massey massey also called full federal power act fpa section 206 investigation california issues would allow possibility refunds transmission incentive provisions massey lamented proposed roe increase 14 percent appeared arbitrary inconsistent ferc policy order 2000 financial provisions said appeared throwing money problem generally disappointed order massey express limited support many parts order many suggestions order actions authorized last may said massey good ideas good ideas concluded part comments open meeting order adopted chairman hebert said order designed squeeze every additional mw supply available encourage conservation mw stressed ferc power alleviate western problems said order seeks eradicate projected supply shortfall california noted generation transmission siting conservation generally state issues ferc removing obstacles order posted web site citation ferc issued order removing obstacles increased electric generation natural gas supply western united states asking comments issued march 14 2001 docket elol 47 000 detailed analysis summary specific actions taken proposals made follows electric transmission infrastructure within 30 days california iso transmission owners wscc prepare file information purposes list grid enhancement projects may underway may require initial siting acquisition rights way ferc proposes scaled transmission infrastructure incentive transmission owners projects increase transmission capacity present constraints service july 1 2001 would receive cost based rate reflecting 300 basis point premium return equity 10 year depreciable life projects service november 1 2001 would get 200 basis point premium 10 year depreciable life ferc would use uniform baseline return equity jurisdictional transmission providers wscc 11 5 based roe ferc approved southern california edison system upgrades involve new rights way add significant transfer capability service november 1 2002 would get cost based rate reflecting 12 5 roe al 00 basis point premium 15 year depreciable life facilities needed interconnect new supply grid go service required accommodate service date new plant would get cost based rate reflected 13 5 roe 200 basis point premium service november 1 2001 12 5 roe service november 1 2002 increases transmission capacity constrained interfaces involve significant capital investments example installing new technology ferc proposes allow transmission owners increase revenue requirement network service rates ensure additional mw capacity generate revenues equal current firm point point rate ferc requests comment whether assign cost interconnection system upgrade particular load supply alternatively roll costs average system rate extension waivers qfs ferc proposes extend temporary waivers operating efficiency standards qfs applicable throughout wscc allow increased generation december 31 2001 waivers expire april 30 2001 proposed waiver would allow qualifying cogenerators sell output level historically supplied output purchasing utility waiver qualifying small power production facilities wscc respect fuel use requirements ferc regulation section 292 204 b would extended december 31 2001 additional capacity site generation ferc adopt streamlined regulatory procedure accommodate wholesale sales facilities serve load within wscc december 31 2001 owners generating facilities located business locations wscc used primarily back self generation would become subject fpa virtue sales power permitted sell power wholesale without prior notice fpa section 205 ferc also authorizes power sold market based rates ferc waives prior notice requirement mutually agreed upon interconnection agreements interconnections necessary accomplish sales quarterly reporting required allows demand response bidding ferc allow retail customers permitted state law wholesale customers reduce consumption purpose reselling load reduction wholesale ferc granting blanket authorization consistent prior discussion sales site generation requires similar reporting ferc december 15 order california market directed longer term measure iso pursue establishing integrated day ahead market demand supply bids addressed one venue ferc seeks comments desirability accelerating action ferc says realizes states play important role regulating retail electric service allowing retail load reduce consumption resale wholesale markets raises legal commercial technical regulatory issues safeguards may needed protect enhance retail demand response bidding programs intention undermine state programs promote necessary complementary wholesale programs requests comments helpful action accomplished consistent state jurisdiction retail sales contract modifications demand response bidding may opportunities public utilities make types demand response arrangements wholesale customers mutually agreeable qf interconnections ferc waive prior notice requirement mutually agreeable demand response related rate schedule amendments may required effectuate arrangements clarifies demand response program costs treated consistently types incremental pocket costs interconnections fpa section 210 allows ferc issue order requiring interconnection makes finding order 1 public interest 2 would encourage overall conservation energy capital optimize efficiency use facilities resources improve reliability electric utility system federal power marketing agency order applies 3 meets requirements fpa section 212 ferc requests comments whether use authority fpa section 210 alleviate existing impediments electricity reaching load exercise authority may warranted ferc seeks comments whether could make required findings generically wscc region order respond quickly circumstances arise requiring immediate action longer term regional solutions ferc believes rto entire western region seamless integration western rtos best vehicle designing implementing long term regional solution natural gas pipeline capacity ferc realigned resources respond new applications gas pipeline capacity soliciting comments ways expedite approval pipeline infrastructure needed serve california west requests comments might exercise authority new pipeline construction alleviate present crisis including increasing dollar limit thresholds blanket certificates 10 million prior notice authorizations 30 million order increase facilities qualifying automatic authorization offering blanket certificates construction acquisition portable compressor stations enhance pipeline capacity california offering rate incentives expedite construction projects make additional capacity available summer constrained pipeline systems hydroelectric power ferc staff hold conference discuss methods address environmental protection hydro projects allowing increased generation requests comments ways allow greater operating flexibility commission licensed hydro projects protecting environmental resources comments consider 1 methods agency involvement 2 ways handle expedite endangered species act consultations 3 criteria modifying licenses 4 identification processes could implemented provide efficiency upgrades oil pipelines ferc explore oil pipelines innovative proposals could lead ensuring adequate flow petroleum product california market conference state commissioners ferc hold one day conference state commissioners state representatives western states discuss price volatility west well ferc related issues identified governors western states notice issued march 16 meeting scheduled april 6 2001 boise idaho source ferc 03 14 01 order docket elol 47 000 news release text htm